The Farmincj of Westmorland. 
25 
are shorn about the latter end of May, and fattened on grass tho 
same summer. The cast ewes are also fatted before bein» dis- 
posed of. 
Steam Cultivatiox. 
There is only one farmer in the county, in the writer's know- 
ledfi'P, who has tried steam-cultivation, viz. Mr. John Nicholson, 
of Kirkby Thore Hall, who approves of it. It is very doubtful, 
however, whether it ever will become general, or its use pro- 
fitable in Westmorland. The area of arable land is small ; the 
farms are comparatively small ; the fields are often any shape; 
but square ; the surface very broken and irregular, and the soil 
often full of boulders, rocks, and large stones, fit to smash any 
machinery. Moreover, the correct tendency is to plough less and 
graze more. 
Draining. 
Tile-draining has progressed considerably. There are some 
districts, however, where the ground is so stony and rocky that 
sufficient stones come out of the cutting to wall the drain with. 
Lord Lonsdale was the first to commence tile and deep draining, 
and has drained upwards of 10,000 acres on his vast Lowther 
estate, which however extends into Cumberland. Sir Richard 
Tufton, Edward Wilson, Esq., of Rigmaden, the Hon. Mrs. 
Howard, William Crackanthorpe, Esq., Wilkinson Dent, Esq., and 
others, have also drained considerable portions of their estates 
with marked benefit. The usual course is for the landlord to 
execute and pay for the work, the tenant leading the materials, 
and paying 5 per cent, interest on the landlord's outlay. 
Thorough drainage in ordinary cases costs 6Z. to 11 per acre. 
Tile works on the northern side of the county are established 
at Lowther, Wetherriggs, Julian Bower, Bleatarn, &c. 2-inch 
pipes cost about 22s. 6cZ. per 1000. The Kendal district con- 
tains no clay, and tiles are brought from Lancashire, 2-inch 
pipes costing about 20^. per 1000. Considering the heavy rain- 
fall, it is not considered safe to use smaller sizes. It is not usual 
to put in collars, except in quicksands or soft bottoms. 
Notwithstanding all that has been done, plenty yet remains 
undone. The rainfall bein"- much heavier than the averagfe of 
other counties, larger tiles, more capacious outfalls, and narrower 
distances between the drains are required, and from forgetting 
these points, and also putting in the drains too shallow, or with 
too little fall, great mistakes have been occasionally made, and 
consequent failures, discouraging further efforts. The subsoil of 
much of the undrained soils is a hard, compact, impervious mass ■ 
of clay and gravel indurated, locally called "sammei," and mnnv 
