])[}•. BlundcU's Farm. 
273 
specimens of South Hants farming, on the lands of Messrs. 
Atkins, Mr. Scott of Great ilastley, Mr. David May of Stone- 
ham, and Mr. Tliomas Gearing of Swathling. 
On some of the best-managed arable land, such as Mr. Scott's, 
a sort of double three-field system is pursued — two rounds of 
three years each, or a six years' rotation, thus : 1, wheat ; 2, man- 
gold, swedes, or turnips ; 3, barley or oats ; 4, seeds ; 5, wheat ; 
6, pulse (beans and peas). Deviations occur, according to the 
season, the condition of the land, and the Avants of the live stock. 
If the Avheat stubbles be foul in the second round, turnips will be 
substituted for pulse ; and in this case the turnips are folded off, 
and no dung is required for the first round. The wheat or pulse 
must be well dunged in the second round. Bridgewater ewes are 
bought in at Appleshaw fair, the lambs are ready by Christmas, 
and their mothers are also gone to the butcher by the latter end 
of May, having been previously shorn. Or, if food be plentiful, 
a few down lambs are bought at Stockbridge fair, and sold out 
as fat tegs. Nothing is bred, nor anything, as a rule, fatted, but 
sheep. 
A little further to the east, near Botley, there is, on a soil less 
favourable, equally spirited farming. The lands of the Messrs. 
Warner, and particularly Mr. William Warner's, exhibit in the 
well-filled stack-yard the results produced by a large head of stock 
fatted annually on cake and corn. Mi-. Gale (the County Court 
Judge) has greatly improved his recently-purchased property at 
Kitnocks by extensive draining and high farming. Mr. Gater 
(the President of the Botley Club) has done the same at Town 
Hill, by the same means. 
Among the many examples of improving agriculturists in this 
district I shall select, for more detailed description, an eminently 
practical man, whose example may be safely followed, Mr. Joseph 
Blundell, of Burslcdon. He derives no peculiar advantages from 
soil or climate, although the undulations of his ground, and its 
slope to the south, may be somewhat in his favour. But, on the 
v/hole, if the landlord has done his part, and there are liberal 
covenants in the lease, and intelligence and capital in the occu- 
pier, what Mr. Blundell has done is within the reach of three- 
fourths of the farmers in the neighbourhood. And yet a short 
description of his farm will show he has done much. 
The extent of Mr. Blundeir.s occupation at the mouth of the 
Hamble, on the right bank, is 100 acres arable and 25 pasture. 
The whole is on the Bracklesham beds which rise above the 
alluvium of the estuary of the Hamble, the soil being a sandy 
loam, with a stiff putty-like subsoil : tiles are made close by. The 
surface is very undulating, the ground falling every way, but the 
whole open to the south and south-east, and well sheltered to the 
