12 
THE CULTIVATOR 
MR. COKE OF HOLKHAM, Earl of Leicester. 
Roxhurghshire, Scotlandf Nov. 25, 1842. 
Messrs. Editors, —Under the above title,you have in. 
serted in the Cultivator for Oct. 1842, some extracts from 
biographical notices of the late Earl of Leicester, pub¬ 
lished in England. Your own comment upon the life 
and character of that great and good man, is admirable 
and very just. But the biographical sketches from which' 
you have made extracts, are inaccurate in some respects. 
I will take the liberty of pointing out those errors. And 
believing, that any authentic information on the improve¬ 
ments in agriculture effected under the patronage, pre¬ 
cept, and example of Mr. Coke of Holkham, will be 
acceptable to your readers, I will add a few reminiscen¬ 
ces of that eminent man; and this, I have the satisfaction 
of saying, I am enabled to do from personal knowledge. 
In your extracts, the Eaid of Leicester is stated to 
have been 91 at the time of his decease. He was in 
fact 88; having been born on the 6th of May, 1754, and 
died on the 30th June, 1842. The mistake is not impor¬ 
tant, but in biography, as in most other matters, it is as 
well to be correct in dates. Your extract then states. 
Born to the possession of a princely estate, when he 
came to take charge of it, he found a large portion of it 
leased to a Mr. Butt,” &c., &c. What follows in regard 
to the rent on the first lease being at Is. 6d. the acre, 
and on the second lease at 3s. the acre, is so far correct. 
But the tenant’s name was Brett, not Butt as stated, and 
the larger portion of the estate, was only about 500 acres, 
situated near to Holkham mansion. It now forms a part 
of the domain in hand, and is enclosed within the park 
wall. At the expiration of Mr. Brett’s second lease, 
Mr. Coke offered him a renewal for 21 years, at the 
rent of 5s. the acre, tithes included. Mr. Brett, unfor¬ 
tunately for himself and family, as it afterwards proved, 
did not accept the offer. Mr. Coke then took the farm 
into his own hands, and hence, fortunately for the com¬ 
munity at large, he became a practical farmer. He was 
much attached to the pursuit, and zealous in the improve¬ 
ment of agriculture; he gradually increased his farm, 
and before his death, he occupied upwards of 3000 acres 
of arable and pasture land, all of which he had brought 
into a high state of cultivation. The extract further 
states, “ West Norfolk at that time was a rye-growing 
district. His Lordship made it* wheat-growing one,” 
&c. To this I add: Before Mr. Coke’s time, Norfolk 
was a wheat importing county. It is now one of the 
greatest wheat exporting counties in England. The 
distance from Holkham to Lynn, in AVest Norfolk, is 27 
miles. When Mr. Coke commenced farming, that was 
entirely a rye district. It was believed the soil was too 
light to bear wheat; but now, there is not an acre of rye 
to be seen in the whole line, and nothing but wheat in 
the regular course of rotation of crops. The port of 
Lynn was formerly a great mart for the export of rye: 
it is now so for wheat and barley. 
The surface soil of AYest Norfolk is generally a light 
sand, or sandy gravel, too inferior to be styled loam. It is 
incumbent upon a chalky subsoil, which is locally term¬ 
ed Chalk, Marl, Clay, according to the texture. Mr. 
Coke commenced the improvement of his farm by 
thoroughly clearing it of running rooted weeds in the 
first instance. He then coated the surface with the sub¬ 
soil, and applied copious dressings of broken rape cake, 
in addition to the yard-dung made upon the farm. The 
turnep crops, which had previously been scanty, were 
then, not only increased in quantity, but also improved 
in quality. These were eaten by sheep folded upon the 
turnep. The soil was farther enriched by droppings 
from the sheep, and consolidated by their treading, and 
thus rendered capable of bearing any sort of crops cul¬ 
tivated in England. He then established a regular sys¬ 
tem of rotation of cropping and manuring, upon what is 
called the alternate system of white and green, never 
having two cereal or white straw crops in succession. 
