134 
Farming  of  Gloucestershire. 
It  appears  on  the  surface  in  a small  band  only,  on  the  sides  of 
the  hills  in  Sapperton  valley.  It  then  winds  round  the  north- 
west edge  of  the  hills  to  Minchinhampton,  and  thence  in  a very 
irregular  manner  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Bath,  & c.  This  in- 
significant band  of  clay  gives  rise  to  the  rivulets  on  which  the 
Gloucestershire  cloth-mills  and  dyeing  establishments  are  erected, 
and  the  waters  are  represented  as  being  peculiarly  fitted  for  the 
purpose  of  such  manufacturers.  The  soil  partakes  of  the  character 
of  the  Forest  marble  and  the  Bradford  clay,  having  a thin  slate 
rock  intermixed  with  clay,  which  causes  it  to  be  springy  and  very 
wet.  There  are  not  any  farms  wholly  of  this  kind  of  soil.  Where 
it  occurs  the  crops  vary  a little  according  to  the  nature  of  each 
particular  field,  and  it  causes  but  little  difference  in  the  farming. 
Immediately  to  the  west  of  this  worthless  band  of  wet  clay 
lies  the  inferior  oolite,  which  brings  us  in  contact  with  the  eastern 
verge  of  the  vale,  at  a point  not  less  than  three -fourths  of  the  way 
up  the  hill.  The  character  of  the  soil  is  much  the  same  as  that 
on  the  Bath  freestone.  The  land  is  more  elevated,  the  soil  is 
weaker  in  quality,  and  the  pastures  produce  but  a scanty  crop. 
In  the  valleys  the  soil  is  deeper,  and  the  crops  moderately  good. 
The  five  or  six  field  system  of  husbandry  is  followed,  as  on  the 
great  oolite,  with  about  the  same  proportion  of  sainfoin.  Analysis 
would  probably  show  very  little  difference  in  the  great  and  inferior 
oolites.  The  inferior  possesses  a trifle  more  silicious  sand  or  less 
clay.  It  is  not  quite  so  adhesive  when  ploughed. 
The  size  of  the  farms  on  this  second  division  varies  from  200 
to  1000  acres  and  upwards.  I know  several  above  1000  ; one 
or  two  above  2000  acres.  Opportunity  is  thus  given  for  men  with 
large  as  well  as  small  capital  to  embark  in  business.  The  smaller 
holdings  predominate  in  the  southern  part  of  the  district  on  the 
strongest  land,  and  the  larger  on  the  middle  and  northern  parts. 
The  peculiar  character  of  the  soil,  and  the  management  of  the 
Cotswolds,  will  in  some  measure  have  been  gathered  from  the 
previous  remarks.  It  will  have  been  seen  that  the  land  varies 
much  in  quality,  still  retaining  the  same  outward  character,  being 
calcareous  or  marly.  It  is  nearly  or  altogether  free  from  silicious 
matter  in  the  shape  of  flints,  and,  in  comparison  with  other  soils, 
contains  a very  moderate  quantity  of  sand.  It  is  naturally  of  a 
hollow,  porous  character,  contracting  and  expanding  with  almost 
every  alteration  in  the  weather.  We  do  not  therefore  plough 
even  our  wet  lands  into  the  narrow  stetches  for  the  cattle  to  walk 
between  whilst  planting  it,  as  is  the  practice  in  the  eastern  coun- 
ties. On  the  contrary,  we  find  that  the  treading  of  teams  is 
beneficial  in  wheat  planting,  provided  the  land  is  not  so  wet  that 
their  footsteps  will  not  harrow  out.  Late-planted  wheat  and 
vetches  are  liable  to  be  drawn  out  of  the  ground  and  get  very 
