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THE 
 
 RURAL ECONOMY 
 
 O F 
 
 NORFOLK: 
 
 COMPRISING THE 
 
 Management of Landed Eflates, 
 
 A S' D THE 
 
 PRESENt PRACTICE of HUSBxlNDRY 
 
 I N T H A T C O U N T y. ' 
 
 By Mr. MARSHALL, 
 
 (Author of M I N u T E s of Agriculture, Sec.) 
 Hesidext upwards of Two Years in Norfolk. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES, 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Pointed for G. Nicol, Bookfeller to his Majefty, Pall-mall ; 
 G. G. and J. Robinsox, Faternofter-row ; 
 and J. Deb RETT, Piccadilly. 
 
 M,DCC,XCV. I '^ «^ ,3^ 
 
ADDRESS 
 
 TO THE 
 
 P U 13 L i c. 
 
 >TpHE utility of full and faitHful ke- 
 •*- gifters of the prefent practice of 
 Hulltandry, in well cultivated Diftridls, 
 6ccurred to me abbut ten years ago ;— 
 when, in a journey of four or five hundred 
 miles through the central parts of the 
 Ifland, I experienced the inutility of a 
 tranfient view ; but, at the fame time^ 
 clearly faw the advantages which would 
 accrue from a twelvemonth's resi- 
 bENCE in the immediate Diftri(fl of the 
 pradice to be regiftered. At that time, 
 however, I was too bufily employed in 
 regLftering my own pradice * to think of 
 
 • See Minutes of AcRtcutxuRi inSuRREY. 
 a 2 extending 
 
n. 
 
 D D R E S S. 
 
 extending my Regiiler, many way, to th^ 
 pTZ^ice of others. — But being fortunate- 
 ly releafed from my connexion in Surrey, 
 and having prepared for publication my 
 ExPERiMEN TStf;:^ Observation sfc«- 
 cernifig Agriculture and the Wea- 
 ther,! found leiiure to reftec!^ more ma- 
 turely en the means of perte<f^ing the fyf- 
 tem, which I had, with much delibera- 
 tion, fketched out, and which I had in 
 part filled up, from my own practice. 
 I /^ In February i/Sg, I fubmitted to the' 
 Society of Arts in London, as the firfl 
 Societ)^ profeffedly Agricultural, m the 
 kingdom, tlie following Plan. 
 
PLAN 
 
 FOR PROMOTJNG 
 
 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 THE knowledge of Agriculture ei- 
 ther refults from experience, limply ; 
 or is acquired through the united efforts 
 of experience and theory. 
 
 Theor}^ may facilitate, by analyzing 
 the fubjed:, and giving a comprehenlive 
 view of thefcience in general j — eluci- 
 date, by commentingon the experience 
 already acquired ; — accelerate, by pro- 
 pofmg fit fubje(5ts for future invefliga- 
 tionsi — butcannot convey any certain 
 information without the aid and con- 
 currence of experience. 
 
 The experience of Agriculture is ac- 
 quired through adequate obfervation, 
 either on felf-pradlice, or on the prac- 
 tice of others. 
 
 The pra(flice of an individual, how- 
 ever, is generally limited to fome parti- 
 a 3 cular 
 
▼i ADDRESS 
 
 cular branch of management, on fome 
 certain foil and fituation ; and a general 
 knowledge of Agriculture muil not be 
 expected from the practice of any one 
 man. 
 
 A man, nevertheleij, who has fpent 
 a long life in the practice of fome certain 
 depanxnent, muft neceilarily have ac- 
 qjired a coniiderable ihare of know- 
 ledge of that particular department : 
 and it is probable, that were the know- 
 ledge of the individuals who excel in 
 the feveral departments of hufbandry, 
 ,— were the knowledge of the ablefl 
 £irmers in the beil-cultivated parts of 
 the iiland coiiecttd Englilh Agri- 
 culture wculd be found, at this day, to 
 be far advanced towards perfe(5tion. 
 
 But the individuals who excel in agri- 
 culture are unknown to each other ; 
 and, if aifociated, could not probably 
 communicate their knowledge, with 
 any degree of preciiion : for their art 
 being the refult of habit, it is too fa- 
 miliar to be minutely defcribed. Their 
 
 firm?-- 
 
TO T H L PUBLIC. vii 
 
 farms are the only records in which it 
 is regiftered, and even there it is as 
 fleeting as the hour in which it is per- 
 formed. Nothing but aci^ual obferva- 
 tion, and immediately regillering, in 
 writing, the feveral operations, as they 
 pafs throughout the year, can render 
 the pra(fticeof individuals ofextenflve 
 fervice to the Public. 
 
 In fhort, the art of agriculture mufl 
 ever remain imperfect while it is fufc-- 
 ed to languifh in the memory, and die 
 with the pradiitioner : Record, only, 
 can perpetuate the art ; and System, 
 alone, render the fcience comprehen- 
 fiye *. 
 
 Mr. Marfhall has already fubmitted 
 to the Public a regifter of his own 
 pravftice during five years ; iromprcr 
 hejidjjig a plan for acquiring agricul- 
 tural knowledge, fyfler^atically, from 
 
 • V.'hat Dr. Johnfon fays of Language is applicable 
 to Agriculture——" Diclion merely vocal is always 
 *' in its childhood. As no man leaves his eloquence 
 " behind him, the new generations have all to Icarn." 
 ^'Jciirnty to the Wefiern IJlands of Scotland. 
 
 a 4 felf- 
 
via ADDRESS 
 
 felf-praclicc * ; which plan is eqiiafl/ 
 applicable to the pradice of others ; 
 provided the obfervations be performed 
 without remiHion, and by one who is 
 accuftomedto agricultural obfervation. 
 He has alfo endeavoured to trace out 
 the foundation of a fyftem, fo far as his 
 own pradlice has extended. 
 
 His PRESENT Plan is, to extend his 
 obfervations to the practice of others y 
 more efpecially as it appertains to the 
 breeding, rearing, and fatting of cattle 
 — to the dairy management, — to the 
 management of fheep, — to the drain- 
 ing and watering of meadows, — and to 
 the grafs-land, or ley-management in 
 general. After he is become profici- 
 ent in thefe departments, his intentions 
 are to extend his survey of provin- 
 cial agriculture to the arable or- 
 plow-management. 
 
 His intended mode of obfervation is 
 this : Having pitched upon the branch 
 of management to be ftudied, and the 
 
 • Sec Experiments and Obfefvations, as above. 
 
 diflria 
 
TO THE PUBLIC. b 
 
 i^iftrict which excels in the pra<ftice of 
 that particular branch, he propofes to 
 fix his place of refidence, durin* 
 T WE L VE MON T HS, in 3 farm-Iioufe ; — 
 if poffible, in the houfe of the befl- 
 informed farmer in the diftri(fl pitched 
 upon ; and there, with d^ily attention, 
 minutely obferve and regiller thelivincp 
 pravftice which furrounds him : not the 
 practice of theoretical, but of orofef- 
 lional farmers ; or rather the provincial 
 pra(ftice of the diilrivfl, county, or coun- 
 try obferved; neverthelefs attendino- to 
 improvements and excellencies, by 
 whomfoever pradlifed. 
 
 Nor is his plan confined merely to 
 obfervation : he means to acquire by 
 felf-pridlice a competent knowledge of 
 the MANUAL OPERATIONS incident to 
 the department of hufbandry which is 
 the immediate objedt of his fludy ; as 
 alfo to colle(fl fuch 'implements and 
 UTENSILS as may appear peculiarly 
 adapted to the purpofes for which they 
 are feverally intended j not (ketches nor 
 
 models. 
 
X ADDRESS 
 
 models, but the mftruments themfelves 
 which he has feen in common ufe ; 
 and of whofe ufeshc his acquired, by 
 manual pradlice, an adequate know- 
 ledge. 
 
 In order to furniihhirnfelf with every 
 advantage which may forward his gene- 
 ral dcfign, his fiirther intentions are to 
 employ his leifure in taking a com- 
 plete Review of written Agri- 
 cuLTURE,fromFitz-Herbert,ini534, 
 to the prefent time (excepting the 
 works of fuch authors as may be living 
 at the time of clofing the review) ; 
 and, after his judgment has been ma- 
 tured by a kirvey of provincial prac- 
 tice to comprefs into as narrow a com- 
 pafs as may be, the ufeful information 
 relative to Britilh- Agriculture, which 
 has been already recorded ; \\ hether it 
 appears in incidents and experiments 
 fjfficiently authenticated, or in hints 
 which may furnilh fubjedts for future 
 experiment. 
 
 Briefly, — his plan is, reciprocally to 
 receive and to offer information ; — to 
 
 coi»« 
 
TO THE PUBLIC. x\ 
 
 ^lommunicate provincial pradtice to the 
 
 Public at large ; to collea: and com- 
 
 prefs the ufeful information which is at 
 prefent widely fcatteredinalmoft num- 
 berlefs volumes ; — and to reduce thefe 
 joint accumulations of agricultural 
 knowledge to fyftematic fcience : con - 
 fequently, to offer to the prefent and 
 fucceeding generations acomprehenfive 
 System ofEnglish Agriculture, 
 
 as it now ftands ; and to raife it 
 
 on a bafis fo ample and fcientific, as 
 that future acquifitions may be added 
 to it from time to time. 
 
 ON 
 
iJt ADDRESS 
 
 ON THE EIGHTH of the fucceed- 
 ing month the Society were pleafed to 
 pifs the following Refolutions : 
 
 ** Resolved, 
 " That the colledling a general 
 " knowledge of the Agriculture of 
 " the kingdom, as propofed by Mr. 
 ** Marlhall, may be higlily ufeful. 
 
 " Resolved, 
 "That as it is not the pra(flice of the 
 *' Society to adopt the execution of 
 *' plans of this kind, the Society cajinot 
 ** engage in the undertaking. 
 
 " Resolved, 
 " That Mr. Marfhall have liberty to 
 " confult the Books of Acjriculture in 
 " the pofieiuon of the Society, and to 
 *' infpcLt the feveral Machines and 
 *' Models in their repofitorics." 
 
 THESE 
 
TO THE PUBLIC. xlii 
 
 THESE RESOLUTIONS, though 
 they atTorded no real affillance, lerved to 
 eilabHih the ulefulnefs of the plan. The 
 means of carrjdng it into execution remain- 
 ed now the only objedt of confideration. 
 An application to PARLIAMENT was 
 thought of, and ftrongly recommended , 
 but at a time when public economy had 
 become a necellary and prevailing princi- 
 ple, and when the immediate prefcrvaticn 
 of the State called for everyhour of parlia- 
 mentary deliberation, it would have been 
 highly improper to have attempted to 
 draw off the attention of Parliament to 
 any other obje«fl:, however ufeful. 
 
 But being thus embarked,it was thought 
 advifeable to proceed fo far, at leaft, as to 
 make the Plan tion/i to thofe whom it 
 particularly concerns , — and it was ac- 
 cordingly communicated to feveral of the" 
 principal Nobility, and to fome few Gen- 
 tlemen of landed Property. Its receotion/ 
 however, was not fuchas I confidered it to 
 be entitled to ; and in this fpecimen there 
 were fufiicient grounds to convince me of 
 what might be expeded from Indivx- 
 
 fcUALS. 
 
 I there -^ 
 
3^?/ ADDRESS 
 
 I therefore folded my Plan ; — with^ 
 however, adegree oi reluBa?Jce ; — becaufe 
 I was confident tKnt, were it carried into 
 execution, it would be produdliveof much 
 public good ; — but without any ihare of 
 regret ; — becaufe I had fully difcharged 
 my duty to my Co un T r y , to my profejjioiiy 
 and to ^nyfelf. 
 
 In Augufl 1780, 1 went down Into Nor- 
 folk,as agent to Sir HarbordHarbord's 
 eflate ; — one of the firfl in that county. 
 
 The management of EJiateSy though a 
 fifter-art to Agriculture, or the manage- 
 ment oi Farms y was in a manner new to 
 me ; and, though intimately conne<lled 
 with my Plan, had never flruck me, as 
 being, what it really is, an infeparable de- 
 partment of Rural Economy. Eftate- 
 Agency, it is true, has always been treated 
 of by writers as a dirtin(ft fubje<Cl ; but it 
 has generally been found proper to explain, 
 in the fame book, the leading branches of 
 Agriculture; for, beyond difpute,the ma- 
 nagement of an Ertate cannot be con- 
 duced 
 
TO T HE PUBLIC. xv 
 
 du(^ed with propriety by any man unac- 
 quainted with the management of a 
 Fann. 
 
