East Ridiny of Yorkshire. 
93 
per acre, but in the enclosures it is much dearer. . . . Across 
the wolds I could not but regret the wretched management which left 
such large tracts of land in so uncultivated a state. It lets from 4rf. to 
4*. an acre between Boynton and Hunmanby. They plough up the 
turf ami sow barley, or more often oats, atid then leave the soil to gain 
of itself a new sward; this is their management every six years. 
Whereas, all the country would admit the Norfolk course of husbandry, 
of 1, turnip ; 2, barley ; 3, clover, and ray-grass/or ^'ve 7jcars ; 4, wheat : 
by means of which the soil would always be clean and in heart, the 
food for cattle would be greatly increased, and the farmers better able to 
pay 14s. per acre than they now are 4s. Farms rise from 30/. to 100/. 
a-year ; they join their flocks in folding, but have no turnips to feed 
them with in winter and spring. I forbear to speak in my own person 
of the husbandry in the neighbourhood of Ganton, the seat of Sir 
Digby Legard, Bart., as he has, with the utmost politeness and patriotic 
spirit, given me a most particular and judicious account of the rural 
economy of that country, with many admirable hints for improvement. 
I proceed at once to insert it: — 
" ' Sir, — As I apprehend that it will be more agreeable to the plan of 
your northern tour to give you a general account of the state of hus- 
bandry in my neiglibourhood, than the particular history of those 
experiments which I have made, chiefly with a view to determine some 
points which seemed doubtful, or to ascertain the most beneficial effects 
of cultivation, I shall confine rnyself in this letter to general ideas of 
improvement which are peculiarly applicable to a heathy and mountain- 
ous country, such as prevails in many parts of this kingdom. The 
principal of these are the wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincoln 
and Newmarket heaths, and Marlborough downs. These and some 
other parts of a similar nature are, I presume, the most considerable 
tracts of unimproved country in England ; and as I imagine the whole 
to be at present extremely low-rented, thinly inhabited, and capable of 
great improvement, it becomes a national object, as well as of the 
utmost importance to the proprietors, to examine in what manner this 
immense extent of waste land may be enabled to yield a greater produce 
both of fodder and grain, maintain a greater number of inhabitants, and 
thus strengthen the community whilst it enriches the individuals. My 
situation on the edge of the wolds, my long and constant residence in 
this country, and my attention to every object of improvement, have, in 
some degree, enabled me to give hints on this subject ; and the ad- 
vantage of above 5000 acres of unenclosed wold land not far from my 
house has afforded me a spacious field of improvement. The estate 
where I have resided several years consists of upwards of 6000 acres, 
and contains three villages, at about a mile distant from each other and 
nearly in the centre of the estate. The unenclosed parts of this estate, 
or what is called wolds, of 5000 acres, have never been let for more 
than Is. per acre ; and what I say of a particular parish is applicable 
to a very extensive country 20 miles long by 15 broad. . . . The 
general use made of the open wolds land is to stock with sheep, and 
cultivate a small part of it with the plough. But this tillage lying at a 
great distance from the farmhouses, which are all (in the parish I 
