( 75  ) 
IV. — On  the  Farming  of  Sussex.  By  John  Far  n com  be. 
This  county,  of  1,400,000  acres,  and  between  300  and  400 
parishes,  contains  a great  variety  of  soils  and  systems  of  usage, 
which  consequently  render  it  too  difficult  to  describe  in  par- 
ticular ; but  having  been  bred  a farmer,  and  having  practised  in 
different  parts  of  the  county  on  a great  variety  of  soils  and 
systems  applicable  thereto,  having  had  twenty-five  years’  prac- 
tice as  a valuer,  with  the  advantage  also  of  being  employed 
by  the  Tithe  Commissioners  as  their  usual  local  agent  for  the 
county,  in  reporting  on  the  agreements  for  the  Commutation  of 
Tithes;  and  having  been  likewise  extensively  engaged  in  the 
apportionment  of  the  rent-charges,  I am  induced  to  offer  to  your 
notice  my  experience,  and  to  report  on  the  Farming  of  Sussex. 
I shall  begin  by  dividing  the  county  into  three  districts.  The 
first  comprises 
South  and  West  Downs,  which  rise  towards  the  east  at  South- 
borne,  and  continue  westward  as  far  as  Hampshire, — southward 
by  the  places  named  as  the  northern  boundary  of  No.  2,  and 
northward  by  the  great  valley  of  the  Weald. 
The  soils  on  this  range  are  various,  but  generally  kind  and 
principally  of  chalk  quality,  some  flinty,  a small  portion  sandy, 
and  the  smallest  portion  of  all  adhesive  and  black  land. 
The  systems  of  farming,  like  the  soil,  vary  very  much  and 
generally  according  to  the  proportion  of  the  arable  to  the 
meadow  and  pasture.  Where  the  arable  land  is  in  much  the 
lesser  proportion  the  general  system  is  in  thirds,  viz. — 
One-third  wheat. 
One-third  barley. 
One  third  in  equal  proportion  of  seeds  to  mow  and  feed  and  of  green 
fallow  for  sheep-feed. 
In  cases  where  the  proportion  is  more  equal,  generally  in 
fourths,  viz. : — 
One-fourth  wheat.  I One-fourth  seeds. 
Where  there  is  less  meadow  and  pasture,  in  fifths,  viz. : — 
Prize  Report. 
One-fourth  barley. 
One-fourth  fallow  for  sheep-feed. 
One-fifth  wheat. 
One-fifth  barley. 
One-fifth  seeds. 
One-tenth  seeds. 
One-tenth  oats. 
One-fifth  fallow. 
And  in  some  very  few  instances  in  sixths,  viz.  : — 
One-sixth  wheat. 
One-sixth  barley. 
One-sixth  seeds. 
One-twell'th  ditto. 
One-twelfth  oats. 
One-sixth  fallow. 
One-sixth  sainfoin, 