 Norfolk Is not more celebrated for its 
 fyftem of huibandry, than for a ftiperior 
 knowledge in the management of landed 
 Eilates, which is there reduced to a regu- 
 lar bufinefs. 
 
 I was fmgularly fortunate in my fitua- 
 tion. I had not only an oppartunity of 
 feeing the effedls of improper management 
 committed by thofe who had gone beforqi 
 me ; but of profiting by my own experi- 
 ence (thereby much extended) in endea- 
 vouring to do away the evil effeds. 
 
 With refpe<l^ to hufbandry, too, I had 
 every advantage : I had an opportunity of 
 employing my leifure in adlual pradlice, 
 on a large fcale : the Agency, of courfe, 
 afforded me an extent of country to 
 range over, and make my obfer/ations 
 upon, at will : and, I am happy in being 
 able to add, a number of fenfible men, — 
 fome of them at the head of their profef- 
 fion, — were always ready to give me, 
 
 without 
 
XVI 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 without referve, every mformation 1 
 allied for. 
 
 Thus,— ill a manner totally unforefeen 
 *— I became polTelTed of an opportunity, 
 not only of extending my plan to an im- 
 portant purpofe I had not thought of, but 
 of executing the part I had propofed, Ln a 
 manner which the whole Landed Intereil: 
 could not, without an Agency, have en- 
 abled me to have done. 
 
 I tlierefore embraced ever}' opportunity 
 of reoiilerin? the ufeful ideas which oc- 
 curred, v/hether in hufbandr)-, or irt 
 eflate-agency J but (I think proper to 
 mention in this place) without any view, 
 at that time J of carr)ing the whole of my 
 plan into execution. At length, however, 
 finding, tlia't I could no longer conduct 
 the eftate, in a manner, which, to my 
 own mind, appeared to be right ; — I lofl 
 no time in finifliing a Regllier of the 
 Rural Economy of the county j and, v,\ 
 November 1782, 1 left Norfolk. 
 
 Having thought it necellar)- to fay this 
 much, in explanation o^ the following 
 
 work . 
 
TO THE PUBLIC. xvii 
 
 Work, it would be a want of gratitude 
 not to add, that, how greatly foever Sir 
 Harbord Harbord and myfelf might 
 differ upon matters of Bujinefs, I flatter 
 myfelf I ihall always retain a proper fenfe 
 of the perfonal civilities I had the honor 
 of receiving, daring my refidence at 
 Gun TON. 
 
 Before I clofe this Addrefs, it may be 
 proper to inform the Public, that it is my 
 intention, at prefent, to iinifli the pro- 
 pofed Plan, upon an enlarged bafis -, hav- 
 ing now extended it, not only to the 
 Management of landed Estates, 
 but to Planting j an art upon which, 
 fome time ago, I digeited my ideas, and 
 in which I have, fince, had an opportunity 
 of extending my pradtice : thus, purpo- 
 fmg to reilore to tlicir natural union the 
 
 THR^E^,,gRA,NCH_£ S pf R i7 1< A L E C O N O - 
 MICS. 
 
 London, ift Feb. 1787, 
 
 Vol. L b 
 
ADVERTISEM ENT 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 pROM a recent furvey of this County, 
 made under the dire 51 ions of the Board 
 OF Agriculture, and executed by 
 Mr. Kent, who has had the management 
 of fome "oaluable EJiates in it for many 
 years, I expeSied to have been able to add 
 fome inter ejling information concerning the 
 Rural Management of l>^or:^o\k, as well as 
 to correB fo7ne of the errors to which all hu- 
 7nan productions are liable. My expeSia^ 
 tions, however, have failed. I have found 
 7iothing new relating to the Norfolk 
 Manage?nent, either of EJiates or 
 Farms ; and, in the only injiance in which 
 Mr, Kent has attempted to correal the 
 
 Firft 
 
A D ^^ E R T I S E M E N T 
 
 Fit[ft Edition of this JVorky he has alto» 
 get her niifund^rfiood the pajj'age . 
 
 Under the head ^1 e a d o w L A N D , Mr. 
 Kent has /aid, * * Mr. Marshall recom^ 
 ** mends ''joateringy and fays it luould double 
 "their value.'* NoiVj in truth , I have 
 faid «s fuch thing ; nor any thing ivhich 
 cojrceys that idea. If the reader will turn 
 to page 2,'^ J of the firjl volume of the pre- 
 fent, or of the firjl edition (the two being 
 literally y verbally , and in page, the fame), 
 he will find that I have faid y and I fill fay, 
 — " wichout this advantage , ^reat as it 
 
 o o 
 
 " would be in addition, / will venture to 
 ** ajjerty from an extraordinary attention to 
 " this fubjc5fythat the pre fcnt rental value of 
 ** the Meadows o/'Eall Norfolk fnight be 
 ** doubled." ylnd I am now enabled to 
 addy from a fimilar kind of attention paid to 
 the watered meadows of the Wefiern Coun- 
 ties y thaty with this advantage, the rental 
 value of many cf the meadow lands c/'Nor- 
 folk (I mean tbofewhick-by fituation can 
 receive water of a calcareous quality ) might 
 be increafed \kiTttio\6.. 
 
 Ihofe 
 
TO THE SECOND EDITION 
 
 ^hofe who are fortunately in poffej/jon 
 ef fuch lands would do well to conjult 
 Mr. 'Qos'WEi^i.' 5 excellent ^reatife on the 
 Watering of Lands in Dorsetshire; 
 as well as Mr. Davis's admirable Re- 
 marks on the fa-fue fubje^, in his valuable 
 Report to the Board of Agricul- 
 ture of th-e Rural Management of 
 
 WlLTSKIRE. 
 
 London, October, 1794* 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 •*. TNlsTRiCT, Page i 
 
 ^, *-^ Estates, 6 
 
 5. Farms, — 8 
 
 . Soils, — ii 
 
 , Manures, — 15 
 
 6. Farmers, Page 37 
 
 7. Workmen, — 40 
 
 8. Horses, — 4a 
 
 9. Implements, 50 
 10. Taxes, — 6^ 
 
 II. General Management of Estates, 
 
 66 
 
 iz. Buildings, — 81 Ij 14. Hedges, ~ 96 
 
 33. Gates, — 94 II 15. Inclofures, — ii6 
 
 i6.PLANTiNG,and the MANAGEMENTof Timber, 119 
 17. General Management of Farms, 125 
 
 J 8. Laying-out, 130 
 
 19. Succeflion, 132 
 
 2c. Soil Procefs, 137 
 
 a I. Manure Procefs, 150 
 
 »2. Seed Procefs, 167 
 
 13. Vegetating Procefs, 
 
 24. Harveft Procefs, 
 
 25. Farm-Yard 
 
 Management, 
 z6. Markets, — 
 
 35. Nat. Grasses, 
 
 36. Cattle, — 
 
 37. Sheep, — 
 
 38. Rabbits, — 
 
 39. Swine, — 
 4». Poultry, — 
 
 41. Decoys, — 
 
 42. Bees, ~. 
 
 List of Rates, .— «-.«. 
 
 a?- 
 
 Wheat, — 
 
 201 
 
 18. 
 
 Barley, — 
 
 233 
 
 29. 
 
 Oats, — 
 
 245 
 
 30. 
 
 Peas, — 
 
 248 
 
 31- 
 
 Vetches, — 
 
 252 : 
 
 32' 
 
 Buck, — 
 
 253 1 
 
 33- 
 
 Turneps, — 
 
 456 1 
 
 34. 
 
 Cult. Grasses, 
 
 301 1 
 
 170 
 184 
 
 IS9 
 
 19s 
 
 310 
 
 r-z 
 362 
 370 
 
 37» 
 37S 
 377 
 
THE 
 
 RURAL ECONOMY 
 
 O F 
 
 NORFOLK. 
 I. 
 
 THE DISTRICT. 
 
 THE County, confidercd as a fubjecft of 
 Rural Economy, is aptly divifible 
 irito East, West, and South Norfolk. 
 
 The southern Hundreds partake of the 
 Suffolk practice ; zi\d, though v.cU cultivated, 
 do not exhibit, in its purit}-, the Norfolk 
 
 SYSTEM OF husbandry. 
 
 The western divifion is either marfhf, 
 low land, applied chiefly to the dairy, after 
 the manner of Cambridgefhire i or open fheep- 
 walks and extenfive heaths, whofe flock are 
 
 Vol. I. B Iheep 
 
 D. H. HILL LIBRARY 
 North Carolina State College 
 
2 DISTRICT. I. 
 
 ftjcep and rabbits ; or newly inclofed country 
 (chiefiy of the laft defcription), in which no 
 general plan of management has yet taken 
 place. 
 
 In East Norfolk, alone, we are to look 
 for that regular and long-eftabliflied fyilem of 
 practice which has raifcd, defervedly, the name 
 of Norfolk hufl).indmen ; and which, in a- 
 principal part of this Diilrict, remains unadul- 
 terated to the preient time*. 
 
 The climature of Eaft Norfolk is cooler 
 than that of other Dillricls, in this Ifland, 
 fituated on the fame degree of latitude j name- 
 ly, fifty three degrees. Thefeafons, here, are 
 from a week to ten days later than they are in 
 the neighbourhood of the metropolis. 
 
 • The largell fortunes have been made by fanners in 
 Weil Norfolk: not, however, by any fuperior fyftem of 
 inanagement praflifed in that divifion of the county ; but 
 through cxteniive trads of ihecp- walks, and other fnjh 
 f round, held by individuals, having been inclojeJ, murltd, 
 braken up, and fubjeftcd to the mi\ns.gimtnt c/EaJi Korfolk', 
 where farms being comparatively Imall, and having been 
 inclofed, marled, and plowed, time immemorial, there 
 Wis noKroom to make a Mallet, — a Dursgate, — or a 
 Martin. Viewing the liaic of hulbandry in Well 
 Norfolk coUeAively, it ii much beneath that of the 
 Diilxid here defcribcd. 
 
 The 
 
1, NORFOLK. 3 
 
 The SURFACE of thIsDiftri6l, though the 
 foil be dry, is an almoft uniform fiat ; except 
 a border toward the feacoaft, which is broken, 
 and, in many places, bold and picflurefque j 
 and, excepting the more fouthern Hundreds, 
 in which marfhes, fens, and lakes, provincially 
 " BROADS," fome of them of confiderabie 
 extent, abound. 
 
 The rivers of Eafl Norfolk are fmall and 
 few in number ; but its rivulets are nume- 
 rous ; — interfering its flatted furface in a 
 lingular and happy manner. 
 
 Inland navigations. Notwithftanding, 
 however, the fmallneis of the, rivers, the na- 
 tural fiatnefs of the country renders them 
 capable of being made navigable : the Yare 
 fiirnifhes a river navigation betv/een Yar- 
 mouth and Norwich ; as the Thyrn, called 
 the North River, does from Yarmouth, through 
 the Broads, to Dilham near North Wallham ; 
 and out of this proceeds a canal naviga* 
 TioN to Aylefham. 
 
 The roads, notwithftanding King Charles 
 
 was pleafed to fay the county of Norfolk 
 
 was only fit to be cut out into roads for the reft 
 
 of his kingdom, are unpardonably bad -, — 
 
 B 2 narrow. 
 
4 DISTRICT. f . 
 
 narrow, fhaded, and never mended: they are 
 numerous, however, elpecially the bridle 
 roads ; lb that a traveller, on horfeback, has 
 generally the choice of two or three ways, 
 of nearly equal length, to the fame place'. 
 Not a foot of turnpike road in the Diftrid ; 
 excepting the road ber^-een Nor\vich and 
 Yarmouth. 
 
 Th£ in closures are, in general, fmall, 
 and the hedges high and full of trees. This 
 has a lingular effect in travelling through the 
 country : the eye feems ever on the verge of 
 a forefl, which is, as ic were by enchantment, 
 Continually changing in no inclofures and hedge- 
 rows. There is not, generally fpeaking, a 
 piece of woodland or a coppice in the whole 
 Diftrift ; and even plantations are thinly and 
 partially fcattered. A common or a heath 
 (which not unfrequently occurs even in this 
 part of Norfolk) is the only variety the face 
 of the country affords. Some remnants of 
 common fields fHll remain ; bur, in general, 
 they are not larger than well fized inclofures. 
 Upon the whole, Eaft Norfolk at large may 
 be faid to be a very old-ivclosld cou>f- 
 
 TRy. 
 
