268 
Farmivff of Oxfordshire. 
The success which has so uniformly attended the proper 
drainage of arable ground, has been only partial when applied to 
grass land. The meadow before perhaps produced an abundance 
of coarse herbage ; the removal of water destroj's the food of 
these semi-aquatic grasses, and years elapse before the finer sorts 
muster in sufficient force to supply their place. Pastures that 
are wet in winter, and will not bear treading, seldom want 
draining so much as the being cleared of stock ; and if this were" 
done, and facilities afforded for the rapid passage of the rain- 
water, many meadows would be vastly improved without the 
expense of draining. If rushes and other water grasses grow, 
then there is no doubt that draining is requisite. Light and 
gravelly pastures have sometimes been drained too muck. A 
few drains in such ground are better than a multiplicity. A glut 
of water is injurious and should be removed, but a fair quantity 
of moisture in the subsoil is belief cial, and should be retained. 
In late years large sums have been borrowed from Government 
by the landed proprietors of Oxfordsliire for draining. By 
paying per cent, for 21 years, the capital spent is refunded. 
Some landlords make their tenants pay all this charge, thus 
reaping the benefit at tlie end of the term without having con- 
tributed a farthing. Other landlords drain the land themselves 
and charge the tenants 5 per cent., and on some estates it is 
customary for the landlord to find pipes and the tenant to per- 
form the labour of the under-draining. 
Tliese observations have been protracted to so great a length 
that the consideiation of the few remaining heads must be as con- 
cise as possible. 
The princijoal improvements which have been effected, since 
the Repcjrt of Arthur Young, are to be found on the stock-farms 
of the county. Sheep are now fatted at an age much earlier 
than was then ever attempted ; the number kept has increased 
exceedingly, and the general management has wonderfully im- 
proved. 'I'he extension of green crops has greatly enhanced the 
value of light lands. Roots are also much more cultivated. In 
1809 the swede, under the name of " ruta baga," was just in- 
troduced, and the advantage of the new plant over the white 
turnip was very warmly controverted. The discovery of artificial 
manure has been a mine of wealth to the chalk hills and poor 
sands of the county, while the numerous advantages derived from 
inclosures, the new poor law, the use of lime, chalk, and im- 
ver\f stiff clay, for on a retentive loam it succeeds very well. Some drains in a 
hilly pasture ■ma.die fifteen years ago were opened in the presence of the writer, and 
appeared as perfect as wljen first made. Should any person question these state- 
ments, or require further information on the subject, he is referred to Mr. Cother 
of Middle-Aston, who will doubtless dispel all misgivings and give every ex- 
planation that is necessary. 
