262 
On the Farming of Huntingdon, 
land. A few slieep have suffered from lameness ; but losses from 
this cause are not uncommon in the district when sheep are kept 
on the land. Shearlings in general winter better than lamb-hoggs : 
thej are fed on mangold, kohl-rabi, and turnips, with plenty of 
clover-chaff and two or three fodderings of straw daily ; they pick 
the straw over when it is used for litter. 
INlr. Thomas George, of Bythorne, Avhose death has been 
announced since this essay was written, was the most extensive 
tenant farmer in the county ; his occupation embracing an area of 
IGOO acres, and its cultivation employing a team of from 55 to 60 
horses. The land, although belonging to various owners, is not 
detached, but lies well together. At Bythorne village, where Mr. 
George resided, the owners being the governors of St. Katherine's 
Hospital, London, the farm buildings, only recently erected, are 
extensive, well arranged, and most substantial in character ; the 
yards are dished out in the centre to the depth of five feet, and 
all the buildings are provided with spouts for carrying off the 
water. On the occasion of the writer's visit the yards were full 
of store stock of different ages eating straw, turnips, and from 
4 to 5 lbs. per head per diem of good linseed cake. A large 
number of pigs are also kept ; hence the manure is of excel- 
lent quality. The drainage of several fields is collected in 
a reservoir above the yards, thus giving an unfailing supply 
of water, and at the same time saving the labour and expense of 
pumping. 
A large number of young stock are reared on the farm, several 
well-bred bulls being kept and used not only for heifers reared on 
the farm but for purchased cows. Many of the latter annually 
pass to supply the London milkmen, but always with the under- 
standing that the calves shall be returned as soon as dropped. By 
this means a superior breed is maintained. The steers are all 
disposed of when from Zh to 4 years old ; the calves are kept 
progressing, but not put to grass till they have attained the age 
of from nine to twelve months. 
Although the landlords erected the farm buildings, the tenant 
has been at great cost in levelling and road-making. On this 
farm some very comfortable cottages have been recently erected. 
Mr. George also held a farm of 700 acres under the Duke of 
Manchester on a 25 years' lease. A great portion of the land 
was originally in old grass, which in its natural condition was of 
very little value ; 500 acres, however, laid out in four fields, are 
now in cultivation, and the whole having been drained at a 
depth of from 3 to 4 feet, is sound enough to allow of sheep 
being folded on the roots during the whole of the winter months. 
On the farm are a comfortable farm-house and a compact and 
substantial farm -yard, with suitable buildings, all of recent 