Very light land was allowed to lay two or more years 
in grass, and when broken up, only one white straw 
crop before fallow and manuring for turneps. The top¬ 
dressing of subsoil was repeated, at from 20 to 30 years 
intervals. Peas were sown occasionally, and great 
crops produced. Peas will not bear frequent repetition 
on the same land. Peas thrive upon land having a large 
proportion of calcareous matter: consequently, they 
were generally sown at Holkham in the rotation after 
top-dressing with sub-soil. 
At the time Mr. Coke commenced farming, all sorts 
of crops were sown broadcast, and the land choked with 
annual as well as perennial weeds. He extirpated the 
perennial by clean fallowing, but the seeds of annuals 
were not entirely destroyed by that process. He then 
introduced the drill or row culture, and horse-hoes, and 
by these means he entirely eradicated the weeds, roots 
and seeds. Before Mr. Coke’s time, turneps, now the 
very essence of Norfolk husbandry, were very imper¬ 
fectly cultivated in the county. He introduced the drill 
culture of that inestimable root, upon the most improved 
principle. He also introduced the culture of mangel- 
wurzel, or field beet, for the purpose of feeding cattle, 
and was particularly successful in the practice. Mr. 
Coke’s system of feeding stock in the stalls and fold 
yards, was as follows: He began with common turneps, 
then Swede rutabaga, followed by mangel-wurzel, and 
topped up with oilcake; thus giving more nutritious 
food as the cattle advanced in fatness. 
Mr. Coke patronized all improvements in agriculture, 
agricultural implements, and application of manures, 
and he liberally rewarded the inventors or discoverers. 
His practice was, to experiment with any new discove¬ 
ries, or improvements, upon his farm in hand, in the 
first instance, and if found to answer, he then recom¬ 
mended the practice to his tenantry and the public gen¬ 
erally. 
Mr. Coke was a very superior judge of stock. He 
imbibed a taste for it in early life, from an acquaintance 
he then formed with the celebrated Bakewell. He at 
that time resided with his father, Mr. AVenman Coke 
upon the Longford estate in Derbyshire, old Lady Lei¬ 
cester being then alive and residing at Holkham. Bake- 
well’s farm at Dishly in Leicestershire was at no great 
distance from Longford, and Mr. Coke had frequent 
interviews with that eminent stock breeder. 
On the decease of Lady Leicester, Mr. Wenman Coke 
succeeded to the Holkham estates. He survived only 
one year after that accession. And Thomas William 
Coke, the subject of this memoir, became possessed of 
the whole of the family estates in Norfolk and in other 
counties of England, altogether, as your extract styles 
it, ‘‘a princely estate.” 
I have said, '‘Mr. Coke was a very superior judge of 
stock.” When he became a practical farmer at Holk¬ 
ham, as before stated, he made trial of various breeds 
of neat cattle and sheep, but ultimately fixed upon 
North Devon cattle and South Down sheep, on finding 
from experience those breeds most suitable for the cli¬ 
mate and light soil of W est Norfolk. He never approv¬ 
ed of crossing animals of distinctly different characters 
or breeds. His working horses were stout, active, well 
shaped animals, suitable for the light soils and short dis¬ 
tance to markets. The horses were mostly employed in 
carting to market and upon the farm. A great part of 
the plowing was done by oxen of the North Devon 
breed; from 40 to 50 of those cattle were usually worked 
upon the farm; a pair in a plow yoked abreast, and 
tackled the same as horses with collars and traces. 
Their pace was quite equal to horses plowing in the 
same field, and that even in hot weather, which is a pe¬ 
culiarity in North Devons above all other breeds, owing 
to their high blood, and in that respect, like race horses. 
There are three distinct breeds of cattle in Devonshire. 
The North Devons are the highest blood, and the best 
for general purposes. I could furnish much more infor¬ 
mation on the -Holkham husbandry, but I fear I have 
already exceeded reasonable bounds; I cannot, however, 
properly close without explaining the means by which 
Mr. Coke, much to his honor, and greatly to the pub¬ 
lic benefit, so widely diffused his knowledge in agricul¬ 
ture, derived from his extensive and successful practice 
in that first of arts. 