 The 
 
1. NORFOLK. 5 
 
 The towns of Eaft Norfolk are few : Nor- 
 wichy Tarmouthy and North Waljhamy are its 
 principal markets. But the fmaller ports 
 of Blakeneyy Cr emery and Munjlejy are bene- 
 ficial in aflifting to draw off the produce of 
 ^t Diftrid; efpecialiy that of the northern 
 Hundreds. 
 
 For a paiticular defcription of the Fleg 
 Hundred, fee Min. io6. 
 
 Of the eallern coaft, fee Min 112. 
 
 Of Blowfield Hundred and die Yarmouth 
 Marfhes, fee Min. 1 1 8. 
 
 B 3 ESTATES. 
 
6 tSTATES. t, 
 
 ESTATES. 
 
 FORMERLY, in this Diftricb, were many 
 fciall Owners — Yeomen — ^provincidly called 
 " Sureimen," who culdN^ated their own eftates. 
 —There were inftances of entire parifhes 
 bcbg occupied by this refpecbable clafs of 
 men. But, .among other e\^ effects of diat 
 inordinate paHion for faiining which pre- 
 vailed fome years ago, the decline of the 
 independency of this country is a ftrikuig 
 c.^.e. 
 
 The yeomanry, heretofore independant and 
 rc^>e<ied, feeing men, whom they had lately 
 held as their inferiors, raifcd, by an cxc€{- 
 five profit which had recendy been made by 
 farming, to a degree of affluence fupcrior to 
 their ovin, and living in a ftyle of extrava- 
 gance their anceftors had been ftrangers to, 
 became diflatisfied with the homelinels of 
 their fituadon ia life, and either bunched out 
 
 inw 
 
1. NORFOLK. 7 
 
 into extravanrances ill fuited to their income, 
 or vcluntarily ibid their comparadvely fmall 
 patrimonies, in order that they might, agree- 
 ably with the fafhion or frenzy of the day, 
 become great farmers. 
 
 By this means many of\thofe comfortable 
 places which were thickly Icattered over Eaft 
 Norfolk, have fallen into the hands of men of 
 fortune ; and are now become united with 
 their large eftates. 
 
 There are, neverthelefs, fome few fmall 
 owners flill remaining ; but very few of the 
 polTefllons, even of thole, are freehold ; the 
 COPYHOLD tenure being prevalent throughout 
 the Diftricl i which contains fome very ex- 
 tenfive, and, even to this day, lucrative, 
 
 B 4 FARMS. 
 
FARMS. 
 
 FARMS. 
 
 THE FARMS ofEafl Norfolk sreprind- 
 paUy tKck/fd; there bcbg, as has been al- 
 ready obfenxd, few common fields at pr^ftni 
 in this Diftrift ; and thtfe few are in general 
 very fmall ; ten, rwenty, or thirty acres ; cut 
 into patches and Ihreds of two or three acres, 
 down to half an acre, or, perhaps, a rood 
 each *. 
 
 But another fpecies of intermixture, much 
 more difagreeablc to the occupier, is here Rn- 
 gukriy prev^ent. It is very common for an 
 inclofure, lying, perhaps, in the centre of an 
 othcnvife entire farm, to be cut in two by a 
 flip of glebe or other land Ijong in it ; and ftiU 
 more common for finall inclofures to be fimi- 
 larly fituatcd. 
 
 • The crmral parts of the Dlilrid are more puticii> 
 Urly fpokea of: towards tiie north coad, ibme prcny 
 extenfive common fields ftill remzis open ; asd foaie few 
 la the foath.cn: Handrcis. 
 
 Thcfe 
 
3. NORFOLK. ^ 
 
 Thefe inconveniences have, no doubt, arifcn 
 from common fields having been inclofcd by 
 piecemeal, without the general confent of the 
 proprietors. They are, however, inconve- 
 niencies wliich are every year decreafing : many 
 beneficial exchanges of intermixed lands have 
 lately taken place, and rnany more equaUy 
 advantageous remain yet to be made (fee Mis, 
 
 4. on this fubicft). 
 
 But notwichftanding thefe intermixtures and 
 irregularides are fciU too prevalent, and not- 
 withftanding fcattered and " one-fided" farms 
 are fingularly abundant, there are many, com- 
 pact ring-fence farms to be met with in the 
 Diftria:. 
 
 The SIZES OF FARMS, at prefent, are of the 
 middle cafl i few under fifty pounds, and fev/er 
 above three hundred pounds a year. For- 
 merly they were much fmaller i but the nume- 
 rous htde places of the yeomanry having fallen 
 into the hands of men of fortune, and being 
 nov/ incorporated with their extended cftates, 
 are laid out into farms of fuch fizes, as beft 
 fuit the intereft, or the conveniency, of the 
 prefent proprietors. 
 
 The 
 
ic FAR M 5. 3. 
 
 The characteristic of farms, in this 
 
 Dilbict, is, invariably, arable uplavd;— • 
 \dxhy generally, a fmall proporrion of mooiy 
 grafsland, called meadow. Many, however, 
 of the fmaller farms, and fome of thofe of 
 confiderable fize, have no gralsland whatever 
 belonging to Lhem. In this cafe marshes, or 
 CRAZING GROUNDS, 21, pcrhaps, D^'cnty or 
 thirty miles diftance, are frequently hired by 
 the occupiers of thefe farms. 
 
 But, vie^^ing the Diftricl at large, the grafs- 
 land bears fo fmall a proportion to the arable, 
 that i;s dilHnguifhing characteriftic is that of an 
 
 /VRABLE COUNTRY. 
 
 SOILS. 
 
FOLK. u 
 
 4- 
 
 SOILS. 
 
 A SINGULAR uniformit)' of foil prcvaiU 
 throughout this country: there is not, per- 
 haps, an acre in it, whieh does not come under 
 the idea of a sandy loam. 
 
 Its quality, however, Varies widely, both as 
 to texture and produ6livenefs. The northern 
 part of the Diftridl abounds with barren heatlw 
 and unfertile inclofures; while the fouthern 
 Hundreds are principally covered with a 
 richer, deeper, highly produdive foil. 
 
 The foil, in general, however, may be 
 termed fhallow: perhaps fix, perhaps five, 
 inches may be taken as the medium depth. 
 
 Immediately under the cultivated foil, a hard 
 CiiifL—provincially "the pan" — occurs uni- 
 verfally; and, under this, fubftrata of various 
 qualities : an unfathomable ocean o^Jand may 
 be confidered as the prevailing fubflratum. 
 In fome places a hungry gravely but more itt^ 
 p^uently an abforbent brickcarth, is the im^ 
 
 mcdiite 
 
12 SOILS. 4. 
 
 mediate subsoil. Marl romcdmes rifes to 
 near the furface, but feldom fo high as the tan. 
 This feems to be unhnerfaily confidered as a 
 diftinct fomething, poifonous in its nature, and 
 partaking neidier of the Ibil nor the fubfcil. 
 It is not my intention to ridicule this rtceived 
 opinion ; it may be well founded j but, to me, 
 tht pan appears to be a produdion not of 
 nature, but of art; or, to fpeak more accu- 
 cately, a confequence of the Norfolk culture 
 carried on, time imm.emorial, v^ith the Nor- 
 folk plovv'i — whofc broad fi.:t fhare being held 
 invariably in a horizontal pofition, and (unlefs 
 in fallowing) invariably at the f^me depth, the 
 furface of the fubfoil becomes formed, by the 
 aftion of the iLare, the prciTure and Aiding of 
 the heel of die plow, and the trampling of the 
 horfe, into a firm even floor, upon which the 
 foil is turned, and re-turned, in the fame man- 
 ner it would be, if fpread on a floor of ftone, 
 or other material. 
 
 But be tliis as it may, and whether the pan 
 be a natural cr a factitious production, — it is a 
 fadl well eftabliflicd, that breaking it L-p bv 
 plowing below the accufl:omed depth, is verv 
 injurious to fucceeding crops. 
 
 Two 
 
^ NORFOLK. 13 
 
 Two reafons may be offered in explanation 
 of this effeaj the pan, year after year, and, 
 perhaps, century after century, has been a 
 receptacle of the feeds of weeds ; which, by 
 being trodden or otherwife preffed into it, 
 have remained there, locked up from the fun 
 and air, and thereby deprived of the power 
 of ve2;eLation. But no fooner are thefe feeds 
 releafed from their confinement by being 
 broucrht to the furface vvith the plow, than 
 they vegetate in myriads, to the annoyance 
 
 of the crop. 
 
 The other reafon is this : — the firm clofe 
 contexture of the pan renders it in a degree 
 watertight ; it is, at ieafl, a check to the 
 rain-water, v/hich finks through the foil ; pro- 
 longing its ftay in the fphere of vegetation. 
 But the pan being broken, the filter is no 
 more; and the rain, which is not imme- 
 diately retained by the foil, efcapes irretriev- 
 ably into an infatiable bed of fand,— or fome 
 other abforbent fabfoil. 
 
 For, if we except a fev/ quickfands, which 
 occur on the margins of meadows, and the 
 peat bogs v/hich occupy their areas, ihereisnot, 
 in the Diftrifl, an acre of retentive subsoil. 
 
 The 
 
14 SOILS. 4. 
 
 The Norfolk foil, however, is not without 
 its partial evils : — " fcalds" are as perni- 
 cious in Norfolk, as quickfands and fpringy 
 patches are in cold-foiled countries ; and, 
 what is v/orfe, they are, perhaps, incurable ; 
 while a partial retentivencfs may be eafil/ 
 removed. 
 
 Thefe scalds are probably occafioned by 
 a partial abforbency ; namely, by a more ab- 
 (brbent fubibil being interfperfed in patches 
 among one v.hich is lefs abforbcnt ; and, ge- 
 nerally, perhaps, by " heads" or prominent 
 parts of the univerfal fubftruclure fand, rifmg 
 up through a ftratum of brickeanh j in the 
 manner that " heads of marl" llioot up to- 
 wards the furface : as will be dcfcribed in the 
 next fe(5Vion. 
 
 For infti-nces of the abforbency of the 
 Norfolk fubfoil, fee Mi n. 59. 
 
 For obfervstions on the ditchmouli of 
 Norfolk, fee Min. 77. 
 
 For obkrvations on the foils of the Fleg 
 Hundreds, fee Mint. 106. 
 
 For general obfervations on the friability 
 of tlie Norfolk foils, fee Mix. 106. 
 
 For 
 
4. NORFOLK 15 
 
 For obfervations on the foil of the eaftem 
 coaft, fee Min. 112. 
 
 For obfervations on the foil of Blowfield 
 Hundred, fee Mi n. 118. 
 
 For inftance of fcalds being injured by 
 wet weather, fee Mix. 121. 
 
 5- 
 
 - M A N U R E S. 
 
 UNDER this head I purpofe to enumerate 
 the different Jpecies of manure ; and de- 
 fcribe, fo far as the obfervations I have been 
 able t J make will enable me, their refpecftive 
 natures. 
 
 Tlie principal fpecies made ufe of in this 
 Dillriftare :— • 
 
 Marl, 
 
 Dung, 
 
 Clay, 
 
 Compolt, 
 
 Mould, 
 
 Teathe of cattle. 
 
 Lime, 
 
 Sheepfold, 
 
 AHies, 
 
 Soot, Rapecake, 
 
 
 Maltduil, &c. 
 
 
 The 
 
f 6 MANURES. ' ^ 
 
 1. The grand foifil manure of Norfolk is 
 MARL J through whofe fertilizing quality, 
 ju.acioufly applied, lands, which feem by 
 nature to have been intended as a fcanty 
 maintenance for (hecp and rabbits, are ren- 
 dered capable of fattening bullocks of the 
 iargeft fize, and of finilhing them in the 
 higheft manner. 
 
 There are, in Lhis Di-^ic1, two Ipecies of 
 marl, very diftind in their general appearances; 
 though their quality of fertilizing be fimilar. 
 
 The central and northern parts of the 
 Diilrifl abound, univerlally, with a whitilh- 
 coloured chalk marl ; while the Fleg Hun- 
 dreds, and the eaftem coafl, are equally fortu- 
 nate in a grey-coloured c'lay marl. 
 
