Aijricnlture of North Wales. 
567 
possessing capital sufficient to cultivate their lands : nevertheless tlie 
difficulty of meeting constant expenses frequently induces some of them 
to forego tlieir wonted course to suit emergencies. 
" The smellier sized farms are often occupied by those whose means 
are not equal to their take, and who therefore are always in difficulties. 
Tfiose wlio are more able are compelled to hurry their lands by too 
frequent cropping to meet their calls. There are of course exceptions; 
for in many instances, where farms are got into a good course of manage- 
ment, the occupiers prosper. Rents in Wales range considerably higher 
than those of lands in England of similar fertility. Although the ap- 
proach from these farms to good markets is often tedious and difficult, 
yet generally in this district the rents are not very high in comparison 
with other parts of Wales ; for tliis part is chiefly the property of tliose 
who arc influential and benevolent. Tithes and taxes are our most 
serious considerations. Rents range from 2os. to 40*. upon the best 
soils. I believe the tithes and taxes are about 12*. to 13*. and 16*. to 
18*. per acre on the best soils. At the south end of the vale the soil 
varies often from gravelly to a reddish but kind description of soil, 
sometimes approaching to clay. Towards the centre of the vale, or a 
little north of Denbigh, the soil is for a few miles of an inferior descrip- 
tion, or, if I may so describe it, thin and poor. From thence towards 
the sea it gradually approaches a strong clay or marshy soil, upon which 
much wheat and beans are grown. On this ntrong land the tithe (com- 
muted) averages about 8*. to 9*. per acre, and the former from 4*. to 6*. 
per acre. 
" Tlie usual course of cultivation 's the six-course shift, viz., wheat, 
barley, turnips, barley, with clover lying for two years ; but more north, 
wheat and beans are the pi-evailing crops. In the wheat-growing dis- 
tricts from 4 to 5 quarters per acre are good average crops ; but to the 
soutlnvard 3 quarters ])er acre can only be depended on. Barley, in the 
best soils, from 5 to 6 quarters ; oats from 5 to 6 quarters. We are 
bounded on the west by a poorer sort of soil, growing wheat IMo 2 
quarters per acre, barley 2^ to 3 quarters ditto, oats 2i to 3^ quarters 
ditto, extending to the miinclosed mountains upon which sheep are 
reared. The soil here is generally very poor, and the elevation higli. 
The occupiers of the inclosed farms, averaging about 60 acres, probably 
at 12*. per acre, are generally a hard-working class of men, who en- 
deavour, by unceasing labour and economical mode of living, to provide 
for their families. They are seldom enabled to further their prosperity 
by education, but are silent or satisfied, and deserve the sympathy of 
those who acquire wealth by less labour and easier occupations." 
In the course noticed by my Ruthin correspondent, I must re- 
jnind the reader iliat at the commencement of each course it is 
lea that is broken up. The turnips are always drawn, and in 
many places potatoes take the place of turnips in the rotation. 
After the land is laid down to grass two or three years, it is again 
broken up for wheat or other grain crop, according to the quality 
of the land. The above is a fair description of the system of 
tillage pursued throughout the vales of Chvyd and Wrexham. In 
