On  the  Farming  of  Somerset. 
689 
taken  to  construct  those  outworks  which  are  necessary  to  enable 
the  farmer  to  wage  war  with  climate. 
The  experience  of  the  hill  country  points  to  plantations  and 
lofty  beech  hedges  (each  of  which  is  a plantation  in  itself)  as  the 
only  effectual  means  of  providing  what  the  hill  countryman  ex- 
pressively calls  “ succour.'’ 
This  deficiency  is  now,  however,  in  course  of  being  supplied  ; 
good  hedges  are  rising,  and  the  farm-houses  are  being  surrounded 
with  plantations,  which  will  give  them  an  air  of  comfort  and 
respectability.  Once  furnished  with  “ succour,”  the  natural 
capabilities  of  the  forest  may  be  turned  to  account.  These  are, 
a soil  and  climate  favourable  for  the  growth  of  grass  and  of  root 
crops;  for  the  breeding  and  rearing  of  stock;  natural  springs 
and  convenient  slopes  for  water-meadows;  ample  streams  for 
water-power,  and  lime  close  at  hand.  It  is  not  a climate  for 
the  ripening  of  grain ; though  in  a fine  autumn,  after  a warm 
summer,  large  crops  of  oats  may  be  harvested.  But  green  crops, 
grass,  young  stock,  and  dairy  produce,  must  be  the  reliance  of  the 
Exmoor  farmer. 
Mr.  F.  Knight  has  been  fortunate  in  obtaining  the  services  of 
Mr.  Robert  Smith,  of  Lincolnshire,  the  author  of  the  Prize  Essays 
‘On  the  Management  of  Sheep’  and  ‘Grass,’  as  his  resident 
agent.  Since  Mr.  Smith’s  agency  commenced  (Lady-dav,  1848) 
he  has  let  4000  acres  to  highly  respectable  tenants,  in  addition  to 
land  previously  occupied.  1 1 is  a real  pleasure  to  witness  the  success 
of  manly  and  enterprising  farmers  on  new  ground.  Mr.  Hannam, 
from  the  neighbourhood  of  Wincanton,  has  a herd  of  yearlings, 
crossed  between  Devon  and  Hereford,  in  as  beautiful  condition  as 
any  one  could  wish  to  see;  and  makes  very  good  cheese,  like 
Cheddar.  Excellent  Stilton  cheese  is  made  on  the  north  side  of 
the  moor  by  Mr.  Meadows,  from  Leicestershire.  But  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  sights  on  the  moor  in  November  last  was  a field 
of  60  acres  of  purple-topped  turnips,  which,  after  a tour  through 
Lincolnshire  and  Norfolk,  I thought  were  the  finest  I had  seen 
within  the  year.  They  were  on  Horsen  farm,  rented  by  Mr. 
Searson,  who  is  still  in  the  occupation  of  a large  farm  near 
Market- Deeping,  in  Lincolnshire,  and  wishes  to  have  two  strings 
to  his  how  in  these  times  ; and  if  corn  fail  him,  to  fall  hack  on 
roots  and  stock.  700  sheep,  a cross  between  Exmoor  and 
Southdown,  were  folded  on  these  turnips,  and  made  the  hill  look 
like  Lincoln  Heath.  On  the  pasture  outside  was  a breeding 
flock  of  Exmoor  ewes  with  a Leicester  ram,  intended  to  drop 
their  lambs  as  late  as  April.  The  turnips  were  grown  on  newly- 
broken  ground  dressed  with  lime.  Mr.  Searson’s  resident  bailiff, 
a Lincolnshire  man,  was  not  born  to  be  a believer  in  the  virtues 
of  lime,  so  he  played  a trick  on  his  employer,  and  omitted  it  in 