Mr. Coke was a most liberal landlord, and he was 
fortunate in having a most respectable body of tenantry 
settled upon his estate; men of intelligence, and pos¬ 
sessed of capital adequate to fully stocking their farms 
and carrying on improvements. He granted them 21 
years leases at moderate rents. He never advertised his 
farms for letting at the expiration of the leases. On 
fixing new rents for renewal he gave the preference to 
the old tenants, their sons, or near relatives, and they 
very generally accepted without the least demur. He 
built them excellent dwelling houses, and complete 
farm premises for the accommodation of their stock.— 
He assisted them in the expense of beneficial improve¬ 
ments on their farms. 
He frequently visited his tenants in the vicinity of 
Holkham, and those upon distant parts of the Norfolk 
estate, at least once in the year. On these occasions, 
he inspected the stock, crops, cultivation of the farm, 
and state of the buildings upon it; the farm_er being pre¬ 
sent and hearing his remarks. Then a.lighting at the 
farm house and partaking of the hospitality, interesting 
himself in the comforts of the wife and children, and 
rejoicing to hear of the family’s prosperity. He freely 
communicated to his tenants information upon his re¬ 
cent experiments, whether the results were successful or 
otherwise, and gave them advice upon their own practi¬ 
ces. He frequently invited parties of his tenants and 
other eminent agriculturists in the neighborhood, twen¬ 
ty or more at a time, to visit him at Holkham, ride over 
his farm, and then dine with him at his hospitable man¬ 
sion. In those parties there was a free discussion upon 
ap'ricultural subjects, and much valuable information 
was elicited and diffused. Mr. Coke’s tenantry closely 
followed his example of cultivation, cropping, manu¬ 
ring of land, and selection and management of stock. 
Their neighbors copied from them, and the Holkham 
system spread rapidly in Norfolk and the adjoining coun¬ 
ties. Agriculturists from distant parts, had free access 
to, and a kind reception at Holkham at all times; and at 
Mr. Coke’s far famed annual sheep-shearing festivals, 
he received numerous visitors from all parts of the tl^ee 
Kingdoms, and many from foreign countries, and ft e- 
quently gentlemen from the United States. These festi¬ 
vals lasted three consecutive days; the programme of 
which, as follows: The company assembled upon the 
lawn in front of the mansion at ten in the morning. Mr. 
Coke then mounted his horse, and accompanied by a 
large train of visitors, rode over his farm or the ad¬ 
joining farms of his tenants, Mr. Coke ably lecturing 
upon agricultural subjects, and experiments in pro¬ 
gress, as they went along; also, inspecting the plowing 
matches f^>r premiums. The sheep-shearers at work, 
various agricultural implements at work, exhibiting for 
premiums; and at different farm establishments upon Mr. 
Coke’s occupation, the horses, neat cattle, sheep, 
and pigs brought forward in competition for premiums, 
were viewed and judges appointed to decide upon their 
respective merits. The company adjourned to the man¬ 
sion at three o’clock, and were admitted, by ticket, pre¬ 
viously distributed by Mr. Coke, to a sumptuous dinner 
provided for them. The company were numerous, ge¬ 
nerally from 400 to 500; in one instance above 800, and 
all seated at the same time, without confusion, orders 
having been previously transmitted to the mansion, to 
make preparation, according as Mr. Coke distributed 
his tickets in course of the day’s ride. In those nume¬ 
rous and happy assemblages, there was no classification 
of rank or station—all being embarked in the same pur¬ 
suit. A plain farmer might be seen seated next to a 
peer of the realm, perhaps a Royal Duke, or an Ameri¬ 
can Ambassador, and treated with similar respect. Mr. 
Coke presided over one table, and some eminent pat¬ 
ron of agriculture, such as the late Duke of Bedford, 
the Earl of Albemarle, &c. over the others. After the 
cloths were withdrawn, Mr. Coke’s first toast was “the 
Sovereign,” then followed, “ live and let live;” after 
which he lectured upon agriculture, including the pur¬ 
suits of the day. Other gentlemen spoke upon similar 
subjects, and the company generally broke up about nine 
o’clolek. A similar routine followed on the second and 
third days; but on the third he distributed his premiums, 
to the amount of about £300; sometimes considerably 
more, to the successful competitors. He then drank a 
bumpe’ to the health of the company, thanking them 
for their attendance, expressing a hope he should see 
them all at the following year’s meeting, and that they 
would bring their friends along with them. 
