256 
On the Funning of Huntingdon. 
in the case of artificial food, and the same for fertilisers; tte 
farmyard manures are valued to an incoming tenant, and bay 
and straw, if any, at a spending price. 
Agricultural labour is here, as elsewhere, becomings more 
difficult to procure, and the want of better and more extended 
cottage accommodation begins to be felt. The present v/age of 
ordinary labourers is 125. to 13s. per week. 
The farm-horses are kept on oats, and cut hay and straw 
(luring the winter and spring months ; and on green food, tares, 
or Italian rye-grass, with an allowance of split beans or Indian 
corn, in the summer ; lying loose in the yards, they make a large 
quantity of manure. 
Some farmers keep a large number of store pigs, feeding theni 
on mangold and beans in the winter ; and on tares and other 
green food, with a limited supply of corn, in the summer. They 
make a large quantity of straw into manure, but seldom leave 
much direct profit behind. 
I, The Fen Distiiict. 
J. M. Heathcote, Esq., of Connington Castle, who owns tbe 
entire parish of Connington, upwards of 3000 acres in extent, 
is a liberal landlord and spirited improver. 
The farm-buildings on this estate are mostly modern, sub- 
stantial, and suited to the occupations ; Mr. Heathcote has like- 
wise erected many very good labourers' cottages, containing a 
living room, kitchen, and scullery, on the ground floor, and each 
Laving three very comfortable bed-rooms, which open separately 
into the landing and passage. These cottages are mostly buik 
in pairs, a plan whereby a considerable saving in the cost of 
construction is effected. 
Mr. Heathcote has in his own occupation a farm of 400 
acres, 200 acres being fen-land, and the other 200 acres sound 
upland, which, with the exception of 20 acres, is all in per- 
manent pasture ; the fen-land is farmed on the four-course system 
of cropping. Of the ten horses kept, four are constantly em- 
ployed on the estate. A flock of 120 breeding ewes, of the 
improved Lincoln type is kept, and for these superior rams, pur- 
chased at the celebrated Peterborough fairs, are used. The 
produce, after a sufficient number of the best ew"e teggs have 
been selected for the purpose of keeping up the flock, are fed ofl 
on roots and cake, and are clipped and sold to the butcher 
-tluring the months of April and May. A number of lambs, bought 
in the autumn, are wintered and fed off in the spring, when 
they are replaced by lean shearlings, which are fatted off with 
cake or corn supplied on the grass. The regular number of sheep 
liept on this farm is from 450 to 500. 
