92 
Report on the Farming of the 
from the parent hills, whence they have evidently derived their 
origin, we next arrive at a very barren tract of land, which forms 
rather a remarkable variety in the Vale of York. This belt, for 
so it may be termed, runs nearly parallel to the lias clay. It is 
about two miles broad, and extends almost continuously from 
within a mile or two of the H umber to the north-western confines 
of the Riding near Stamford Bridge. The surface soil is through- 
out a poor, blowing, ferruginous drift sand, chiefly covered with 
ling and furze, and distinguishable here and there by a few 
stunted Scotch fir plantations. Attempts at cultivation have been 
made from time to time in various parts of this unj)romising 
tract, but all such attempts have been abandoned almost as soon 
as made, until of late years. Recently, however, it has been dis- 
covered that beneath this barren surface there lie beds of clay and 
marl ; and that, wherever these beds approach near to the surface, 
great benefit may be derived from the practice of digging out the 
clay and spreading it largely over the land. In some cases from 
100 to 150 cubic yards per acre have been thus spread; and in 
no case has it been found advisable to apply less than 80 yards 
per acre. In this way, upon an estate belonging to Mr. Denison, 
near Pocklington, between 200 and 300 acres have been re- 
claimed, and converted from a mere rabbit-warren into very good 
farming land ; and which may be now worth nearly twenty 
shillings per acre. 
Mr. Maxwell, of Everingham Park, has also pursued this 
system for some years, with equal judgment, and not less advan- 
tage. It has also been tried pretty extensively upon the property 
of George Hudson, Esq., M.P., near Market Weighton. Indeed, 
it is probable that the whole of the tract now described, containing 
not less than 15,000 acres, more than half of which is entirely 
uncultivated, and the rest extremely infertile (with the exceptions 
above named), is equally capable of reclamation. This subject 
will, however, be alluded to hereafter. 
Having thus endeavoured to give an outline of the geographical 
features of this riding, and to describe the character of its soils and 
surfaces, it becomes necessary to proceed to notice the peculiarities 
of its agricultural management. 
In order to show the more strikingly the progress which agri- 
culture has made in parts of this Riding in late years, it will 
perhaps be permissible to revert to a period somewhat anterior 
to the date of Mr. Strickland's survey, and to refer to the notice 
taken of it by agricultural writers of the last century. 
Arthur Young, in his ' Northern Tour,' published in 1770, 
says, respecting the Wold district (vol. ii. p. 7), — 
"Between Driffield and Burlington the country is various, but chiefly 
open wolds ; in them the soil is indifferent, and lets from 2*. to 7*. Qd. 
