in Northumberland and Durham in 1887. 
615 
awaj-going crop of corn limited to 180 acres ; in practice the 
crop is purchased by the incomer. In Mr. Lyall s case the crop 
was valued during the harvest after his entry and paid for by 
him. The tenant is bound not to sow two corn crops in succes- 
sion, and he is forbidden to sell hay, straw, or turnips. He has 
to keep in repair all buildings and fences. 
The rent of the farm was at first 1127Z., it is now 812/. It is 
tithe-free, the tithe rent-charge having been redeemed by the 
owner. The rates have been on the average 125/. a year, they 
were last year 9b/. 12s. hd. The rent is thus about 21s. ^d. and 
the rates Is. Sd. an acre. 
The farm is charmingly situated on Tvneside, about 14 miles 
west of ^Newcastle, 7 miles east of Hexham, and about 1^ mile 
to the north of Stocksfield Station, on the Newcastle and Carlisle 
Railway. The approach to the farm from the railway leads 
over a handsome bridge which crosses the Tvne in one of its 
prettiest reaches, with the woods and grounds of Bywell Hall, 
the ruins of Bywell Castle, and the two ancient churches grouped 
together. 
The farm runs down to the Tyne on the south-west and south- 
east, and is there about 50 feet above sea-level. From these 
points it slopes upward until at the Homestead, near the centre, 
a height of about 160 feet is reached ; from thence there is a 
gradual rise towards the north-west, where 250 feet is reached. 
Towards the north, after a slight fall to the brook, there is a 
steep rise towards the east and north-east, where the altitude is 
387 feet. A large proportion of the laud lies between the levels 
of 100 and 200 feet. Two brooks run through the farm from the 
north and west, and water the grass-lands. A high road skirts the 
farm on the south, and another runs on the northern edge, and 
a third road completely intersects the farm from north to soulh. 
On this road the Homestead is situated — the farm-house stand- 
ing in front to the south, the buildings and stackyard behind, 
and the labourers' cottages facing the buildings from the opposite 
side of the road. 
Many circumstances contribute to render this farm a most 
attractive one. The position is as convenient as it is delightful ; 
the climate is good, and early. In the autumn of 1886 the 
harvest was completed here before the weather broke, while 
only a few miles away to the north the whole of the corn was 
standing out for weeks afterwards.* 
In the spring of the present year, and at the close of the 
month of May, all vegetation was quite as forward in the Tyne 
• Mr. Lyall began cntting com ou the SOtli of August, and finished harvest 
on the 26th of September. 
