Derby Prize-Farm Competition^ 1881. 
457 
But lest we should be thought unmindful of the minor 
beauties of this more level district, let us state that the charming 
views along the valleys of the Derwent and the Dove, the noble 
Trent with its broad expanse of meadows, the hills and dales of 
Ashbourne bordering on the Peak district, the lovely scenery 
around Stretton, and the grand old ruins of Croxdon Abbey 
with its interesting medi<Eval relics, did not escape our notice 
and admiration. 
But we must at once come to the prosaic record of the chief 
agricultural features of the district, and give a commonplace 
description of all the farms we visited. 
Mr. Little had to report the curious and happy fact that the 
agricultural depression which was so common in the south-east 
and middle parts of England had not reached such northern 
limits as Cumberland and Westmoreland. We are glad to be 
able to report that we failed to detect the intensity of that 
extreme depression in the districts around Derby. Mr. Little 
suggested some excellent practical reasons which would account 
for the flourishing condition of the husbandry of the locality he 
inspected. Among other facts that seemed to tell in favour of 
the Cumberland and Westmoreland farmers, Mr. Little put the 
good quality and great weight of the roots grown, the flourish- 
ing condition of the oat crop, the absence of couch-grass 
without any special pains taken for its eradication, the goodness 
of the labour and the lowness of the rates. We do not deny 
that some of these blessings are enjoyed by the farmers around 
Derby, and we contend that they are equally frugal and in- 
dustrious as their northern brethren, but the salvation of the 
agriculture of the district inspected by us we should sum up in 
one word as Milk. Furthermore, we would state that the best 
style of common farming — growing corn and meat — if ever so 
well done, with plenty of capital judiciously expended, the 
greatest assiduity and industry on the part of the tenant, and 
under other favourable conditions, does not pay with rents, 
labour, and outgoings as high as we found them. Nothing 
more was yielded than a beggarly percentage, not equal to that 
secured by an investment in the Funds ; while those who pro- 
duced milk were able, after defraying all their personal and house- 
hold expenses out of the farm, to show a solid profit that would 
more than equal the best times and seasons of arable farming. 
It is supposed that the success of a dairying district depends 
in a measure upon a heavy rainfall. The rainfall of Derby is 
by no means excessive, the average hardly reaching 26 inches 
a year, which is less than that of many Midland counties, and 
not much in excess of the dry districts of East Anglia. It is 
the soil and locality, rather than the rainfall, which renders the 
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