On the Farming of Huntingdon. 
275 
and Lords Chesliam, St. John, and Overstone, Mr. Heathcote, 
Mr. Wells, Mr. Fellows, Rev. J. Linton, Captain Daberty, and 
some of tbe Cambridge Colleges, are all considerable owners. 
Improvements. — No county in England, probably, has been 
more improved during the past fifteen years than the one under 
consideration. In many parishes the produce of both corn and 
wheat has been doubled ; drainage, and the introduction of arti- 
ficial feeding stuffs, have produced a revolution in the farming, 
which a few j-ears ago the most sanguine never dreamed of; and 
it is only fair to the tenant-farmers to state that they have not 
failed to assist the landlords by freely contributing to the cost of 
improvements. Drainage operations are still being conducted 
with undiminished vigour. The quantity of oil-cake consumed 
by stock is greatly on the increase, and more of the produce of 
the farm is being converted into beef, mutton, or pork. 
The manure is increased in quantity and improved in quality, 
and its favourable effects are already apparent on the crops. 
Improvements still required. — In treating on this subject we 
feel as if treading on dangerous ground ; so much easier is it 
to find fault with the doings of others than to rectify existing 
evils. The farm-buildings and labourers' cottages require 
serious consideration ; as improvement progresses the wants of 
farmers increase ; when only little stock was kept, few buildings 
were necessary ; now, as the stock increases, the great want is 
that of sufficient shelter and accommodation ; and in order to 
attract tenants of capital, intelligence, and skill, comfortable farm- 
houses must be erected for their homes. The agricultural 
labourer requires a different domicile to the one he now occupies, 
in order that he may be enabled to bring up his family in 
decency, and start them out into the world respectable in appear- 
ance and uncorrupted in morals. 
A considerable extent of poor grass-land still requires improve- 
ment by drainage and other means, and a greater degree of 
attention might be advantageously bestowed on the woods. The 
waste is frightful. 
Note of the Geology op Huntingdonshire. 
Huntingdonshire belongs to what is called geologically the 
Oolitic system. It displays the characteristics of that range of 
rock formation in its soil and physical appearance. The south- 
eastern part of the county shows the iron-sand rising into 
rounded shoulders of hills ; the larger part of the county, how- 
ever, displays the Oxford Clay, which lies between the Middle 
and Lower Oolite. The depth of the formation varies, but is 