 The ftrft has, in all probability, been in 
 ufe as a manure many centuries : there are 
 oaks of confiderable fize now g'^ing to decay 
 in pits which have obvioufly been heretofore 
 in ule, and which, perhaps, ftill remain in 
 ufe, as marlpits. 
 
 The ufe of clay marl, as a manure, feems 
 to be a much later difcovery ; even yet, there 
 arc farmers who are blind to its good effed; 
 becaufc it is not m::rl, but " clay i" by which 
 name i: is urJverially linown. 
 
 The 
 
5, NORFOLK. 17 
 
 The name, however, would be a thing of 
 no import, were it not indifcriminately ap- 
 plied to iincluous earths in general, whether 
 they contain, or not, any portion of calca- 
 reous matter. Nothing is " marl" which is 
 not white j for, notwithfcanding the county 
 has been fo long and fo largely indebted to its 
 fertilizing quality, her hufbandmen, even in 
 this enlightened age, rem.ain totally ignorant 
 of its diftinguifhing properties : through 
 which want of information much labour and 
 expence is frequently thrown away. 
 
 One man feeing the good effed of the Fleg 
 clay, for inftance, concludes that all clays are 
 fertile ; and, finding a bed of ftrong brick 
 earth upon his farm, falls to work, at a great 
 expence, to " claying :" — while another ob- 
 ferving this man's m.ifcarriage, concludes that 
 all clays are unprofitable ; and, in confe- 
 quence, is at an expence, equally ill applied, 
 of fetching " marl" from a great diftance ; 
 while he has, perhaps, in his own farm, if 
 judicioufly fought after, an earth of a quality 
 equally fertilizing with that he is throwing 
 away his time and Ids money in fetching. 
 
 Vol. I. C This 
 
i8 MANURES. 5. 
 
 This is a ftrong e\'idence of the utility of 
 chemical knowledge, in the invcfligatitHi of 
 foflll manures. 
 
 Before I left the counr\-, I collefled a va- 
 riety of fpecimens of mark, clays, and foils 
 of different parts of it. Thefe, with a fiiU 
 greater variet}' which I have collected in 
 other parts of the kingdom, I hope to find 
 leifure, at fome fbDJXc dme, to analyze ; and, 
 from the refults, endeavour to draw fome ge- 
 neral inferences. 
 
 At prefent I Hiall confine myl'eli" to 
 
 1. The chalk marl of Thorp-market, in 
 the Hundred of Nonh Erpingham ; 
 
 2. The dav marl of KfOifov, in the 
 Hundred of Eafl Fieg ; 
 
 3. The fcft chalk of Thorp-next-Nor- 
 wich ; commorjy called Norwich m^rl i and 
 to 
 
 4. The hard chalk of SwafFham. 
 
 I. Chalk Marl of Thorp-Market. 
 
 Thf naturd Jituaticn of the white marls of 
 this Diftritl: is fingiikr : they do not lie in 
 ftrara, as foflUs in general do ; — nor in a con- 
 tinuation of rock, like chalk and limcftone ; 
 
 but 
 
S. NORFOLK. 19 
 
 but in diftinvfl maffes, of different figures 
 and magnitudes, rifing with irregular heads 
 toward the furface, and finking to, perhaps, 
 ten, perhaps tw^enty- feet deep, and fome- 
 times to a depth unfathomed. It the abyls 
 of fand, in which they lie buried, could be 
 rendered tranfparent, thefe clouds of marl 
 would, I apprehend, be fcen fcatrered under 
 the furface ot this country, in refemblance 
 of the clouds of vapour, which we fre- 
 quently, in fummer, fee fufpended in the at- 
 mofphere. 
 
 The general appearance of thefe marls differs 
 not only in different beds or " jams i" but 
 the fame jam generally affords marl of diffe- 
 rent appearances and qualities : the upper part 
 is ufually fouler and more friable, while the 
 lower parts of the jam are of a purer, firmer, 
 more chalk-like nature ; and are ufually inter- 
 
 Ipcrfcd v.ith " chalkflones •" namely, 
 
 lumps of cbalkj firm enough to be ufed in 
 wxitiiig i and with_/7;;i/j, fmiilar to thofe ufu- 
 ally found in chalkpits of other dulricls. 
 
 The fpecimen before me was taken from 
 
 the middle of a tenfoot jam. The general 
 
 appearance is that of a dirty, rough, friable 
 
 C i chalk i 
 
20 MANURES. Si 
 
 clialk ; Its colour being fomewhat darker, and 
 its ccntexture fomewhat ibfter, and more 
 brittle, than the common writing chalks of 
 Surrey and Kent. 
 
 In the cfcn air, it breaks readily, and in- 
 corporates freely with the foil. 
 
 In ivater^ it falls in a manner inftanta- 
 neoufly * ; but dijfohes not, in any proper-' 
 tion, in tliis element -f. 
 
 In the fire y it lofes more than one third of 
 iLS v/eight J, and bur^is to lime §. 
 
 • A piece of this marl plunged into water fell with 
 a fmart crackling noife in a few feconds : but a fmall 
 piece of chalk contained in it, received no change from 
 the water. Hence wc have a fimple cii£erential teji of 
 thefe two foflils. 
 
 f One hundred grains pulverized, dried, weighed, 
 
 placed in a filter, flooded repeatedly with cold and 
 warm water, dried, weighed— received not the Imailcil 
 perceptible diminution of weight 
 
 X A piece, weighing fif:y grains, retained in a llrong 
 fire three hours, lofl eighteen grains and a half; 
 weighing, when cool, thirtyone grains and a half. 
 
 § The pit from whence the fpecimen made ufe of 
 in this analyfis was taken, being worked as a lime-quarry, 
 I had repeated opportunities of obferving the effed of 
 the lime, both as a manure and as a building-material. 
 Its Arength and operation, in both cafes, are, as far as 
 common obfcrvation can judge, fimiiar to thofe of the 
 ' chalk limes of Surrey aud Kent. 
 
5. NORFOLK. 21 
 
 In the acid of feajalt, the principal part of 
 it is dijjhlved, and taken up by the acid i leav- 
 ing a fmall proportion, of grols earthy matter, 
 undifTolved. Of one hundred grains of this 
 marl, — pulverized, dried, weighed, mixed with 
 water, and faturated with this acid, — eighty- 
 five grains pafs through the filter ; leaving a 
 refidue of fifteen grains : two thirds of whicK 
 is palpable, confifting chiefly of fand and 
 fiint; one third a fine impalpable claylike 
 matter ; mixing freely with water i — fome 
 part of it fubfiding with relu6lance. 
 
 A folution of Jalt cf tartar y added to the 
 filtered liquor, precipitates the ivkcle of the 
 diiTolved matter j in a Jnow-'xhite pcivder : 
 which being retained two hours and a half in 
 a ftrong fire, lofes five tv/elfths of its weight *, 
 and is concreted into a porous, friable, ajh~ 
 coloured mafs of quicklime ; which being 
 re-fufpended in acid, and again precipitated, 
 regains the weight loflin the fire, and regains 
 itsfno'wy whiteuefs. 
 
 • Thirty grains of the powder perfeflly dried, loft 
 fomewhat more than twelve grains and a half j the 
 lime, when taken oat of the crucible, weighing fome- 
 what lefs than feventeen grains and a half. 
 
 C 3 Theif' 
 
21 MANURES. s, 
 
 Tbereforey it is highly probable, that the 
 foluble matter of this marl is a pure, or near- 
 ly a p'Jre, calcr.reous enrtk *. 
 
 We may therefore venture to fet down, as 
 the component parts of one hundred grr-ins 
 of this marl, which may be taktn as a fair 
 fpecim.en of the white marls of this Diilriifb, 
 85 grains of chalk, 
 10 grains of fand, 
 5 grains of clay. 
 
 ICO grains. 
 
 2. The Clay Marl of Hzmsbv. 
 
 In its r.atural Jiate^ it is fituated in exten- 
 five beds or jams of confiderable depth (fee 
 MiN. 106). Its ccicuKy when dry, fomewhat 
 lighter than that of fulicrsearth, (lightly tinged 
 v/ith fpecks of a yellowifli brown colour : its 
 ccntexture that of a gritty fullersearth, intcr- 
 Ipcrfcd with granules of white chalk. 
 
 • The limehas a pertcptiMe, but very faint jr-Z/azcj/J 
 tint. By the addition of a tinAurc of ^ a! Is the ulti- 
 mate filtered liquor becomes turbid : a 'v^hitt mucilage 
 fubndes i leaving a tranfparent^rr-// liquor. A tinflure 
 of galls added to the lime water, before tiie addition of 
 the acid, has a fomewhac fimllar ciFecl. But, previous 
 to the ca'cinaiion, tinfturc of gall ^ piodi:ces no char;^c 
 whatever unoa tliis marl, eitlicr in a di>u:cd or a dif- 
 foivcd ft^:e. 
 
5- NORFOLK. 3 
 
 In the c^en air., it breaks into Imall fquares j 
 and mixes freely with the foil. 
 
 In 'watei-y it falls readily ; but dijfohes net. 
 
 In the fire ^ it bums to brick *. 
 
 In the acid of Jeafalt, part of it is diflblved j 
 but the major part is indifibluble. Of one 
 hundred grains, fortythree grains, only, pafs 
 through the filter ; leaving a refiduum of 
 fiftyleven grains -, fifty grains of which is an 
 impalpable claylike matter ; the remaining 
 kvtn grains palpable ; chiefly fand ; but mixed 
 with fome beautifully coloured granules and 
 fragments. 
 
 AJdiiticn of JqU cf tartar precipitates the 
 whole of the dilfoluble matter ; which falls 
 of cipure 'ii.hite ; but dries to 2L/ome^d.-hat yel- 
 kvoifh powder ■■, which in burning lofes exadVly 
 five twelfths of its weight ; and concretes into 
 a mafs 01 Jidpburcolcured lime: which being 
 
 * A piece weighing fif:y-two grains was kept in a 
 ftrong t:re more than two hours. Its cckurwzs changed 
 to a faint redy or fiefticolour ; its contexture to that of a 
 hard-burnt brick, unchangeable in water ; its weight 
 forty grains. Being pulverized and faturatcd with the 
 acid, the filtered liquor afforded, by an addition of the 
 alkali, a greycdourtd mucilr.ge, which fell reluftantly, 
 and dried to 2. pale cinnamon^olcured fubftance. 
 
 C 4 again 
 
24 MANURES. 5. 
 
 again difiblved and again precipit2tc^, rcgaiis 
 the principal pare of its original weight, and 
 lofcs izs yellow {bade ; the precipitated matter 
 dning to z ^ctsfcch:£red powdti. 
 
 From ihefe circumftances it appears, that 
 the compcnenr parts of an hundred grains 
 of the clay of Hemlby, wnich m::y be confi- 
 dered as a fpecimen of the calcireous clays 
 of the eaftcm coait of Norfolk, — are 
 
 50 grairj of cl^lJ, probabty condLiing 
 
 fume fmaii proportion of ircn ; 
 43 grains of a fomewhat impure cbiiUt ; 
 7 grains of /ami ; ^vith an inconfiderable 
 admixture of coloured gnouks and 
 fragments, 
 
 J 00 grains. 
 
 J. SorxCHALK of Thorp- VEXT-NoRWicH. 
 
 Jk its ncturaljiatfy — it is Htuated in an cx- 
 
 tenfivc bed, or rock ; formL-^ a bank of the 
 
 river Tare. Its »-:; vr a yello>*-iih ^'hite, or 
 
 pale firiwcolour : its c^.tfxturc that of a 
 
 foft, hght, fmooth chalk, fuinciently firm, 
 
 when perfectly dry, to inark \sidi *. 
 
 * 1: is ob.enrjiUe, tlut clkc (pecimen onder analyfis 
 has been ukea ixaa Uic qiurn>% and kepi is a dry fitna- 
 tJoa, more laaa four vcaxs. 
 
 In 
 
5, NORFOLK. 25 
 
 In the open air *. 
 
 In water J it neither /?//j-f, nor dijfohes. 
 
 In the firey it burns to Ivnej lofing one 
 third of its weight in the fire. 
 
 In the add of J ea fait, almofl the whole of 
 It is diflblved. Of one hundred grains, ninety- 
 eight pafs through the filter i leaving only 
 two grains of refidue. Principally a dark, 
 brown ruft-like matter , fine enough to lodge 
 itfelf in the pores of the paper, leaving only 
 ^ few particles of fand upon the filter. 
 
