On the Farming of Huntingdon. 
2G7 
arable land which has not bocn once draluc d ; but in cases where the 
drains have been put in at a depth of from 24 to 30 inc hes only, a 
greater depth being found necessary, much of the work has had to 
be gone over a second time, and the drains put in at a depth of 
from 3 to 4 feet. Drainage has likewise had the effect of not only 
producing a better quality of grain, but causing it to ripen both 
earlier and more evenly. I had shown to me a sample of barley 
grown near Kimbolton, on some of the most tenacious land in the 
county, but now perfectly drained, which bore the appearance of 
having been the produce of some of the best barley soils of the 
county of Nottingham. The district under consideration pro- 
duces on an average of years about four quarters per acre of wheat, 
five quarters of barley, and four quarters of beans, the rent varying 
from 18s. to 27s. per acre. 
The new Union assessment has in some districts nearly doubled 
the rates ; in a few years, when the roads have once been put in 
a thorough state of repair, there will doubtless be a reduction. 
Some parishes are at present paying three tenpenny rates, 
Tenancg. — The land is mostly held on yearly tenancy ; tho 
time of entry being Michaelmas and Lady-day. On some estates 
the outffoine: tenant is allowed on valuation for unexhausted 
manures ; the system, however, is not general ; hay and straw are 
valued to an incoming tenant at a consuming price ; seed and 
labour, and the year's rates and taxes, being charged on the fallow 
wheats. 
Cropping. — Different systems of cropping are adopted ; but on 
the strong land a modification of the four-course most generally 
obtains. A portion of the first-year fallow being sown with winter 
tares, is fed off by sheep, or mown green for the farm-horses 
during the summer, and then properly cultivated ; another part 
is sown with mangold, turnips, or kohl-rabi, which are generallj' 
partly eaten on the land, and partly on the grass-land or by 
sheep in the yards ; the remainder is treated as bare fallow, or 
sown late with rape or mustard. 
Second year. — Barley drilled at the rate of three bushels per 
acre. As the use of the cultivator is preferred to that of the 
plough, spring ploughing is avoided as much as possible before 
the seed is deposited. 
Third year. — Beans succeed the barley where tares were 
grown upon the fallows ; the other portion being sown with 
clovers, so that each crop comes alternately but once in eight 
years. On all the stiffer kinds of soils broad clover alone is 
grown, whilst, on freer soils, a mixture of trefoil and Italian rye- 
grass is most in favour. The broad clovers are all put in with 
the drill, the rows being from three to four inches apart. By 
the adoption of this plan they are found to stand much better. 
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