Volley of the Avon. 
2«7 
There are at Ringwood some meadows measurinj^^ nearly 300 
acres, — Upmead, Southmead, Cliarlmead, and Edemead, — which 
are held in common, with certain defined property-limitations. 
Hay is made in tlie summer, when the stock are in the Forest. 
On the 10th of September, the horses and cattle are turned in 
(not sheep, the land is too wet), and are taken out again by 21st 
of December. Fifty years since they were open common, but 
at that time rights were ascertained, and allotments made. 
As usual, buildings are bad where properties are small, and 
capital wanting. The little freeholders (and there are many on 
this, as on the other sides of the Forest) have neither the heart, 
nor the purse to improve. But lands are being consolidated in 
fewer hands, and buildings are improving. Mr. Bone has some 
good accommodation, and Mr. A. Elphinstone erected some 
excellent premises, designed by Mr. Blundell, at Chuten Glen, 
though this is a little out of the vale. 
There is a "Vales of Avon and Stour Farmers' Club," esta- 
blished in 1850, which meets at Christchurch once a month, in 
nine months in the year, for the purpose of holding discussions 
on " the practice and science of agriculture." A South Avon 
Agricultural Society also holds its anniversary in the autumn at 
Christchurch, the seat of an ancient agricultural society, which, 
half a century since, proposed the establishment of a wool-fair 
here, on the same plan as the Lewes wool-fair. A fortnightly fat 
stock market, established at Ringwood within the last five years, 
is in itself a sufficient proof of the agricultural changes and im- 
provements made in the district. For the year ending Lady-Day 
1858, the numbers sold were — sheep, 391 ; beasts, 62 ; pigs, 
210. For 1859— sheep, 509 ; beasts, 81 ; pigs, 205 ; calves, 
IG. For 1860 — sheep, 528 ; beasts, 69 ; pigs, 218 ; calves, 19. 
This stock is all fatted in the neighbourhood, and is, therefore, 
indicative of its progress. 
The ordinary farm-labourer has 9s. or 10s. per week. The 
carter and shepherd have the same, with the addition of a house 
and fuel (peat and turbary) found them. The average annual 
expense of manual labour is from 26s. to 30s. per acre. Tithe 
and poor-rates vary extremely. Rent is about 30s. an acre, and 
leases are usual on the better farms. 
It will be observed that a distinction is made in the Avon 
country, above and below Fordingbridge ; above are water- 
meadows, below flood-meadows, though these are exceptional. 
There are water-meadows at Bicton and Ellingham, and one 
(the last on the river) measuring 80 acres, held in common, 
just below Ringwood. This distinction arises fi'om the sluggish- 
ness of the current and consequent peaty nature of the soil ; a 