 A folution of the fait of tartar precipitates 
 the diiTolved matter in a white mucilage, which 
 ^t'^ to 2i yellow if}j white powder; v/hich, being 
 retained three hours in a ftrong fire, lofes 
 a portion of its weight, and is converted into 
 a friable mafs of yellowijh white q^iickliine : 
 which being re-diffolved and re -precipitated, 
 
 * Having omitted to make zr\ intentional ohfervatiou 
 on this circumilance, I cannct fpea!: to it pofitively ; 
 but, from the fmall quantity ufuallv fet on, and the 
 fhort time it lalls, as 'veil a f.om general objerijation, 
 I beli"ve, that it mixes readily with the foil. 
 
 t A piece, the iLii; of a hazel nut, lay feveral hours 
 in water without undergoing the leaft change. 
 
 regains 
 
a6 xM A N U R E S. $, 
 
 rcgdns irs Avcight, and falls in a fnow-whiie 
 mucilage^ which dries to zmarly ivbite powder. 
 
 Therefore, one hundred grains of this chalk 
 contair.s, 
 
 NLoetyelglit grains of a matter difibluble 
 in the acid of fea filt, and is probably a pure, 
 or nearly a pure, ckdk ; and, 
 
 Two grains of indiiToluble matter, whofe 
 properties I h::ve not, yet, fafficiently afcer- 
 taiiied. 
 
 This chalk contains the greatefl proportion 
 of diiToluble matter, — or, in other words, is 
 the pure ft calcareous earth, I ha\T yet ana- 
 lyzed. The chalk of Betchworth Hill (a 
 continuation of Box Hill, near Dorking in 
 Surrey), celebrated as a manure (for which 
 purpofc it is fetched, twelve or fourteen miles, 
 by die farmers of Suffcx), atfords a refiduum of 
 more than one tenth of its weight : whereas 
 the chalk of Thorp-next-Norwich affords 
 only one fifdech. 
 
 4. The Hard Chalk of Swaffham. 
 
 In its natural ft ate ^ it is fituated in an ex- 
 tended rock, rifing to near x}:\q furficc, and 
 worked ten or r\velve {ttx. deep, as a lime- 
 quarry. 
 
5. NORFOLK. a; 
 
 quarry. Its colour nearly white : its contexture 
 that of a hard Kentilli chalk j but mellows, I 
 find, by keeping in a dry fituation. When 
 taken from the quarry (in 1782), it was too 
 hard to mark freely j now (1786), it is fufii- 
 ciently foft for the purpofe of writing. 
 
 I?t water J it remains perfectly concrete. 
 
 In the acid of Jea fait, it, in a manner 
 wholly, diiTolvesi the folution being almoft 
 limpid: but, in filtering, a foil of a dark 
 brown colour, and a few (perhaps twenty) 
 particles of fand are left in the filter. 
 
 A fcluikn cf fait of tartar precipitates the 
 difiblved particles, in d-fnow-white powder. 
 
 Therefore, this chalk is, in its natural ft ate ^ 
 
 NEARLY A PURE CALCAREOUS EARTH, 
 
 II. Mould. — Befides what come under the 
 idea of marls and clays, a variety of other earths 
 are induO:rioufly fought after by the Norfolk 
 hufbandmenj for tiie purpofe of bottomino- 
 their farmyards and dunghills; with a view 
 to catch the drainage of the dung. The duno- 
 and the mould are afterwards turned up and 
 mixed together; by which means the moidd 
 becomes faturated with vegetable juices com- 
 municated to it by the dung : and it is a com- 
 mon 
 
28 MANURES. 5. 
 
 mon obiervation, that the mould thus prepared 
 " lies longer in the ground" — is a more per- 
 manent m mure, tiian the dung itfelf. 
 
 This is not improbable j for crude unmixed 
 dung, buried in lumps, and difiblved in the 
 foil by heavy rains, is liable, no doubt, to be 
 carri<;d away, in part, below the vegetative 
 llratum j efpecially of a light foil : therefore, 
 to arreft and fix it, before it be carried upon 
 the land, feems to be, in the management of 
 fuch a foil at leail, highly judicious. 
 
 This piece of good management is talked 
 about in moil countries, and praftifed perhaps 
 by fome few individuals j but in Norfolk, a 
 light land country, it is the univerfal pradlice*. 
 
 Tlie principal fource of this mould — pro- 
 vincially " manner"— is the Ihoveliinirs of 
 ditches i which, in diis country, are found to 
 contain in themlllves a fingularly fertilizing 
 property. This rich mould is not compofed 
 of die fcdiment of the wafliings of the atljoin- 
 ing inclofures ; many of the ditches, perhaps, 
 
 • 1 mean, to bottom dungheaps with a ftratum of 
 mould. It is notcqua'i . univerfal to turn over and mix 
 the dune and mould together ; but this is tVequently done 
 by good liufbiindTicn. It is not, however, in every cafe, 
 eligible. A dunghcap, formed /« //wy/>r///j-, for turneps, 
 would, in a Jry fcafon, be injured by fuch treatment. 
 
 never 
 
5 NORFOLK. 19 
 
 never having, from the time of making to the 
 time of fcouring, admitted a current of water ; 
 but confifls altogetlicr of dead weeds, leaves of 
 the hedge, and the mouldering of die bank 
 and the fides of the ditch. 
 
 The effect of the air of Norfolk upon the 
 Norfolk foil expofed in tliis manner is extraor- 
 dinary : the moft barren runy fubilratum ex- 
 pofed for a fe^'/ years in the face of a dirchbank, 
 is changed into a rich black m.ouid, of a ferti- 
 lizing quality. This change, in a greater or lels 
 degree, takes place in every country ; but I 
 have not oblerved ic, any v/here, lb obvious as 
 it is in this Diftri-ib. Perhaps y the fea air, 
 a<fling upon a loofe porous foil, may alTifl in 
 producing this change. Be this as it may, it is 
 an interefting facV -, by which, perhaps, Norfolk 
 hiifbandmen, at leaft, might profit (fee Min'. 
 77. on this fubject"). 
 
 Another Iburce of " manner" is ufekjs turf. 
 The backs of ditchbanks — the borders of 
 fences in general— the fides of lanes, and the 
 nooks of yards, &c. &:c. v/hich, in other places, 
 are fuffered to remain, from generation to ge- 
 neration, the nurfeiy of v/ecds, are, by the Nor- 
 folk fanners, turned up into ridges, to rot the 
 roots, Sec, of the grafs and weeds, and to re- 
 ceive . 
 
30 M A X U R E S. 5. 
 
 ceive the melioration of the air ; which done, it 
 is carted, in due fealbn, to tiie paryard, or 
 dimgheap. 
 
 Another fpecimen of manure much coveted 
 here is "mergi.i" — tha: is, the rubbilh of old 
 buildings. — Srallone v^-alls afford a great quan- 
 ri^^ of this valuable ardde ; which, fix)m its 
 immediate efi^, and its duranon, taken joint- 
 ly, is confidercd, by Ibme, as being fuperior to 
 marl, mould, or even dung itfeif; elpecially 
 upon fcalds, and hot burning foils. It is fome- 
 tirr.es mixed with dung i but more commonly 
 fct on alone. 
 
 nL LiiiE is In good repute, riiough net in 
 general ufe, as a manure ; hulbandmen in Nor- 
 folk being, like huihandmen in cdier pbces, of 
 different opinions reiixrcdng the value of hme. 
 This difference in opinion will ever remain, 
 while general conclufions are drawn from par- 
 ticular incidents. The effea of lime upon 
 different foils b as various as the foils them- 
 fclves ; and notlung but experiment can deter- 
 mine whether it will, or uill not, be bcncficul 
 to a given foil. 
 
 It is ufcd by many judicious farmers, even 
 after marl, with fucccf*. Upon hot burning 
 
 foils 
 
NORFOLK. 
 
 3» 
 
 foils it is generally found of the greatefl effica- 
 cy i and is perhaps the molt effedual cure of 
 " fcalds" which has yet been difcovered : from 
 thefe and other circumllances, lime is here 
 confidered as a ccid manui-e. 
 
 XV. Ashes. — Thefe are not in eftimadon as 
 a manure in this countiy : even thole of the 
 hearth are in a degree negleded. 
 
 The meadows and fens abound with peat- 
 bogs, which in fome places would be confi- 
 dered as ineflimable fources of manure. The 
 peat of the meadows would no doubt afford an 
 ample fupply of afhes ; but thofe of the fens, 
 being wholly compofed of the roots, &c. of 
 aquatics, burn down to an inconfiderable quan- 
 tity of afhes, of a white colour, and of a volatile 
 nature, like thofe of paper. Even the fmall 
 quantity they afford is not confidered, by men 
 who ftand high in their prcfelTion, as a valua- 
 ble manure. 
 
 Sodburning is not, I believe, pradifed in 
 any degree : I never, at leait, met with an m- 
 llance of it ; iior, indeed, with any inflance ia 
 which afhes were intentionally produced Iblcly 
 as a manure j except one, in which anthills 
 were burnt for this purpcfe (fee Min. 6). 
 
 V. Dung. 
 
32 MANURES. 5, 
 
 V. Dung. — 1 he quality of dung is here 
 attended to >\ith greater precifion than in moft 
 other Difbrifbs. 
 
 ** lown ;nuck" ftiinds nril. Norwich af- 
 fords a fupply to lot coun :iy- round iti while 
 Yarmouth produce^, fbr its neiglibourhood, a 
 muck of a fingukr quality. 
 
 Yarmouth is i- 2 manner furrounded by 
 marfhes and the fea ; ftraw, of courie, becomes 
 there a dear article. This, and the \'icinity of 
 the feathore, has edablifhed a praifHce, which 
 I believe has been in uk time immemorial, of 
 liiterir:^ ftables with fea fand inflead of draw. 
 As the bed becomes foiled or wet, freih fand is 
 fcattered on, until the whole is in a degree latu- 
 rated with dung and urine : the ftail is then 
 cleared and a frefh bed of fand laid in. By 
 this means muck of a quality Angularly excel- 
 lent is produced : it is fetched by the farmers 
 of the Fleg Hundreds to a ver)' great diftance. 
 The " muck" of Lhe " parj'ard," too, is 
 efleemed of various qualities. — That of the lia- 
 ble, made from horfes fed on hay and com, is 
 reckoned the beft^ that (rom farting cattle the 
 next ; whjlc that of lean cattle, and of uzis in 
 particular, is confidered as of a very inferior 
 
 quality i 
 
NORFOLK, 
 
 33 
 
 quality ; even though turneps make a part of 
 their food. The dung of fuch cattle, kept on 
 flraw, alone, is efteemed of little or no value. 
 And, what may appear extraordinary to many, 
 the muck from the ftraw which is trodden, 
 only, is by fome thought to be better than that 
 from the ftraw which is eaten by lean flock. 
 
 VI. Compost. — This may be faid to be the 
 common manure of the Diftridt; for there is 
 very little dung let on without being firftmixed> 
 in the yard, or in the field, with mould, marlj 
 or other "manner." See Mould. 
 
 Somedmes a confiderable proportion of 
 " manner" is added to the dung: I have known 
 a compoft of one pait marl, one part niould, 
 and the third pait dung, ufed in common, by a 
 very induftrious judicious farmer, withfuccels. 
 
 It feems to be a fad:, well eftabiifhed, that 
 although marl, alone, v.ill not anfwcr on land 
 which has been recently marled ; yet, mixed 
 with dung, it produces a beneficial effedl. 
 
 VII. TzATHE. — This is a provincial term, 
 conveying a compound idea, for which we have 
 no Engliih word. V/hen v,-e make ufc cf tlie 
 
 , Vol. L D term 
 
34. U A N U R E S. f: 
 
 tcrm/cA/, as applied to the fertilizing effect of 
 Iheep pent i:pon land, we do not mean to con- 
 vey an idea merely of the focces they leave be- 
 hind them, in this cafe, but alfo of the urine, the 
 trampling, and perhaps of the perlpiration, and 
 the warmth, communicated to the foil by the 
 j5radice of folding. Teathe in like manner is 
 applied to die fertilizing effcd of cattle, upon 
 the land upon which they are foddered with 
 turneps or other food ; v/hether thnt ferti- 
 lizing effecl be produced by their dung — their 
 urine — their treading— or by their breath — 
 their perfpiration — and the warmth of tlitir 
 bodies. 
 