So finished the Holkham sheep-shearing festivals, and 
I will conclude my memoir of the greatest, most munifi¬ 
cent, and most successful patron of agriculture the 
world ever saw, in your graphic words, Messrs. Editors. 
“Such men as the Earl of Leicester are benefactors of 
mankind, and when the Marlboroughs and AYellingtons, 
of his own country, are weighed against him, they will 
be found wanting.” 
I again subscribe myself, your correspondent, 
Tweedside. 
YATES COUNTY AG. FAIR AND CATTLE SHOW. 
The second annual meeting of this Fair was held at 
Penn-Yan, on the 20th of October, 1842, and was in every 
way worthy and creditable to the agriculturists of that 
county. It was a gathering of her true nobility;—her 
hard-fisted, intelligent farmers and mechanics, and indi¬ 
cated that the farmers of Yates arc beginning to feel 
and appreciate the nature and importance of agricultural 
improvement. The improvement in stock since last 
year, was visible to all. The large number of fine 
blooded animals—cattle, colts, pigs, &c., showed w'hat 
was going on among the farmers, and was full of prom¬ 
ise for the future. Long tables appropriated to their 
use in the Court House, were covered with vegetables, 
fruits, flowers, specimens of domestic manufacture, the 
products of the dairy and the loom, and all those articles 
of taste and fancy which none but woman could devise, 
and none but her industry execute. The address was by 
Francis Adams, Esq., President of the Society, and is 
spoken of as an admirable one, “ full of just sentences, 
of deep and well digested thought, and sound and whole¬ 
some advice.” The reports, and the awards of premi¬ 
ums, were listened to with much interest, and the whole 
proceedings passed off in the most cheering and gratify¬ 
ing manner. 
MONROE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
We have delayed our notice of this flourishing soci¬ 
ety in the hope of receiving a more full and detailed 
account than we have yet seen, but find om-selves obliged 
to be content with such particulars as can be gathered 
from the papers of Rochester. The Fair was held on 
the 25th and 26th of October, and was well attended by the 
substantial farmers of that fine agricultural county, their 
wives and daughters. The citizens of Rochester in 
which the show was held, manifested no little interest 
in the proceedings, and the mechanic’s department was 
particularly well sustained. The exhibition of products 
of the garden and orchard, was somewhat limited, but 
the quality was excellent. The sugar beets, turneps, 
cabbages, celery, carrots, salsafy, mangold wurtzel, &c., 
&c., would have satisfied an epicure. 
The plowing match excited unusual interest. It w’as 
held about two miles from the city, and was witnessed 
by a large concourse of farmers and others. 17 horse- 
teams without drivers entered the lists; time allowed 60 
minutes for horses; depth of furrow 5 inches, width of 
furrow 10 inches; land measured one-quarter of an acre. 
“Racing was wholly proscribed.” The w’ork through¬ 
out was well done, although the ground by many was 
considered unfavorable for smooth work. 
Of animals, Mr. Colman says—“ there were several 
highly improved animals and some excellent native stock 
among the neat cattle. The magnificent Stud Horse of 
Mr. Weddle a horse of most remarkable size and power, 
and' designed for labor, attracted universal admiration. 
A team of four yoke of oxen from Mr. Ayrault, and 
some other cattle from Perrinton, and other places, of 
native stock, and of a cross of the Durham with the 
Devon, 'would have done honor to any show in the coun¬ 
try. The Leicestershire swine were there likewise in 
their glory, fairly distancing the Berkshire; and a fami¬ 
ly of pigs, five months old, which, within our knowl¬ 
edge, could hardly be surpassed for size, thrift, and 
beauty.” . 
An address was delivered before the society by Mr. 
Colman; and the premiums announced, with the excep- 
