184 The Agriculture of Glamorganshire. 
No portion of the county has made greater strides in improve- 
ment during the present century than this. Seventy years ago- 
there were scarcely any roads, and wheeled vehicles were almost 
unknown. The farm produce was conveyed to market on 
horses' backs, and the greater portion of manure to the land in 
the same way. Fifty years ago the farming of the district had 
scarcely emerged from its primitive condition. Patches of 
wheat and other grain were grown until the soil became ex- 
hausted, when it had a rest in bare fallow, after which the same 
process of cropping was repeated. The management of the 
live-stock corresponded with that of the land, and what was. 
sold went off in store condition to other parts of the country. 
About, or shortly after the period just referred to, the Lord- 
Lieutenant of the county, C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., introduced 
turnip-growing. The example of the alternate system of crop- 
ping pursued was gradually followed by the tenant-farmers, and 
by slow but sure degrees the whole aspect of Gower became 
changed for the better. Though the style of farming now prac- 
tised cannot claim to have reached perfection, there is much to 
commend where formerly nearly everything was adversely 
criticised, if not condemned. There are now excellent roads 
throughout the district. The land produces good crops of roots-, 
grain, and grass. The cattle have during recent years been 
greatly improved, chiefly by using Shorthorn bulls. There are 
a few Herefords in the district, but the majority are Shorthorn 
crosses. The sheep-stock has been improved in a similar way 
to the cattle, by crossing the mountain breed with Shropshire 
Down and other rams. The principal landlords have fostered 
and encouraged the improved breeding of stock by introducing 
pure-bred animals into the district. The result has be,en that, 
instead of a number of ill-bred store animals being produced, 
the live-stock is chiefly fattened off on roots for the butcher. 
Dairy-farming is not practised to any extent, and it is confined 
to a few small farms near Swansea. 
There is a considerable area of common land in Gower which 
is more or less hilly, and principally stocked with mountain 
sheep and Welsh ponies. There is nothing particular to report 
respecting these commons excepting that they are frequently 
overstocked, and that in consequence the sheep are smaller and 
more stunted than they ought to be. Tlie ponies are probably 
the best class in the county. Though their management is 
chiefly left to nature and chance, many hardy, high-stepping, 
and beautiful animals are reared, from which matched pairs are 
often selected. They are generally sold at Neath fairs, and 
many of them are bought by London dealers. 
Direct reference to any particular estate or farm has been 
studiously avoided up to this point, but I venture to hope 