 This term is applied likev.ife to fhcep and 
 other1[lock: nor is it confined to (lock fiiut up 
 within narrow limits, but is extended to paflur- 
 ing (lock ; implying, collectively, the returns 
 which, thcv make to the lands they depafture. 
 
 Tiie teathe of cattle i?, like their dung, 
 tuimateJ according to t!ie quality of the food, 
 and the qualit}' of the cattle which confume it. 
 ^The teathe of f:.t heavy bullocks, at head-keep, 
 is efccemed very beneficial to the lands of Nor- 
 folk ; while that of cov.'s .ind lean flock is, the 
 " jamming" apart, confidtred of 'little value. 
 
 VII r. 
 
5- NORFOLK. 35 
 
 Vrn. Shzipfold. — There are few (beep 
 kept in this Diihicci and the fold is not in ufe; 
 except by a very fev,- principal farmers i and by 
 fome gentlemen vrho keep large tracts in hand. 
 The value of fhcepfold is v.ell underftood; 
 but the main objecl of the Eafr Norfolk huf- 
 bandry is bullocks -, and the farmers, by their 
 practice, feem well aware that fheep among 
 cattle are unprofitable ftock. 
 
 IX. Soot is in gcod repute i and, near i^t. 
 towns, is in ufe. Rapecake is alfo in good 
 efleem, in fome parts of the DiftricL ; as are 
 Maltcoombs, in places where they can be 
 had at a reafonabie price. 
 
 For the appiicaticnj and the method cf ap- 
 ^ying thefe various manures, fee the article 
 Manure Process. 
 
 For the method o( raiftng farm-yard manure, 
 fee Farm-Yard Managemext. 
 
 For an inilance o{ burning ofii-hills for ma- 
 nure, fee Mix". 6. 
 
 For an inilance of utility of the jboielling cf 
 e /jifi^/t/i/ to grafiland, fee Mi. \. 10. 
 
 For an inftance of the ufe of fhsetfcld to 
 barley, fee Mix. 11. 
 
 D 2 For 
 
36 MANURE S. f. 
 
 For experiments on different manures for 
 wheat, fee Mi N. iS. 
 
 For a calculation on the value of Jloeepfold, 
 fee MiN. 1 8. 
 
 For experiments and obfervations on the 
 adlion o{ iimey fee Min. 29. 
 
 For reP.eftions on ItiUock teathe, upon the 
 fair-ftead of St. Faith's, fee Min. 31. 
 
 For a defcription of the Flcg-clay, fee 
 Min. 106. 
 
 For obfcr\'ations on the effect of calcarecirs 
 earths on (lilt land, fee Mix. ic6. 
 
 For a defcription of the marl and cJr.\ cf the 
 aaji^ fee Min. i 12. 
 
 FARMERS. 
 
6, NORFOLK, 37 
 
 FARMERS. 
 
 I DO NOT mean to hold out the farmers 
 of Norfolk as a feparate order of men : farmers, 
 in every country, have, in their drefs, their 
 manner, their converfation, and their acquire- 
 ments, a ftriking refemblance: neverthelefs, 
 in every country, I find fome diflinguifhing 
 characleriflic. 
 
 The farmers of Norfolk are ftrongly marked 
 by a liberality of thinking, and, in confe- 
 quence, by an opennefs in their manner and 
 converfation. This may be accounted for: 
 many of them have been, and fome of them 
 ftill are, rich : this has led them to mix, in a 
 greater or lefs degree, with what is called the 
 World J of which dieir leafes render them in- 
 dependant. A tenant-at-will, be his riches 
 what they may, is a fubaltern in fociety ; m 
 which he dares not to mix, left his landlord, or 
 his landlord's aflbciates, Jhould be pleafed to 
 t\kt offence, 
 
 D 3 Thus 
 
38 FARMERS. 6, 
 
 Thus the clergy, and thoie men of fmall 
 income who fall under the denomination of 
 country 'iquires, are in mofl places looked up 
 to by farmers j while in Norfolk they are con- 
 fidcred, by the principal farmers at leaft, as 
 belonging to the fame order of fociety*. 
 
 The 
 
 * As an inflance of ;he complacercy and good brecJing (I 
 do not mean complaifance or polite n-fs) of the fuperior clafs 
 of Norfolk farmers, I will relate the ciicum!lances of de- 
 portment which occurred to myfelf, at a farm-houfe, at 
 which I flept accidentally. 
 
 Our hofl having given ftrict orders, and fomeperfonal 
 attention, refpecting our horfes, the cnmpany were led 
 into a fpacious kitchen, charafterlzed by cleanlincfs and 
 a chearful fire. A decent upper-fer\'ant prcfented herfelf. 
 Supper was ordered, and a bottle of wine, in a neat h- 
 ftiionable decanter, fet upon the table. A fmart, but not 
 extravagant, fapper foon rr.adc its appearance. The 
 houfekeeper waited in an adjoining room, and a maid- 
 fervant at the table, with a degree of propriety and de- 
 corum frequently unfecn in the houfes of thofe who ca!l 
 themfelvcs gentlemen. A trifling incident proved the 
 good fenfe, if not the good breeding, of our hoft and his 
 family. Forgetting that I was ;it t)ic table of a Nrfik 
 farmer, I aflted for an article of the :*.de-board which was 
 not at hand. The fcrvant went out of the room as if to 
 fetch it; but inflead of returning, the houfekeeper came 
 in to make an apology for rot happening to have i: in the 
 hcufc : fhe withdrew : the maid-l'ervant returned ; while 
 
 the 
 
6. NORFOLK. 39 
 
 The lower clafs of Norfolk farmers, how- 
 ever, are the fame plain men, which farmers in 
 general are, in every other country ; living in a 
 great meafure with their fervants. Another 
 clafs live in the kitchen vvith their fervants, but 
 eat at a feparate table ; while the upper clajTes 
 have their " keeping rooms" and other com- 
 modious apartments. 
 
 In general they rife early, breakfaft early, 
 and dine univerfally at twelve o'clock, at leaft 
 the fervants. This is well adapted to the Nor- 
 folk pra6tice of going what are called twojour- 
 nies a day, with the plowteams : the men reach 
 home by dinner-time ; and having* refrefhed 
 
 the converfation went on '.vkhoit any notice being taken, 
 or any obfervation whatever being made on the aukward- 
 nefs of the circumllance. 
 
 In the morning when I returned from a walk, I found, 
 in a decently, but not extravagantly, furnifhed parlour, 
 two tables fet out j one with tea equipage, the other with 
 napkins, bread and batter, ham, radiihes, &c. The 
 houfekeeper lat at the former, placed on one iideof the 
 room, and made tea ; which was brought to us at our 
 table on the other : and this without the leail fhew of 
 parade or formality. In {hort, the whole treatment had 
 fo much the air of that free-and-eafy reception which I 
 had formerly experienced on the eltate of a Weil-India 
 Planter, that it was with fome difficulty I could beli;;ve 
 niyffclf in the houfe of an Englifii farmer. 
 
 D 4 themfelves 
 
4© WORK M E N. 6. 
 
 thcmfclvcs and their horfes, are ready to dart 
 again at one to two o'clock for the afternooA 
 journey. 
 
 For caufcs of their prefent decline \Yitii 
 relpefl to riches, fee Min. 5 3. 
 
 WORKMEN. 
 
 WORKMEN, here, as in other places, arc 
 divifible into yearly servants and day- 
 labourers. 
 
 At the public hiring of yearly servakts, 
 an excellent cuilom fubfifrs in this Diftrid : 
 The High-Cooftable of the Hundred in which 
 a ftatute is held, holds, at the fame time and 
 place, what is called a " petty feflions j" at 
 which the hiring and its attendant circum- 
 flances are, or may be, regiflcred; wliich re- 
 gifter becomes, in cafes of difpute, either be- 
 tween mafler and fervant, or between parifh 
 and parifli, a ufeful record. 
 
 In 
 
y. NORFOLK. 41 
 
 Inrerpe6lto daylabourers, two remark- 
 able circumftances are united ; namely, hard 
 work and low wages ! A Norfolk farm labourer 
 will do as much work for one (hilling, as fome 
 two men, in many other places, will do for 
 jeighteenpcnce each. There is an honefty, I 
 had aimoft laid an honour, about them, when 
 working by the day, which I have not been 
 able to difcover in the daylabourers of any 
 other country. 
 
 For an evidence corroborating thefe obfer- 
 vations, fceMiN. 98. 
 
 For reafons accounting for their a<ftivit}:, 
 fee MiN. 100. 
 
 For an inllance of ftiil greater exertion, fee 
 jVIiN. 106, 
 
 HORSES. 
 
42 HORSES. e. 
 
 8. 
 
 HORSES. 
 
 H0r.SE3 are thconlybeafts of bbour made 
 uic of m the Norfolk vhufbandry : there h 
 por, perhaps, one OX worked m the counrv. 
 
 The farr.i-hcrfes of NcrfcHv were, formerI\% 
 a fmall bro-v^Ti-muzzled breed ; light-boned ; 
 but flood hard work, and hard keep, in a rtr- 
 inari;^ble manner ; and rvvo of them were 
 found quite equal to the Norfolk plow in the 
 Norfolk foil. 
 
 Cf late, flallicns, of the heavier black 
 breeds of Lincolnfhire, Leicellerfhire, &c. 
 have been fafhionable i and at prefent (per- 
 haps unfortunately for the country) the true 
 Norfolk breed is almoft entirely worn out. 
 
 I have heard fenfible old men regret this ; 
 and complain heavily againft the prefent breed: 
 they eat up too much of their corn, and are 
 not fo a«flive as dieir favorite *' old fort." 
 
 The prefent breed, however, arc by no 
 means heavy : on the contrary, being yet as a 
 
 mongrel 
 
8, NORFOLK. 43 
 
 mongrel kind between the two breeds, they 
 are, compared with the elephants of Lincoln- 
 fhire, a light, punch, active, little horfe. 
 
 The fmgiilar breed of Suffolk is, at prefent^ 
 the faihionable crofs -, and, to my mind, a veiy 
 judicious one : for, although this ftrange va- 
 riety of the equeftrian fpecies — or, to Ipeak 
 from appearances, this half-horfe half-hog race 
 of animals — are not fo handfome, in harnefs, as 
 the prefent beautiful breed of Leicellerfhire j 
 they appear to me, from a knowledge of both 
 kinds, to be better adapted to the Norfolk 
 hulbandiy. Their principal fault is a flatnefs 
 of rib : if this could be improved, they would, 
 in my opinion, be the firft breed of draught- 
 horfts in the kingdom. 
 
 It is, however, the lighter, miore aflive 
 part of them, which is beib adapted to the Nor- 
 folk husbandry. Had the original Norfolk 
 breed been croffed with thefe, inftead of tlie 
 flugs of the Fens, the produce could not have 
 failed of beingj excellent. 
 
 Five horfes are here called " a teamer," and 
 are ufually placed under the care of one 
 ." teamerman j" who, in more leifure-times, 
 plows with two of tl)em in the morning, and 
 
 with 
 
44 HORSES. S. 
 
 with other tsvo in the afternoon ; but, in gene- 
 ral, a labourer, or a boy, works one pair of 
 them while the teamerman works the other 
 pair, two journies a day i having always, in 
 this cafe, one horfc at reft. 
 
 But in feedtime, more particularly in 
 " barley feel," the fifth horfe goes to harrow j 
 every horlc upon the farm going to work at fix 
 or feven in the morning, and ftays till twelve : 
 goes out again at one or t-v^'O, and remains at 
 work till fix or feven. 
 
 In a waggon upon the road, fxve horles 
 are univerfally in ufe. 
 
 Whether upon the road or on the farm, the 
 common pradice is for the horfes to trot with 
 empty carriages. 
 
