The Agriculture of Glamorganshire. 
195 
In the early autumn of 1884, three silos were all filled with 
grass, and in two of them mechanical means of pressure were 
applied, whilst the third has been weighted with pig-iron as 
before. The silage is given exclusively to the horned stock 
in winter, along with other food ; and whilst it can never be 
expected to take the place of hay, which is an indispensable 
article of diet for hard-working horses, it is likely to become a 
great auxiliary in cattle and even sheep feeding in a climate 
where grass grows so well, but at the same time where it is so 
difficult to make it into good hay. 
Sewage Farm. — The county of Glamorgan has a sewage 
farm of some interest, and which is successful, especially when 
looked at from the balance-sheet point of view. It may produce 
much less valuable crops than many others of its class, but the 
reduced expense of labour has been of late years the feature 
which has chiefly contributed to success. The farm in question 
is under the jurisdiction of the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare 
Local Boards of Health. It is 400 acres in extent, and it receives 
the sewage of a population of 90,000 persons, viz. the inhabi- 
tants of Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais, Aberdare, and Mountain Ash. 
The land is situated in the narrow valley of the upper portion 
of the TafF river, and extends from about a mile below ^Merthyr 
Tydfil to within a mile of Pontypridd. The upper portion of 
the land receives the sewage of Merthyr and Dowlais ; whilst 
the lower, extending eastwards from the point where the river 
Cynon flows into the Taff, receives the sewage of the Aberdare 
valley. The Merthyr sewage can, if desired, be conveyed over 
nearly the whole of the area. The disposal of the sewage of 
the Merthyr valley was the work at first taken in hand, and a 
scheme on a limited area of ground was devised by the well- 
known Mr. Bailey Denton on the downward filtration system. 
The arable farming and market gardening at first pursued, 
proved, after years of trial, a financial failure. More land had 
to be acquired to dispose of the sewage after the house drainage 
of the towns had been completed. A modification of Mr. Bailey 
Denton's plan was followed in the extension of the intermittent 
system. Arable farming and market gardening have now 
nearly been abandoned, and the sewage is distributed chiefly 
over grass-land, which is let by auction annually for grazing or 
haymaking, or both, at rents ranging from 5/. to IQl. per acre. 
The labour is confined chiefly to distribution of the sewage, to 
cleaning straining-tanks, and to keeping the fences in repair. 
The agricultural value of the land, though situated in the most 
fertile portions of the valley, previous to being sewaged did not 
exceed 30s. per acre. 
Woods and Plantations. — The hill districts of the county are 
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