104 
Farming of Yorhsliire. 
grown alternately with turnips, and by thus giving the land a 
longer rest better crops of each will be secured. 
To ensure a lull crop of clover care should be taken to procure 
good and genuine seed from the low districts of Holland, but we 
shall have occasion to refer more fully to this subject in treating 
separately of clover-seed. 
There are difficulties in Avriting a Report on the Farming of 
Yorkshire which do not apply to any other county. Its large 
extent, occasioning differences of soil, climate, and productions 
between the East, West, and North Ridings, the variety of local 
customs and habits, the influence of manufactures felt by the West 
Riding farmer in a higher rate of wages, and in heavier poor- 
rates in times of commercial depression : — these and other pecu- 
liarities make it almost impossible to give a clear and succinct 
view Avithout constantly falling back on the past, or diverging 
beyond the limits proper to this Report. To return to the Wold 
district : notwithstanding the improvements in machinery for 
economising horse and manual labour, the position of the agi'i- 
cultural labourer is raised ; since 1848 the wages of a day- 
labourer, without board, have risen from 125. to 145. and 155, 
per Avcek ; harvest work, per acre, from 75. to IO5., and clover- 
mowing from 2s. Gd. to 3s. Qd. with beer. 
The greatest imperfection is to be found in the farm-buildings 
and homesteads ; on few estates only have the old incommodious 
buildings been replaced by new and more convenient houses. 
The Yorkshire Society, however, has this year offered con- 
siderable premiums for the best plan of farmsteads for farms of 
from 200 to 500 acres, by which, we trust, an impulse will be 
given to the erection of first-class buildings ; whether covered or 
open yards have the preference, we shall hail the result with 
satisfaction, though from our own experience, based on some 
years' trial, we assign the preference to the covered home-stall. 
The high-lands of the West Riding next claim a passing 
notice. These, when improved, are chiefly devoted to pasture ; 
they are limed and manured from the populous districts of the 
valleys, and have reached a surprising fertility, which, con- 
sidering the climate, would put to the blush many farmers who 
have far better land in situations more favourable to the growth 
of grasses and cereals. Some excellent farming is found about 
Sheffield, and we have noticed great improvements around 
Harrogate, but the high-land in the West Riding available for 
agriculture is limited in extent, and improvement is by no means 
the rule. We must however remark, that year by year more 
land is reclaimed from the moor and placed under the plough, 
thus diminishing considerably the number of unprofitable acres 
