172 
The Agriculture of Glamorganshire. 
portion of this can be accounted for as land re-claimed from the 
hillsides and laid down to grass. An analysis of the live-stock 
as given above shows an increase in 10 years of 3095 horses 
and ponies, but a merely nominal difference in the number of 
cattle, whilst the decrease in sheep for the same period is no 
less than 44,704. There is also a decrease of 1369 pigs. 
The decrease in sheep in 1880, as compared with 1879, was 
32,659 head, and for the following three years the number 
remains almost stationary, showing that the disastrous losses by 
liver-rot in 1879 have not yet been repaired. 
In attempting a description of the farming of Glamorgan- 
shire, I propose to take the three natural divisions of the county 
already indicated, and in the following order, viz. : — 
1st. The Vale of Glamorgan. 
2nd. Gower, or West Glamorgan. 
3rd. The Hill Districts of the County. 
The Vale of Glamorgan. 
The area under this heading is estimated at about 141,000 
acres, and includes the whole of the flat land south of the Coal- 
measures. It extends from the river Rumney on the east to the 
river Afon on the west. The boundary line of the coal-field 
forms a dividing line between the arable farming of the south 
and the pastoral farming of the north. Though there are a few 
farms ranging from 500 to 800 acres, the average size in the 
better portions of the Vale is about 200 acres in extent. On 
the poorer class of soils the farms are smaller, and range from 
100 to 150 acres. In general the proportions of arable and 
pasture land are two-thirds of the former and one-third of the 
latter. The better class of land may be said to be in the 
neighbourhoods of Cardiff, Llandaff, and Sully, between Cow- 
bridge and the coast, and in the district of Bridgend. It is 
capable of growing all kinds of crops. In some parts of the 
hundred of Dinas Powis and other districts of the Vale the land 
is heavy and cold, and not adapted for the growth of roots and 
barley. The soils forming a sloping ridge under the outcrop of 
the Coal-measures, arc also of very variable and secondary quality. 
Nearly all the farms are held on yearly tenancy, leases for a 
term of years being very rare exceptions. The term of entry is 
generally the 2nd of February, but the outgoing tenant retains the 
farm-house and " boosey pasture," or grass-field near the home- 
stead, free of extra charge, till the 1st of May following. On at 
least two or more of the larger estates in this part of the county 
the term for the entry and quitting of farms is Lady Day, viz., 
