Farming of Cornwall. 
407 
and bidding defiance as it were to the northern Atlantic. This 
is a busy, active neighbourhood, the inhabitants being engaged in 
fishins. navigating, mining, or farming. The soil is exceedingly 
good, and notwithstanding its exposure to the sea, good crops of 
corn are grown on the verge of the cliffs 300 feet above the wave. 
The farms vary from 10 to 200 acres, few exceeding 100 or 150 
acres. The rental averages from 30*. to GO*, per acre — a large 
proportion at 40.y. The land in this neighbourhood lets exceed- 
ingly high from the peculiar character of the small farmers* — a 
hardworking race of men, who keep a number of milch cows, 
breed an immense number of pigs, and grow large quantities of 
potatoes. The ordinary course of cropping is to break three- 
years-old pasture for potatoes and turnips, followed by wheat, 
then barley or oats, and grass-seeds. On the better cultivate<l 
farms the rotation is generally turnips, wheat, potatoes, barley, 
and seeds; the breadth of green crops averaging from 20 to 25 
per cent. The difference in the two systems is as follows : — 
Under Ordinary Management. 
Improved System. 
100 Acres. 
Produce per Acre. 
Produce per Acre. 
Potatoes . . 
Turnips . . 
Wheat . . . 
Barley . . . 
Oats .... 
Hay ... . 
From S to 12 tons 
18 to 20 tons 
21 bushels 
30 bushels 
40 to 45 bushels 
1 ton to 1^ ton 
10 to 16 tons. 
20 to 30 tons. 
27 to 30 bushels. 
30 to 36 bushels. 
45 to 50 bushels, 
ij ton to 2 tons. 
Very few sheep are bred in this district, the farmers purchasing 
• These farmers live chiefly on barley bread, fish, pork, and potatoes; 
the butter, and a large quantity of pork and potatoes, being taken 
to Penzance market, which is the cheapest pork-mcarket in England. 
During the season, 300 head — about 170 dead and 130 alive — of swine are 
sent to this market once a week. The larger farmers keep a number of 
tiie old black dairy cows, supposed to be the aboriginal breed of the 
county. i\Iany of "these are rented by dairymen at 8/. per annum per 
cow. for which sum they have a quarter of an acre of potato-ground, 2 loads 
of turnips, 9 cwt. of straw, 72 fagots of furze, 100 tuif, and If acre of land 
for the keep of the cow. A renter of five cows has a dwelling-liouse, 
pig-houses, and potato-houses provided in addition. The calves belong 
to the dairymen. Numbers of these cottagers are sometimes located near 
or on a farm, forming a curious scene, the homestead being crowded with 
cow?', pigs, men, women, and children, — 
" Ignemque, laremque, 
Et pccus, et dominos communi clauderet usubra." 
