176 
Farming of IPlltsMre. 
kept with advantage. In this case the short-horned breed is pre- 
ferred on account ot their coming to maturity at an early age. 
Grazing of Cattle. — A great part of the rich meadow land upon 
the banks oi' the Avon and Thames, and in other fertile districts 
of this division of the county, is applied to the grazing of cattle and 
sheep. Of cattle, heifers are principally the slock chosen for this 
purpose, and are supplied from the neighbouring dairies. When 
oxen are chosen, which are comparatively but few, Herefords and 
Devons are the breeds preferred. Of sheep, both South Down 
and Long Wools are fattened. (When there is a portion of arable 
land attached to the farm, and roots are grown, winter grazing is 
often adoj)ted, the dairy farmers grazing some of their cows that 
are out of season.) 
Pigs. — The breed of pigs is the same as in South Wilts, viz., 
the Spotted or Berkshire, of which great numbers are bred, and 
fattened at the dairies, at all seasons of the year. Their chief 
food in the summer is whey, and in the winter potatoes, corn 
being added always to both. 
Sheep. — The sheep stock of this division of the county is dif- 
ferent from that of South Wilts, the cross between the Cotswold 
and Soutli Downs being mostly preferred. There are, however, 
some flocks of pure South Downs and Cotsvvolds. Nearly the 
same system of management in respect of keeping and sale is 
adopted in both divisions. On the Gloucestershire side of the 
county some farmers pursue the plan of their neighbours, viz., 
that of keeping smaller breeding flocks, and fattening the whole 
of their sheep. 
Horses. — A pair driven abreast with reins is the usual number 
employed in ploughing the lighter soils ; three or even four are 
sometimes attached to a plough upon some of the heavy land. 
Oxen are very little used in this division. Harrowing, dragging, 
scarifying, harvesting, and carting of manure are done the same 
as in South Wilts. 
ImjAcments. — The plough generally used upon the stonebrash 
soil IS the one-wheel plough made by Reeves of JBratton. It is 
nothing more than the common plough with a longer turn-furrow 
and beam, by means of which the furrows are more evenly turned, 
the draught steadied, and the plough not so liable to be shaken 
out of its work by the stones. \ arious kinds are in use upon 
other soils, but principally one-wheel ploughs of old (and some 
few of new) construction. The Suffolk drill is chiefly used, and 
is generally hired as in South Wilts. Drags and harrows or the 
same. A scarifier made by Phelps of Lacock is well adapted to 
light soils, and much used (m the stonebrash. The Uley culti- 
vator has been lately introduced upon some of the heavier soils.. 
Land-prcssers are in general use upon the stonebrash. Horse- 
