174 
Farming  of  Gloucestershire. 
have  been  the  means  of  introducing  to  the  world  guano,  oil-cake, 
linseed,  &c.,  more  easily  than  was  experienced  before,  and  have 
otherwise,  to  some  considerable  extent,  been  of  use  to  the  agri- 
culturist. 
Improvements  still  required. 
In  the  Vale  of  the  Thames,  on  the  Oxford  and  forest-marble 
clays,  and  on  the  cornbrash,  which  is  generally  so  thin  as  to  be 
much  injured  by  the  retention  of  water  on  the  forest-marble 
underneath,  much  draining  has  been  done,  particularly  within 
the  last  seven  years.  But  I know  this  district  well,  having,  for 
some  purpose  or  other,  been  into  almost  every  field ; and  I find 
only  about  a fourth  part  of  the  draining  executed  that  is  required. 
The  execution  of  the  remainder  is  an  improvement  still  required  ; 
and  draining  on  many  of  the  soils  will  make  an  excellent  return 
to  the  landowner. 
On  the  Cotswolds  little  draining  is  required.  In  places  where 
the  fuller’s  earth  comes  to  the  surface,  and  crosses  arable  fields 
in  narrow  belts,  it  is  required,  and  ought  to  be  executed;  but 
generally  these  spots  should  be  trenched  and  planted  with  ash 
coppice.  The  soil  is  worthless  as  arable.  Also  draining  is  re- 
quired at  the  bottoms  and  sides  of  the  valleys  which  so  fantas- 
tically furrow  up  the  Cotswolds.  Some  is  already  done;  but  not 
half  of  that  which  is  required. 
If  a portion  of  the  highest  and  driest  part  of  the  county  requires 
to  be  drained,  what  shall  we  say  of  the  Vale?  At  one  time  all 
the  vale  required  it ; and  now,  in  proportion  to  the  extent,  it 
requires  more  than  any  other  division  of  the  county.  It  would, 
indeed,  effect  little  good  on  some  portions  near  the  Severn;  but 
not  a fourth  of  the  land  of  the  vale  has  been  drained,  and  not  less 
than  half  the  Bristol  and  Forest  district  still  requires  it. 
Draining  having  been  properly  and  judiciously  executed,  a 
higher  culture  of  the  land  will  be  sure  to  follow,  because  the 
farmer  will  obtain  a better  and  more  certain  return  from  the  soil, 
and  can  work  and  cultivate  it  more  easily,  and  consequently 
perform  it  more  effectually,  and  thus  general  improvement  will 
result.  But  it  is  not  only  on  land  that  requires  to  be  drained 
where  still  further  improvements  are  requisite.  In  taking  a hasty 
glance  at  our  best  farmers,  we  feel,  and  they  know  it  themselves, 
that  improvements  can  and  must  be  adopted  as  soon  as  circum- 
stances will  permit  it.  We  are  pleased  to  find  them  not  only 
encouraging  but  originating  improvements,  and  have  to  regret 
that  their  spirit  and  example  are  lost  upon  or  disregarded  by 
many  of  their  neighbours.  Nothing  is  more  striking  to  strangers 
when  crossing  the  Cotswold  district  than  the  foul  state  of  some 
of  the  wheat  stubbles.  This  stain  upon  the  character  of  the 
