Agriculture of North Wales. 
573 
provender to last during- winter for 50, GO, or 100 head of cattle, 
especially when it is taken into consideration that there is an 
almost entire absence of tillage; he is therefore necessitated to 
erect the buildings for the shelter of his cattle during winter in 
the spots where he can collect the greatest quantity of winter 
forage ; these spots are, as I have previously had occasion to 
mention, situate on or at the margin of some deep alluvial soils 
or peat moss, which yields the latter part of the year a con- 
siderable quantity of coarse rough marsh hay, possessing little 
nutriment, but sufficient to keep the cattle from starving ; it is rare 
to find more than six or eight head of cattle housed at one place. 
It will be quite apparent that, in the total absence of cultivated 
green crops, such as turnips, rape, &c., there is no better course 
for the mountain farmer to pursue, as to draw home hay from a 
variety of spots (many of which would be some miles apart from 
the dwelling) over deep mossy land, as there are no roads, would 
entail a degree of labour, both of men and horses, for which his 
means would be totally inadequate ; in fact, if he could obtain 
the means, the value of the produce would not repay the labour, 
and if he kept extra horses purposely, it must be borne in mind 
that the cost would indirectly be heavy, as he would have to 
summer graze a smaller number of cattle in proportion; besides, 
the horses would themselves devour a large portion of the hay 
which they might draw home for winter consumption ; under all 
circumstances, therefore, the system described as pursued in the 
mountain district now imder notice, and the remarks are appli- 
cable to other districts similarly situated, is the only one which 
the mountain grazier, with his present knowledge, can with safety 
pursue; indeed I can venture to assert that, all circumstances co;i- 
sidered, it is his very best course, until he becomes more intimate 
with an improved system : whether opportunities and facilities 
exist for such improved system is a question for consideration 
hereafter. 
How far are any peculiar Practices in the Husbandry of North 
Wales justified by peculiai'ities of Soil and Climate 1 
It would be unfair in reviewing the system of agriculture prac- 
tised throughout North Wales, to draw a comparison between the 
same, and that followed in the best agricultural districts of 
England, such as Lincolnshire, Norfolk, SufTolk, parts of North- 
ampton, Cambridge, and Kssex, places which, whether we cem- 
sider the general ability of the farmers, super-excellence in 
implements, and skill in using them, lar^e capital, quantity and 
quality of stock, either separately or collectively, stand pre- 
eminent over all other parts of the world. Admitting all the 
excellencies that exist in the districts alluded to, it must not be 
2 Q 2 
