290 
Farming of Hampshire. 
double that of those in the body of the county ; indeed there are 
instances when the turnip crop has failed, of the spring-feed 
alone being let for 8Z., 9Z., and even 12/. an acre. The meadows 
elsewhere are " worked " in the same way, but watered rather 
differently. Where they have an unlimited supply of water 
farmers put it on and off two days at a time, with intervals of the 
same duration ; they also like to keep the meadows pretty well 
covered in a frosty time, considering the water a " blanket ; " if 
the supply be limited, one takes it for a fortnight, and stops a 
month or more before another watering. But this altogether 
depends on the supply ; watering would be de die in diem, if 
possible. The meadows are " worked up " again, when the 
sheep go out, and have two plentiful waterings for the hay-crop ; 
three weeks the first time, hardly so long the second. The cut 
of hay is not so good, ton the first time, 1 ton the second. 
On some meadows cattle cannot be put in the autumn for fear 
of treading, nor sheep for fear of the rot. 
The connection between water-meadows and arable farming is 
through the sheep stock. On a chalk farm the sheep are kept partly 
for their own sakes, partly as manure-distributors on the plough 
lands. For this purpose they are folded, and when in the fold 
they receive at all times help from the water-meadows ; if it be 
spring they are on the water-meadows by day, and on the arable 
(consuming swedes or late turnips) by night ; if it be winter they 
are served with water-meadow hay night and morning. Thus 
both the spring and summer growth of the water-meadows prac- 
tically supply the fold on the arable to the extent of 1800 sheep 
per acre per day. If, again, the turnips should fail, or the season 
be backward, the sheep stock would be in a critical position but 
for the spring-feed of the water-meadows. Besides, there is the 
saving in the growth of seeds. The proportion of sainfoin raised 
on water-meadow farms is said to be 5 per cent, less than the 
quantity grown by those farmers who want this invaluable 
adjunct to every down farm. 
Middle District. 
Uniformity of soils in this cretaceous district induces a certain 
similarity in the character of the farming. This is the country 
for gentlemen farmers. The farms are larger, the residences 
superior, the buildings more adequate, the teams finer ; every- 
thing on a more liberal scale than elsewhere in the county. 
There is now very little down left ; and what does remain, such 
as Magdalen Hill, Compton, Tegdown, Chilcomb, and Twyford 
downs, is as good land for tillage as that which is already broken 
up, and remains in a natural state for other than agricultural 
reasons. Some good farmers are of opinion that the practice of 