 Formerly, this admirable cuftom was carried 
 too far : inftead of trotting^ for difpatch, races 
 were run, at full fpeed, upon the road. The 
 kad was the goal contended for : a forchorfe 
 which would, at a word or a fignal, break out 
 at full fpeed, was, by the young men v.ho took 
 delight in the diverfion of " roading," confi- 
 dercd as invaluable. Many waggons, and fome 
 necks, having been broken by this dangerous 
 amufcment, it is, at prefent, a good deal laid 
 uHde J though not yet entirely left off. I have 
 
 myfel; 
 
t. NORFOLK. 45 
 
 myfclf feen a race of this kind : a following 
 team broke out, upon a common, and, un- 
 mindfiil of the nits^ hollow-ways, and rough- 
 neffcs, contended for the lead ; while the lead-^ 
 ino- team :is eaaerlv flrove to keep it ; both ot 
 them going at as full a gallop as horfes in har- 
 nefs could go, for a confiderable diilance j the 
 drivers (landing upright in their refpeftive wag- 
 gons. The clofe of the race was the moft dan- 
 gerous part of it i for {o foon as the forehorfe 
 of the team v/hich broke out, found that he 
 had gained the lead, he rafhed eagerly into the 
 road i which, in that place, happening to be 
 hollow, it appeared to me miraculous that 
 no mifchief was done. Savage, however, as 
 this cuftom may feem, the prefent Ipirit of 
 activit)- may be, in fome meafare, mdebted to 
 iti and whenever i: is wholly laid afide, I 
 hope it v.ill be from motives of prudence, 
 rather than from a want of Ipirit and inchnatlcn 
 to conrinue it. 
 
 The keep of horses La Norfolk, norwidi- 
 ftanding the work they go through, is iefs ex- 
 penfive than that of other places, where large 
 unwieldy horfes feem to be kept for ftate, rather 
 than for labour. This, though prevalent ia 
 many well culcLvaced dillriccs, is an evident 
 
 abfurditv. 
 
45 HORSES. B; 
 
 tbrurdity. There may be cafes, in which heavy 
 loads are to be drawn fhort diflances,and where 
 the number of horfcs is limited, as in London ; 
 in which cafes, heavy powerful horfes may be 
 eligible j but, from the obfervations I have 
 been able to make, a compact horfe is much 
 fitter for the varied employments upon a farm j 
 and, with relpect to keep, a main confideririon 
 in the choice of a firm horfe, the advantage is 
 greatly in favor of fmail horfes. The prefent 
 breed in Norfolk, ftill retaining a confiderable 
 portion of the original blood, is kept at half 
 the expence at which many farm horfes, in 
 different parts cf the kingdom, are fupported. 
 
 In the Icifure montlis of winter, barley flraw 
 is, in general, their only rack meat ; and thro* 
 winter and fpring, they are fuppered up with 
 it ; except, perhaps, in the hurry of barley 
 fcedtime ; againft which a referve of clover 
 hay is made i provided the teamerman does not 
 make away with it before that time. A Nor- 
 folk fanner has a fimilar difScuit}' in prevent- 
 ing his men from fteajing hay, as thofe of other 
 countries have to keep them from pilfering 
 more than their allowance of corn. 
 
 I met v.-i:h one inflance, in which a judicious 
 regulation was made, with rcfpcdt to horle hay. 
 
 At 
 
8. NORFOLK. 47 
 
 At Michaelmas, the mafter fets apart what he 
 confide rs as a lufficient quantity to laft to the 
 clcfe of barley leedtime. This allowance he 
 configns .wholly to the care of his men -, who 
 never fail to huiband it in fuch a manner as to 
 have the necefiary referve at barley {ed -, whereas 
 before he fell upon this regulationj his horfes 
 were either worked down to fkcletons, or he was 
 obliged to buy hay for them at that feafon. 
 
 With refpeft to corn, a bufhel each horfe, 
 a Vv'eek, is, in the bufxefl feafon, confidered as 
 an ample allowance ; in more leifure times a 
 much lefs quantity fuffices. 
 
 Oats are the ufual horfecorn -, bur barley, 
 v/hen cheap or unfaieable, is fometimes given 
 to horfes. In this cafe, it is generally '■^ malt- 
 ed " that is, fteeped, and afterwards fpread 
 abroad, for a few days, until it begin to veo-e- 
 tate J and, in this crifis, is given to the horfes. 
 It is thought to be lefs heating in this flate, 
 than it is when given to the horfes in its natural 
 ftare. 
 
 Chaff is univerfilly mixed with horfecorn : 
 ti\e great quantities of corn grown in this coun- 
 tr)' afford, in general, a flmiciejicy of natural 
 chaff i fo that cut chaff is not rr.uch in \\{t : 
 
 the 
 
^8 HORSES. S; 
 
 the chaff, or rather the awns, of barley, which, 
 in fome places, are thrown as ufcleis to Lhe 
 dunghill, are here in good elleem as horfe 
 provender. Oat chaff is deiervedly confider- 
 cd as being of a much inferior quality. 
 
 The fummer keep of horfes, is, aliTiofl wholly^ 
 clover : — fome few tares are grown, but Lis 
 quantit)' is inconfiderabie. 
 
 Soiling horfes, in the ftable, is not here a 
 praclice j except for baiting in the daytime ; 
 the horfes being univcrfally kept out at night ; 
 and, generaDy, in clover lays. 
 
 Almgular expedient, to prevent rn.iri: rci.:- 
 Ing pafbjre, is here praftifcd : — Horfes incliaed 
 to this vice are chained, two-ajid-r^vo, by die 
 fore fee: -, one end of a chain, about a yard 
 long, being faftened vdth a lliackle to the near 
 foot of one horfe, a:id the other end to the oif 
 foot of the other. This, hovrever, though an 
 excellent way of preventing their rambling, is 
 a dangerous pradice : accidents frequently hap- 
 pen. I knew an inftance of r^vo horfes, coupled 
 in this manner, failing into a marl pit v.vcnty 
 feetxieepi and though one of them miracu- 
 louflv efc aped, in a great meafure unhurt, the 
 other v.os mangled in a rr.:.r.::r c. :■.:]!',• finguhr, 
 
 snd^ 
 
i^. NORFOLK. 49 
 
 and died on the fpot. Accidents apart, the 
 pracTdce is a good one : horles accuilomed to 
 be coupled in this manner, become, inailriking 
 manner, tractable and civil to each other; fo 
 that their feeding aiid fieeping is not lb much 
 interrupted, as in theor)' might be conceived. 
 Another practice, fmgular I believe to Nor- 
 folk, is that of " ropmg" hones, not only Li 
 com.mon fields, but in inclofures : thus, inftead 
 of turning the horfes looie into a piece of clo- 
 ver, the practice is to tedder them upon it ; 
 beginning on one fide, and clearing the herb- 
 age as they go. This is a middle way betu-een 
 foiling and pafhiring : it faves the expence of 
 mowing, and earning to the ftable j but does 
 not eat up the herbage lb clean as foiling does: 
 on the other hand, it is more faving of herb- 
 age than pafturing is ; but there is not only 
 trouble and expence, but a degree of riik, m 
 roping. 
 
 Vol. I E IMPLE^ 
 
^ IMPLEMENTS. ^ 
 
 9- 
 
 I iM P L E M E N T S. 
 
 I. THE WAGGONS of Norfolk arc of the 
 middle fize and middle height : highrr than 
 thofe of Gloucefterfliire ; but lower than thole 
 of the midland counties. Tiicy are very nu- 
 merous : upon a middlcfized farm, three or 
 four are uftially kept ; " carts being kldom ufed 
 here (notNvithftandIng the levelnefs of die coun- 
 try) in getting in harveft. However, to ren- 
 der carts ufeful in harve ft — more efpecially if 
 waggons are wanted — a fingular expedient is 
 here put in practice. With a common dung 
 cart and a pair of old waggon Ihafrs and fore 
 wheels, a carriage is formed ; which, partak- 
 ing both of a cart and a waggon, is called a 
 
 II. 'Maphrodite. Tlic points of the fliafts 
 reft on the bDlfter of the fore wheels, to which 
 they are faftened. A copfe, or foreladder, 
 fimilar to that which is fometimes fixed upon 
 a cart ftiafts, but longer, is alfj fupported by 
 
 tJie 
 
^; NORFOLK. 51 
 
 the bolder, projefling over the horfe in front, 
 in the manner of the foreladder of a waggon ; 
 the length and the breadth of the top of the 
 *' 'maphrodite" being the fame, or nearly the 
 fame, as thofe of a waggon. In a hilly coun- 
 try, where carts are in a manner iifelefs in 
 harveft, thefe cart-waggons would be found 
 extremely convenient. 
 
 III. The carts of Norfolk, have a lingu- 
 larity pertaining to them. The fhafts, inftead 
 of being fixed hinge-wife to the axle, or to the 
 bottom of the cart, are a continuation of the 
 fide-pieces of the bottom itfelf: of courfe, the 
 Norfolk carts do not tilt in the manner in 
 which carts in general do. 
 
 In fetting en manure, a long bellyband is 
 made ufe of j fo that the fhafrs rife with the 
 fore part of the cart ; the fhaft horfe being the 
 only ftay to its tilting up entirely. Nor is 
 ■this an uncommon circumftance j the fhafc 
 horfe, in this cafe, remaining upon his hind 
 legs until he be drawn down again by the 
 fore horfes. This, to common obfervation, 
 is an aukward and a barbarous cuftom : I liave 
 not, however, been able to hear of a fliaft 
 E 1 horfe 
 
51 IMPLEMENT S. 9. 
 
 hoHe receiving any great injury from this 
 pradice *. 
 
 Marling, it is highly probable, brought it 
 into ufe : the v/ear-and-tear of carts in this 
 nigged operation is endlefs j the fimplcft, 
 ftrongefV, and lead expenfive cart has, of 
 courfe, been, for ages, the lludy of Norfolk 
 hufbandmen -, and it is probable that a more 
 fimple, a ftronger, or a lefs expenfive cart can- 
 not be devifed than that defcribed above ; 
 which is in common ufe in this Diftricl. 
 
 Carts of the common conftrudVion, of which 
 there are fome few ufed here, for particular 
 purpofcrs, are called tumbrels. 
 
 IV. The Norfolk, ploy/ is flill more fin- 
 gular in its conftrudion than the Norfolk, cart; 
 and, v/hat is equally fingular, it is, in a manner 
 wholly, confined to the county of Norfolk. 
 The firfl I faw was at Thetford, and I do not 
 recolledl to have feen one plow of any other 
 conflruflion while I remained in the country, 
 nor one of that conftrudtion fince I left it. 
 
 It is true, this implement has been diflri- 
 
 * Abroad fofi bellyband, of leather or hemp, ought 
 however to be ufed oa this occafion. The iharp iron 
 chaiiu vrhich are frequent)/ nude ufe of, axe painful to 
 tie fj: at IcafL 
 
 butcd. 
 
9. NORFOLK. ^3 
 
 buted, at different times, in almofl: every Dil- 
 tricb m the kingdom ; but it has not, I believe, 
 been cdufted in any one of diem; — except 
 perhaps ia Nottingham Foreft. 
 
 There is no doubt of the excellency of the 
 Norfolk plow in cultivating the NorfoLk foil ; 
 or any foil which is fimilar to it ; namely, a 
 fhallow, fmdyloam, free from obllruftions. 
 But the width, and general Ihape, of the (hare 
 render it utterly incapable of being worked In 
 a frrong foil, in \vhich frones or other obltruc- 
 tions abound : and the ufual manner of fettin^^ 
 the hind part of the '-plat" or mouldboard, 
 equally prevents i: from turning, properly, a 
 deep fquare furrow. 
 
 The peculiarides of i:^ ccnfiiruftion are prin- 
 cipally thefe :— Lhe wheels are taller, and their 
 tackle more complex, than thofe of other fm.all 
 plows; die form of the wheels themfelves 
 being, however, beautifully Hmple. The fhare 
 is unulualiy broad, flat, and blunt at the point. 
 The mouldboard is not of wood, but of iron, 
 fomerimes wrought fometimes caft ♦ ; being a 
 
 • Caft-iren JhaT4s have lately been invented, and a pa- 
 
 tent procured for them, by a peribn of Norwich, f or 
 
 the Norfolk plow, in the Norfolk foil, ±ey appear, from 
 
 E 3 Uir 
 
S4 IMPLEMENT S. 9. 
 
 feparatc flrong /Zj.V, n^ifted into a form re- 
 fembling the mouldboard of the modem 
 little plow of Yorkihire and other Difunfts ; 
 which, it is probable, has been copied from the 
 Norfolk " plat." .\nother thing remarkable 
 in the Norfolk plow, though not fingular to it, 
 is its having only one handle. 
 
