The Agricultiwe of Glamorganshire. 
183 
capital. The fine weather of 1884 has unfortunately not 
greatly improved matters. Wheat has not been lower, if so low, 
in price during the present century ; and though of fine quality, 
■ the quantity per acre is below the average. The hay crop was 
also light, and the value of live-stock is at present lower than 
it has been for years. The farmers have been and are provi- 
dent and hard-working men, with generally a fair amount of 
capital for the size of their holdings, and for these reasons have 
been able to bear the pressure of bad seasons and adverse times 
somewhat longer than others less favourably situated. The 
crisis is now, however, a grave one, not only for farmers, 
but also for landowners. How it has to be dealt with is the 
problem of the day in the Agricultural world. I do not pre- 
sume to attempt to solve it. However badly landed estates 
may pay, there seems no alternative but for the rents of arable 
land to be reduced. As previously stated, at least one-third of 
the arable land of this division should be laid down to perma- 
nent pasture, wet and unsound land should be drained, and 
the farm-buildings and labourers' cottages, which are in many 
cases inadequate, should be made to suit the requirements of the 
farm. To indicate that these extensive improvements should 
a11 be carried out by the landlord, and that at the same time he 
should accept a reduced rent, would appear to many \vho have 
only a life interest in their estates an advocacy of the con- 
fiscation of the rights of property. It is to be hoped that 
matters will be reasonably and amicably adjusted between land- 
lord and tenant, and it is gratifying to have to record the fact 
that this is being done at the present time in several instances 
in the Vale of Glamorgan. 
GowEK, on West Glamorgan. 
The peninsula of Gower forms the south-western extremity 
of the county. Its area is about 56,000 acres. The northern 
portion rests on the Coal-measures, and may be classed with the 
pastoral or hill land of the county. The southern half rests on the 
Mountain Limestone and Old Red Sandstone, and forms chiefly 
the cultivated portion of the district. A detailed description of 
the arable farming of this locality would be to a great extent a 
repetition of that of the Vale. The land is lighter and more 
friable than that resting on the Lias formation. It is good 
turnip and barley land. The average size of the farms in Gower 
is from DO to 100 acres. They are held on yearly tenancy. The 
rents are considered reasonable, and the tenants are prosperous. 
Wheat is not largely grown, neither are catch crops, but with 
these exceptions the farm management is similar to that of 
South Glamorgan. 
