Farming of Wiltshire. 
179 
(though the writer is of that class), it must be confessed, are far 
from being so ; but there are many exceptions in both cases. 
The ploughs in general use are somewhat similar to those de- 
scribed by Ml"- Davis; but there is this difference, they are not 
the great heavv cumbrous implements of that day, very great at- 
tention having been paid latelv to their improvement by the dif- 
ferent makers, with regard to the draught and turn-furrow, »5cc. : 
and not onlv are the ploughs improved, but the ploughing also ; 
the land is ploughed much deeper, and the work performed gene- 
rally in a much superior manner. The prizes given by the dif- 
ferent agricultural societies at their annual ploughing-matches 
have increased among the ploughmen throughout the county a 
spirit of honest rivalship, which has done great good. While 
writing on the improvement of ploughs and ploughing, it will be 
well to point out another most important alteration connected 
with it, that is, drivinsr a pair of horses abreast with reins, which is 
now used very generallv on all the light lands, whereby the number 
of horses is considerably diminished. The general application of 
the drill system for corn and green crops, which was scarcely intro- 
duced m is an important improvement, both in saving of 
seed and the opportunity it gives for clearing the crops ; and 
although the use of the horse-hoe has not followed the introduc- 
tion ot the drill, as in manv other counties, hoeing is not neglected, 
but is chiefly done bv hand. With the exception of waggons, carts, 
ploughs, drags, and harrows, the implements now in general use 
were almost unknown in this county in the year 1811, as they are 
not mentioned by Mr. Davis — in fact manv of them have been 
introduced recentlv. 
Drainage. — Although the drainage of some parts of the north- 
ern division of the county is far from being in a good state, there 
are some districts that have been greatlv improved in this respect, 
particularly the arable land, much of which is inclined to be very 
wet and lull of springs. A good deal of the poor pastures remains 
much in the same state as in 1811. 
Oi all the alterations that have been made in the agriculture of 
this county there is none that strikes one more forcibly than the 
change made in the cattle ; although the same svstems are fol- 
lowed, sheep-farming in South Wilts and dairy-farming in North 
Wilts, a complete change has taken place in the breed of cattle 
and sheep since the year 1811. The long-horned cows, which at 
that period were the universal breed of the county, have now be- 
come nearly extinct, and the short-horns for some few years past 
have been preferred in the best pasture districts, and this breed 
appears to be gaining favour with most dairvmen even on the 
poorer lands. The Wdtshire liorned sheep, which were then the 
breed of the count v, have entirely ffiven way to the South Downs 
N 2 
