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XIV. — On the Farming of the B'^est Riding of Yorkshire. By 
John H. Charnock. 
Prize Report. 
In order probably, amongst other reasons, the better to provide 
for the local administration of the affairs of so extensive, and even 
at that time so important a county, Yorkshire was at an early 
period divided into three integral portions called Ridings, the 
North, the East, and the West; and these again were subdivided 
into smaller districts under the title of Wapentakes, a term 
synonymous with the Hundreds of other counties, and I believe 
exclusively applied in the North. Of these Wapentakes the 
West Riding, of which it is my present purpose to speak, con- 
tains ten, viz. Staincliffe, Claro, Skyrack, Barkston Ash, Morley, 
Agbrigg, Staincross, Osgoldcross, Slraffbrth, and Tickhill and 
the Ainsty of York. It is separated on the north by the rivers 
Ure and Ouse, from the North Riding ; on the east by the Ouse 
and Humber, from the Kast Riding; on the south by the river 
Don (the division from Lincolnshire), and the counties of Not- 
tingham and Derby ; and on the west it is bounded by Cheshire, 
Lancashire, and Westmoreland. The extreme length, from east 
to west, is about 95 miles; and the average breadth about 26 ; 
comprising, according to the Official Report of the last Census, 
an area of 1,648.640 statute acres, computed to realize an annual 
value of 1,449,000/. ; equal to about 17s. 7d- per acre. By the 
same authority, the population in 1841 was 1.154,101 ; being an 
increase of more than double .since 1801, and upwards of 18 per 
cent, over the return of 1831. 
Although, in the general treatment of the subject, I might 
possibly have adopted a somewhat different arrangement, I shall, 
nevertheless, regarding with befitting deference all well considered 
regulations, confine myself as strictly as may be to the prescribed 
order of matter, taking such licence only under the several heads 
as may be requisite to render this Report as accurate and com-- 
prehensive as the usual limits will admit. 
First, then, as to the Cliaracter of the Soils. — In attempting to 
describe the various soils to be met with over such an extent of 
country as this Riding presents, it will, I conceive, be as unne- 
cessary as impracticable within ordinary compass, to enter into 
more minute detail than shall suffice to convey such a generally 
correct knowledge of its surface, as will enable the reader to 
appreciate the practical advantages of such peculiarities of culti- 
vation in the several localities which may be brought under his 
notice, as well as to exercise his judgment on the value of any 
suggestions for im])rovement which may be presented to him in 
