Agriculture of Nottinghamshire. 
33 
gentleman, after his long experience, supposes high farming not 
to be incompatible with profitable farming. 
In this division the district south of the Trent is composed of 
a variety of soils, — from heavy sand to a rich loam, and even 
strong clay. From Nottingham to Newark the high ground is 
chiefly a red soil, between sand and loam, lying upon a substratum 
of marl, and comprising one of the most naturally productive dis- 
tricts in the county. It is well calculated for sheep, and some 
excellent flocks may be seen upon it. These farms are many of 
them much improved by abutting on the Trent, which furnishes 
to them a proportion of good grazing-land as well as meadow; 
the former of which is made available in some cases for dairy 
purposes, and in others for grazing beasts for the Newark and 
Nottingham fat stock markets. The mode of husbandry most 
common is the six years' course, resembling that north of the 
Trent ; substituting^ however, always when practicable, a turnip 
crop for a bare fallow. Much of the district has been drained 
with tiles, and is on the whole very well cultivated, producing 
heavier crops at much less expense than on the sands of the 
western division. A stranger must be struck with the superior 
character of the farm buildings, which are, moreover, kept in 
extremely good condition, presenting a neatness in the highest 
degree creditable to the occupiers. The fences are not always 
so well kept, and might be improved upon. In the neighbour- 
hood of Nottingham, potatoes are planted in considerable breadth, 
as a supply for that market, and most excellent crops are ob- 
tained. 
Adjoining the county of Leicester the soil assumes a more 
tenacious nature, and comprises the districts distinguished by Mr, 
Lowe as the "Vale of Belvoir" and the " Nottinghamshire 
Wolds." 
Improvements have been here, as in other parts of the county, 
effected to a considerable extent during the last half century. 
Not only have the enclosures, which were then open, been com- 
pleted, but drainage has made great advances, although it is by 
no means, as yet, perfect. When a thorough drainage is wanting 
no course of cropping can be suggested which is not liable in 
adverse seasons to be frustrated. Whatever mode of husbandry 
may be proposed by the occupier of strong soils, experience has 
taught him, that where that foundation of all good farming has 
not been laid, he must in consequence yield to circumstances of 
which otherwise he would in the main be independent. Expe- 
rience will better teach him than any covenant by which he might 
be bound that the growing of two white corn crops in succession 
is not profitable, that he cannot by such a system keep his farm 
clean or in good condition. He will therefore, in alternate years, 
VOL. VI. D 
