Oil the Farming of Iluntiii/jdon. 
Of the total extent (140,3()() ivcres) of lands under cultivation — 
33 per cent, was undur wheat in 18GG. 
K) per cent, barley. 
8 per cent. oats. 
it per cent, beans. 
8 per cent, bare fallow. 
15 jier cent, ureen crop. 
8 per cent, clovers or cultivated grasses. 
.'5 per cent, is devoted to the cultivation of rye and peas. 
The Cattle in the county on the 5th day of March, 1866, 
numbered 19,812, beinj^ in the proportion of 10'3 to each 100 
acres of land under cultivation. The cattle-plague visited this 
county with great severity, about 11 J per cent, of the whole stock 
having either died or been sacrificed through the disease. Up to 
the 3rd March, 1866, 10'83 healthy cattle were killed from having 
been in contact with diseased animals, or from fear of infection ; 
1789 died from the fatal effects of the plague ; and 467 were killed 
in different stages of the malady. Neither was this loss the limit 
of the unfortunate farmer's distress, for as the cattle could 
not safely be replaced, for a considerable length of time, occu- 
piers were not able to stock their land in the usual way, so as to 
turn their herbage to proper account. 
The number of Sheep in the county, in 1866, was 117,821, or 
Cl'2 per 100 acres of the area of land under cultivation. 
The Swine, of various breeds, or rather a mixture of different 
varieties, numbered 26,602 ; a large per-centage to the aren. 
Many of the strong stores, after they have gleaned the stubbles, 
are sold to the farmers in the dairy counties, to be fattened 
on whey and barleymeal ; and great numbers are yearly fed on 
the inferior barleys in the county; but unless the price exceeds 
10s. per score lbs., they leave little behind in the shape of profit : 
yet as they make a large quantity of good manure, the farmer is 
generally satisfied if they pay for the food consumed. Breeding- 
has latterly paid much better than feeding. 
The great Fen-lands of the county may be said to commence 
in the parish of Fen Stanton on the south-east, proceeding in an 
easterly direction round the confines of the county, and emlnacing 
parts of the different parishes of Holywell, Needingworth, 
Bluntisham, Earith, Somersham, Warboys, Ramsey, Sawtry, Coii- 
nington. Home, Stilton, and Yaxley, terminating at Farcet, on 
the north, and covering an area upwards of 50,000 acres in extent. 
The soil of this district is of a black peaty nature, composed almost 
entirely of vegetable matter, resting on a subsoil of white marlv 
clay, the depth of the peat varying from 3 to 7 or 8 feet. Drainage 
is effected by open ditches, cut at suitable distances, to convev 
the water into main ditches or droves. By the withdrawal of 
water the peat becomes consolidated, and consequently reduced 
