674 
On  the  Fanning  of  Somerset. 
From  the  increased  rental  (which  includes  the  tithe)  deduc- 
tions must  be  made  for  rates  and  taxes,  as  well  as  for  the  tri- 
ennial dose  of  lime  referred  to  below.  The  tenants  pay  Is.  per 
acre  to  the  shepherd,  who  takes  care  of  the  stock  and  keeps  up 
the  fences.* 
The  soil  on  which  these  improvements  have  been  effected,  all 
rests  upon  a substratum  of  grey  slate  (stone  rag).  The  surface, 
as  Mr.  Blake  found  it,  was  in  three  different  conditions: — 1. 
Peat,  to  a depth  of  5 feet,  between  which  and  the  slate  rock  a 
layer  of  clay  is  interposed.  2.  Old  worn-out  arable  land.  3.  Old 
grass-fields,  and  open  common  which  had  never  been  cultivated, 
but  was  covered  with  fern  and  short  English  furze. 
Mr.  Blake  thus  explains  his  mode  of  management: — 
“ My  mode  of  draining  varies  with  the  soil— the  most  extensive  being 
the  peat  bogs,  requiring  gutters  from  4 to  7 feet  deep,  and  from  20  to 
30  feet  apart,  the  expense  varying  from  Is.  2d.  to  2s.  3d.  per  rod  for  dig- 
ging, getting,  drawing  the  stones,  and  filling  in.  The  furthest  distance 
for  the  carriage  of  stones  does  not.  exceed  a quarter  of  a mile.  The  cost 
of  drains  per  acre  is  from  51.  to  9/.  10s.  The  soil  consists  of  from  3 to 
5 feet  of  peat,  1 foot  clay,  and  ] foot  of  a mixture  of  stone  rag  and  clay, 
on  which  it  is  necessary  to  use  the  pickaxe.  This  subsoil  contains  the 
springs  and  forms  a good  bottom  for  the  stones , which  I much  prefer  to 
pipes.  I have  been  obliged  to  take  up  several  gutters  laid  down  with 
lj  inch  and  1 j inch  pipe,  on  account  of  their  being  quite  filled  with  small 
fibrous  roots  the  second  summer.  I think  the  pipes  are  better  adapted 
for  strong  clay,  into  w'hich  the  roots  do  not  penetrate. 
“ On  the  fresh-drained  peat-bog,  after  spading  and  burning,  and  plough- 
ing (if  it  will  admit  the  horses;  if  not,  trenching),  I lay  on  100  bushels  of 
lime  per  acre  in  the  most  caustic  state — being  slaked  with  water,  laid  on 
hot  the  same  day  and  harrowed  in  immediately.  This  I do  two  seasons 
following,  before  each  crop  of  turnips,  and  it  is  this  plan  I have  found  to 
answer  so  well.  In  this  way  I succeed  in  decomposing  the  sour  peat, 
which  before  produced  nothing,  into  as  fine  a mould  as  you  would  desire 
for  a garden ; and  in  three  or  four  years  it  will  grow  any  of  the  clovers. 
“ I had  three  or  four  old  grass-fields,  which  are  much  improved  by  top- 
dressing with  lime  and  earth,  at  the  same  time  sowing  grass  seeds  for  reno- 
vating old  pasture,  and  rolling  it  over  several  times  with  a small  spike 
roller— the  spikes  1|  inch  long,  and  2 inches  apart.  I think  CYosskill’s 
would  answer  well  for  this  purpose.  The  larger  portion  was  old  arable 
land  quite  exhausted  by  overcropping. 
“ The  quantity  of  lime  which  I generally  use  is  50  bushels  per  acre, 
about  every  three  years ; which  I find,  used  either  for  top-dressing  or 
fallow,  to  have  a much  better  effect  than  75  or  100  bushels  at  longer  in- 
tervals.” 
Mr.  Blake  has  furnished  me  with  a list  of  seeds  which  he 
obtains  from  a London  seedsman,  in  the  following  proportions, 
at  a cost  of  about  20 1.  : — 
* The  lettings,  however,  after  making  these  deductions,  must  not  be  supposed  to 
represent  the  actual  value  of  the  land,  nor  the  price  at  which  it  could  be  profitably 
taken  by  a grazier  : the  lots  are  in  fact  frequently  taken  by  farmers  who  are  short  of 
keep  as  a matter  of  necessity,  in  order  to  avoid  selling  their  stock  at  a disadvantage. 
