256 
Farming of Hampshire. 
parted by a narrow ranfje of enclosures, yet no two soils can be 
more different : for the Holt consists of a strongs loam, of a miry 
nature, carrying; a good turf, and abounding witli oaks that grow 
to be large timber ; while Wolmer is nothing but a hungry, 
sandy, barren waste." 
It should be observed that, in all the districts, extensive beds 
of flint, gravel, and sand are to be met with at all levels, from 
that of the sea, to 500 or 600 feet above it. They are found, 
where one would least expect to meet with such driftable sub- 
stances, on the tops of the chalk hills, as to the west and north 
of Alton in the north-east, and about Romsey in the south-west j 
and again, as we shall see hereafter, in the Isle of Wight. They 
occasion that difference, which Gilbert White remarked, between 
the two neighbouring forests of Wolmer and Alice Holt, making 
the former " a hungry, sandy, barren waste." They occur also 
on each eminence of the Eocene region, both in the north and 
south. They form terraces in the valleys of the existing rivers, 
some 25 feet above the alluvial meadows, through which the 
streams now flow, the gravel varying in depth from 2 feet to 60. 
♦ 
III. — "Character of Farming, Live Stock, Implements, 
RECENT CHANGES OF FaRM MANAGEMENT, IMPROVEMENTS 
LATELY INTRODUCED OR STILL REQUIRED, REBIARKABLE OR 
CHARACTERISTIC FaRMS IN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT NATURAL 
DIVISIONS." * 
The farming on every side of Hants has been described in the 
Society's Journal. Dorset, Wilts, Berks, Surrey, Sussex — all 
the surrounding counties from sea to sea, and similar in many 
particulars of their agricultural character — have each of them 
been fully delineated. The report on Hants has thus been, in a. 
great measure, anticipated. Farming on lands, light, heavy, and 
Holt, the liill--wood 'where the alders grow, is probably the same word as- 
Aldershot. 
* The six prescribed topics at the head of this section would appear capable 
of convenient treatment, under each of tlie natural divisions. I venture, accordingly, 
to group tliera together, passing, as will be easily noticed, in order, but without 
noting the transition, from one to the other. I comprehend under " the character 
of the farming," the size of farms, the proportion of arable, pasture, and meadow ; 
the rotation of crops; the mode of cultivation; the application of manures (whe- 
ther farmyard, artificial, or chalk) ; the produce per acre ; the live stock, with the 
number per acre; the implements ; the buildings; the chief markets and fairs; 
the societies for the improvement of agriculture, and the encouragement of the 
labourer; the wages and condition of the labourer; the manual lal)Our per acre ; 
the tithe, the parochial burdens, and rent of land, with its tenancy. The topics 
"recent changes in farm management," and "improvements lately introduced," 
will be mentioned in connexion with " reinarkable or characteristic farms," which 
are indeed the scenes and examples of these "changes" and " improvements." 
The " improvements still required," will be reserved for separate enumeration and 
consideration under a distinct head. 
