Farming of Monmouthshire . 
283 
arc corresponding] J various in their bulk as well as in their 
feeding properties. 
The farming is chiefly confined to grazing and the growth 
of hay, for which there is a constant demand in the manufacturing 
districts of the hills. 
The drainage at present consists simply of large open cuts or 
channels, through which the water that falls upon the land, as well 
as that which flows down from the hills above, is conveyed by a 
natural descent to the sea; and these channels are also the only 
divisions or fences between the enclosures. The main drains, or 
" reens," may be called arteries, as they not only carry the surplus 
water out to the sea, but also convey the supply of fresh water 
required for the use of the inhabitants and for the general purposes 
of the district. The lands are not letout in large holdings, but in 
small farms varying from 200 down to 20 acres. A large portion, 
happily, is also let to farmers who live far out of the district, by 
whom tlie lands are much sought after, as a change for their 
young stock from their sterile mountain pastures, and to finish off 
such of their cows as they may turn out of their dairy for feeding. 
The best land in point of quality lies within the parishes of 
Nash, Goldclift, and Redwick. Here, in many allotments in 
these parishes, bullocks may be fed on grass alone to great per- 
fection : the quantity usually assigned as necessary for the feeding 
of each bullock is from an acre to an acre and a quarter. The 
letting value varies from 305. to 60s. per acre, and some choice 
pieces can be let at 70s. to 80.9. per acre. But very small 
portions are cultivated — none, indeed, except for the growth of 
corn for the farmer's own use, and for the sake of straw as litter. 
In no instance is any regular course of husbandry adopted on 
these arables. 
From a return made to Parliament in the year 1866, it appears 
that the total acreage in Monmouthshire under all kinds of crops, 
bare fallow, and grass — 
Acres. 
At that date was but 208,276 
Under corn crops 41,469 
Under green crops .... 15,658 
Under clover and artificial grass 10,552 
Under permanent pasture, meadow or grass (not broken iij) 
in rotation), exclusive of hill pasture 127,071 
Percentage of crops : total acreage under all kinds of crops, 
bare fallow, and grass 19*9 
Cattle. 
Cattle. 
Total number of estimated ordinary stock of cattle .. .. 36,735 
Proportionate number to every one hundred acres, under 
crops, bare fallow, and grass 17-6 
VOL. VI. — S. S. X 
