28 
The Farming of Westmorland. 
at agricultura] dinners, but met as it seems only in talk, is 
the provision against waste of farm -yard manure. A covered 
" midden stead " is a curiosity. The dung from the cow-houses 
is heaped up near the door, exposed to the elements, drenched 
by every shower, Avhile the washings and filterings run away by 
the roadside, or percolate into the nearest water-course or ditch. 
Most of the older homesteads are placed in low ground, near a 
running stream, rendering the preservation of the manure difli- 
cult, a point on which we should not imitate the example of our 
forefathers. Here and there is an attempt at a tank, but the fact 
remains that a large proportion of the manure, and its most 
valuable constituents, is absolutely wasted. The researches of 
science have proved that manure exposed to rain loses very much 
in substance and quality. 
In many cases, where the manure is not mixed with straw or 
litter, it might be applied fresh, as soon as made, so that the 
land would appropriate all the ingredients at once ; but in 
mixed farms the midden stead should be covered, so as to 
exclude rain, not air, and the liquid preserved in a tank, and 
})umped up over the solid, so as to saturate and decompose it. 
Here, however, the tenant cannot do all, and the landlord's 
assistance is necessary. 
Many of the older farm-houses are deficient in proper sleeping 
accommodation for the farmer's family and his servants. If 
this be, as is alleged, one of the causes of the blot on Westmor- 
land's morality — the excessive rate of illegitimacy — not a year 
should be allowed to pass away without a resolute effort for a 
remedy. 
Some few farms have lately employed steam for thrashing, 
chopping, pulping, &c., and others avail themselves of water- 
power, where convenient. 
Leases. 
Although leases are far from being general, they are gradually 
becoming more so than formerly. On the great Lowthcr Estate, 
and also on the Dallam Tower Estate, it is understood that no 
leases are granted, but the tenants, notwithstanding, have con- 
fidence that so long as they pay rent and observe conditions they 
will not be dispossessed. As, however, time goes on, and the 
produce of land is increased, and prices rise, re-valuations are 
occasionally made and the rent increased, and such an arrange- 
ment is generally cheerfully acquiesced in. Sir Richard Tufton, 
adopting the Scotch system, has granted 19 years' leases on 
some of the larger farms on his Appleby Castle Estates. On the 
Rigmaden Estate, and also on the property of William Crackan- 
