On  the  Fanning  of  Somerset. 
685 
knowledge,  that,  about  a year  ago,  three  farms  within  sight  of 
Dunkery  Beacon  were  let  at  a considerable  advance  of  rent  to 
men  of  capital,  and  that  a large  outlay  has  been  incurred  in  the 
improvement  of  their  buildings  and  in  the  employment  of  labour 
on  the  land  ; and  that  out  of  a body  of  old  tenants,  who  thirty 
years  ago  used  to  be  constantly  in  arrear,  and  were  more  knowing 
in  catching  hares  than  in  breeding  stock,  three  other  men  came  to 
their  landlord  with  cheerful  faces,  not  to  ask  for  “ a ’batement  of 
rent,”  but  for  an  extension  of  their  land,  being  ready  to  show  that 
they  had  improved  the  cultivation  of  their  original  holdings. 
The  range  of  the  Black  Cock  is,  moreover,  being  rapidly  dimi- 
nished by  Inclosure  Acts.  During  the  ten  years  1839-49, 
powers  have  been  obtained  for  the  enclosing  of  about  8400  acres 
in  Somersetshire,  including  2500  acres  in  Taunton  Deane;  of  the 
remaining  6700  acres  nearly  5000  are  in  the  western  hill  country, 
viz.,  533  on  Brendon  and  Heddon  hills,  776  on  Winsford  and 
Dulverton  hills,  and  3634  on  Exford  common,  and  others  adja- 
cent to  Dunkery  Beacon.  The  consequent  making  of  new  roads, 
the  first  requisite  in  the  improvement  of  hill-farming,  gave  em- 
ployment to  all  the  surplus  population  of  Exford  during  the 
trying  winter  of  1848. 
Among  the  cases  of  success  in  the  actual  improvement  of  moor- 
land, Mr.  Roals’  farm  on  Brendon  Hill  stands  alone  perhaps  as 
an  instance  of  an  integral  farm  reclaimed  from  the  wilds.  When 
he  talked  of  cultivating  the  moor  thirty  years  ago,  he  was  looked 
upon  as  a madman,  but  he  had  the  talent  to  perceive  the  possi- 
bility of  carrying  the  catch-meadow  system  higher  than  it  had 
ever  been  carried  before ; not  to  mention  the  great  command  of 
peat-ashes  which  the  adjoining  commons  would  give  him. 
This  farm  is  1000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  includes 
about  240  acres  of  arable  land,  and  60  meadow  and  pasture.  I 
there  saw  a rick  of  hay,  about  21  tons,  cut  from  a catch-meadow 
of  14  acres,  which,  thirty  years  ago,  was  a moor.  One  of  the 
most  instructive  points  on  this  farm  is  the  useful  accommodation 
which  Mr.  Roals  has  put  up  at  a cheap  rate.  He  has  a lambing- 
yard  100  feet  square,  with  sheds,  which  cost  100/.,  and  a feeding- 
house  for  10  bullocks,  which  cost  under  10/.,  and  has  stood  for  25 
years  with  a little  thatching  once  in  three  years. 
As  an  instance  of  the  more  gradual  process  of  creeping  up  the 
hill  side,  may  be  mentioned  Cloutisham  farm,  at  an  elevation  of 
from  700  to  1000  feet,  on  Dunkery,  which  was  formerly  let  as 
summering-ground  to  a vale  farmer,  producing  a very  small  rent. 
It  was  taken  in  hand  by  the  owner  about  ten  years  ago.  The  old 
pastures,  the  lowest  ground,  have  been  improved  ; water-meadows 
have  been  made  above  them  ; and  between  the  water-meadows 
and  the  open  hill  good  crops  of  turnips  and  oats  are  produced  on 
YOL.  XI.  2 Y 
