Farming of Devonshire. 
461 
the soil very much improves iu its general character. Near 
Barnstaple the land is of great fertility, affording luxuriant pas- 
turage, and towards Coombe Martin lessens in fertility but 
preserves the same undulating surface. From Coombe Martin 
to South Molton the land is poor and hilly, but a striking change 
is observed within a few miles of Tiverton ; the northern portion 
of the county is principally in pasture, which produces abundant 
crops of grass and supports a larc;e number of the North Devon 
cattle. The rearing of these is the principal employment of the 
farmers of this part, and, as I observed in the South Hams, so 
here also the general cultivation of the land is made subservient 
to it. Great attention has been paid to breeding for many years, 
and the success which has attended their attempts is evident in 
the high character maintained by the cattle of this district. It 
must not be considered that the North Devons are reared only 
on land of this quality, being found in great purity in the barren 
district on the carboniferous deposits. It is surprising how well 
they thrive on this poor herbage, preserving their condition and 
their j^eculiar delicacy of touch to a degree which surpasses all 
other breeds of cattle. 
Tillage. 
The rotation of crops adopted in this country is known as " the 
old Devon course,'' or turnips, wheat, barley, oats, seeds two to 
six or more years. In more particularly noticing this system I 
shall enter into some details connected with the ordinary 
farm practice of the county. 
Preparation foj^ Boot Crops — Turnips and Swedes. — The land 
is ploughed before winter, and having been exposed to the action 
of the air for some months is well worked as early in the follow- 
ing spring as the weather will permit. Lime and dung are the 
principal manures here employed, and advantage is taken of 
frosty weather for drawing these on the land. The lime is either 
mixed with earth and used as a compost, or is simply covered 
with a portion to defend it from the rain, as it is generally con- 
sidered that when slaked by water it is inferior to that similarly 
acted on by the air. The quantity used varies with the distance 
for carriage ; but in general, after the land has been well prepared, 
from 6 to 8 hogsheads are applied to the acre and immediately 
harrowed in. The farm-yard dung, when carted on the land, is 
placed in heaps in convenient parts of the field, generally as 
high as possible, so that in the busy season the draught may be 
down-hill. This is not sufficiently protected from the influence 
of the rain and air : for being thrown together lightly and remain- 
ing uncovered it rapidly ferments, when its volatile portions 
escape into the surrounding atmosphere, and much of its soluble 