 There are readers, perhaps, who will ex- 
 pert that a drawing and dimermons of die Nor- 
 foUc pbw, and, perhaps, of the other imple- 
 ments peculiar to the countr)', ought to have 
 been given in this work ; m order that copies 
 of them might have been made in other 
 Difb-i£ls. The idea, in thecn,-, is piauTible ; 
 and I have myfelf, as writers in general on the 
 fubjefr of hufbandry have, fpent much time m 
 the purfjir of it. Experience, however, has 
 convinced me that, wiLh refpe^l to m.yfelf at 
 leafl, it has been time ill-fpent : I have found 
 even patterns infufiicienr guides to workmen : 
 fo much depenus on minuris in the conflruc- 
 
 thc fpccimrns I have Teen of them, to be a ^-aluable in- 
 vcniion. If they can hi tazdi/rix enough to iland in x 
 ftony foil, aad hard enough to retain a fufficieni eJge in a 
 aravcl. they mull prove, to agriculfjrc in general, a moH 
 valuable acqnifition. yjg. 1787. 
 
 don 
 
NORFOLK. 
 
 55 
 
 tlon of the more complex implements of agri- 
 culture. Nay, t!ie very implement which 
 gives rife to thefe obfervatioas, conftnifled in 
 Norfolk in the moft complete manner, and 
 furnifhed witli every necelBry appendage, has 
 lain ufclefs upon a foil it fuited, until a Nor- 
 folk plowman was fent to hold it ! How 
 unreafonable, then, to expect utility from a 
 drawing of it ! 
 
 Thefe circumftances are not fingular to the 
 Norfolk plowi T have known them attend 
 other implements transferred from one part of 
 the ifland to another : and I will beg leave to 
 obferve, here, in general terms, that whoever 
 wifhes to introduce an implement which is in 
 ufe in fome diftant Diftrifb, would do well to 
 have it. not only conflructed, but fet to work, 
 in the country where it is in ufe j and I will 
 venture to add, that fuccefs cannot be infured 
 unlefs a perfon accullomed %o the working of 
 it accompanies it, and fets it to work in the 
 Diilrict into which it is intended to be intro- 
 duced. 
 
 This Is, no doubt, an expenfive way of pro- 
 ceeding i but it is a certain one : while every 
 other expedient is dirowing away, or at leaft 
 E 4 riflsiing. 
 
so IMPLEMENT S. 9, 
 
 riiking, a ccrtdn expence, v^ithout any other 
 certainty whatever. 
 
 Suppofe the Norfolk plow, for inftance, to 
 be tranfported one hundred miles, — and Lhe 
 charges of a man, a horfe, and a light cart, to 
 be from fixpence to a Ihiilmg a mile, — ^the 
 cxpence, — to a large occupier, in a country 
 where a fandy foil, free from obflruflions, and 
 with an abforbent fubfoil, is worked by three 
 horfes at length with a driver, — would not be 
 an obje(^*. Plowing with two horfes without 
 a driver, inftead of three with a driver, is, 
 perhaps, the greateft faving which can be 
 introduced upon a farm : and, for the foil 
 abovemenrioned, it would be difficult to con- 
 ftruct a better plow than that which is now, 
 and has been time immemorial, in common 
 ufe in Norfolk. 
 
 If I were to hazard an improvement of the 
 Norfolk plow, it would be the addition of 
 another handle ; and to change the practice of 
 driving \\iLh a whip (to my mind a very auk- 
 
 • In the e days of fplrited improvements in hufbandr)', 
 when fifty to a hundred gcrincas are given for one year'* 
 rile of a ram, fire psunds for the inutxiudlton of a ufc> 
 fa! iinplen»ent caanot be deemed extravagant. 
 
 ward 
 
^ NORFOLK. 5? 
 
 ward bufirxfj) to that of driving with whip- 
 reins, m the Yorkfhire manner ; a praddce, 
 the excellency of which I have myfelf expe- 
 rienced in different Diftricls. 
 
 The Norfolk rein is one continued " line" 
 pafilng from the bridle of one horfe, through a 
 ftaple f.xed on the underfide of the handle of 
 the plow, to the bit of Lhe other horfe j the 
 plowman holding his plow with the left hand, 
 and carrying a Ihort whip in his right. In 
 di/FxCult work the right hand, v>'hip-and-all, is 
 applied to the handle of the plow j the plow* 
 ii:an walking, in this cafe, in a pofbjre and 
 with a gait, which, to a ftranger, appears 
 extremely aukwardj and nothing, but the 
 want of another handle, could render it fuffer- 
 able to die plowman himfelf. 
 
 The Norfolk line has, in fetting out a frefh 
 furrow, a feeming advantage over whipreins. 
 In this difncult work, at which the Norfolk 
 plowmen are fingularly expert, the loofe part 
 of the line is gathered up in the right hand; fo 
 that the plowman has, with the fmalleft mo- 
 tion of his hand, one way or other, a perfc6l 
 command of both horfes ; but if, in this ope- 
 ration, he dc the two ends of the whipreins 
 
 together. 
 
58 IMPLEMENT S. 9. 
 
 together, letting the left-hand one ride beneath 
 a pui, or in a hook, placed under the handle 
 for that purpofe, the advantage of th^ Norfolk 
 line is tiereby fully obtained. 
 
 The Norfolk barrczv is adapted to the foil— r 
 light and fhort-tined. — Each harrow has its 
 horfe : — that is, each horfe dmws a feparate 
 harrow j — three or four harrows being fome- 
 times drawn abreafr, without being, as i:i other 
 places, intimately conne6ted together. 
 
 . V. The roller of this countiy is very fim- 
 ple and very light. This, confiJering the na- 
 ture of the foil, is extraordinary. 
 
 The firm-rollers, in general, have no fliafcs 
 — ^perhaps only two loofe pieces of wood, about 
 two feet and a half long, with a hole near one 
 end, to receive the gudgeon of the roUer, and 
 a hook or eye at the other, to hook die trace 
 t^ : Ibmetimes two rails are fixed in between 
 the tv/o end-pieces, framewfe, with two hooks 
 or flaples in the front rail to hook the horle to. 
 
 in evidence of the Jghtncls of the Norfolk 
 roDer, I do not recolie(ft to have feen more 
 than one horfe ufed in a common farm roller ; 
 ^nd this one horfe, btHdcs drav.in^; the imple- 
 ment. 
 
^. NORFOLK. 59 
 
 ment, has ufiially carried the driver ; it being 
 the fingular ciiftom of this country to " ride at 
 roll :" an employment, however, which gene- 
 rally falls to the fhare of a young boy, or an old 
 man. 
 
 Notwithftanding the high degree of cultiva- 
 tion in wliich the lands of Norfolk are un- 
 doubtedly kept, no country perhaps has lef^ 
 variety of implements. 
 
 There is not perhaps a drill^ a hcrfehoej or 
 fcarcely a horjerakej in Eaft Norfolk. I faw 
 one Jpkey roller for the purpofe of indenting 
 the furface of a clover lay once plowed for 
 wheat (fee the ardcle Wheat) : but this^ I 
 believe, was never in common uie. 
 
 There is, however, one implement, receiv- 
 ed into the Norfolk hufbandry, which is pro- 
 bably a Norfolk invendon, and peculiar to the 
 county : I have not met with it, at leaft, out of 
 this country: — I mean the 
 
 VI. Snow-Sledge.— This beautifully fim- 
 ple implement is ufed for uncovering turneps 
 buried under a deep ihow. It is fimply three 
 deal or other boards, from one to two inches 
 thick, ten or twelve inches deep, and feven to 
 nine feet long, fet upon their edges in the form 
 
 of 
 
6o IMPLEMENTS. 9^ 
 
 of an equilateral triangi?, and ftrongly united, 
 vith nails or (Iraps of iron, at the angles ; at 
 one of which isfaftened, by means of* double 
 ftrap, a hook or an eye, to liang the horfes to. 
 This being dra.vn ovrr a piqce of turneps co- 
 vered with fnow, forces up the i'now into a 
 ridge on each fide, while between die ridges a 
 ft]-ipe of tiirnc-ps is left bare ; without having 
 received any material injury from the operation. 
 
 VII, TiM^*^-C>i^RiACES. Although tim- 
 ber-carriages may not, in ftri(5i:nefs, be faid to 
 belong to hul>andjy, a defcription of them 
 docs not fall inapdy under the prefent head. 
 Tliey are in Norr^lk, as in moft other places, 
 of two kinds: the four-wheeled carriage — pro- 
 vinciaily, "a drug;" — and die pair of wheels — 
 provincially, "a gill." — Tlie lad is moft in ufe; 
 and of this only I mean to fpeak;— not fo 
 much of its conftrudion, as of the manner of 
 ufing it. 
 
 The ccnllru6lion of the Norfolk gill is fimi- 
 lar to that of the timber- wheels of moft other 
 countries: namely, a pair of tall wheels, with 
 a crooked axletree, lurmounted by a block j 
 to which axle is fixed a pair of fliafcs, or fonic- 
 times a fingle pole, only. 
 
 But 
 
9- N O R t O L K. 6i 
 
 But the method of uling them, here, is dif- 
 ferent from that which I have obferved in other 
 places i where the only ufe they are put to is to 
 raiie the butt end of a large timber to be 
 drawn a Iliort diftance ; the top en.1 being 
 fuiTered to drag behind upon the ground, to 
 the injury of the turf, or the road, it is drawn 
 upon. 
 
 In Norfolk, a large ftick of tisnber, or per- 
 iiaps three or four fmaller ones, are entirely 
 fiung to the axle -, lb that, in drawing, no part 
 of them whatever touches the ground , the top 
 end being generally drawn foremoft, and the 
 end toward the horfes alv/ays the heavieil. 
 
 The method of taking up a piece of timber 
 is this : the horfes being taken oiF, the wheels 
 are run, by hand, aftride the timber to be fiung, 
 until the axle is judged to be a few inches be- 
 hind the balance-point : or, which is better, a 
 chain is firH put round the timber, and the 
 wheels run up to it. It is difncuit to afcertain 
 the exact place of fixing the chain, by the eye; 
 neverthclels, a perfon accuilomed to fling tim- 
 ber in tills manner, will come very near the 
 truth. The chain hooked, and the axle brought 
 into its proper fituation, the (hafts, or pole, is 
 chrov/n back in the ulual manner ; the chain 
 
 carried 
 
62 I M P L E U E N T S. j: 
 
 carried over the block -, brought round the 
 pole i its end made fad 3 and the fhafcs or pole 
 drawn down again by the horfcs ; by wiiicli 
 means the timber is lifted from the ground, 
 and fufpended to the axle. 
 
 If the required point of balance be not hit 
 upon the firft trial, the (hafts are fuftered to 
 rife again, the cliain is unhooked, and fliifced to 
 its proper fituation : the lliafts being again pul- 
 led dovvn, are bound, by an iron trace or fmall 
 chain, clofc down to the timber ; while another 
 fmall chain or trace is faftened round the fore- 
 moll end to hook the horfcs to ; the tea-rn 
 draii-ing by the iirahcr, net by the ■pde or fo efts. 
 
 The utility of having a fuperbalance of 
 weight for\vard is tAvofold : — if the piece were 
 flung in exact equilibrium, it would, upon the 
 road, be in perpetual vibration ; thereby render- 
 ing the pull unfter.Jy, and extremely inconve- 
 nient to the horfes 3 whereas by tlirowing the 
 balance forward, the traces are conftantly kept 
 down in their proper place, and the pull be- 
 comes unifomi : if, however, too much weight 
 were to be thrown forward, the draught of the. 
 horfes would not raife the point from the 
 ground \ the friction would, of courfc, increafe 
 the draught, and the road be at die fame time 
 
 hurt. 
 
9- N O R F O L K. 63 
 
 hurt. It therefore follows, that the proper 
 weight to be tliro'»vn forward is enough to pre- 
 vent a vibration, but not lb much as to prevent 
 the point from being raifed from the road by 
 the draught of the horfcs upon level ground. 
 
 The other advantage b)' a ibperbalance 
 fonvard, is gained in going down a hill j in 
 which cafe, the draught not being v/anted, 
 the point, of courie, falls to the ground, and 
 ferves as a pall to regulate the m.otion of the 
 carnage ; if the fuperbalance alone be not 
 fufficient to check the too great rapidi::)^ of 
 the motion, the driver adds his own weight. 
 Likewiie, if", in afcending a hill, the balance 
 be lofl- ; he, in like manner, feats himfelf up- 
 on the fore part of the load, thereby keepinsr 
 it down to its proper level. 
 
 This method of conveying timber may, 
 it is poiTible, be in ufe in other Diftricts j but 
 I have not feen it pracflifed any where except 
 in Norfolk. I know it to be an excellent, but 
 not a common practice : I have, therefore, 
 been induced to give this defcription of it. 
 
 TAXES. 
 
64 TAXES. 10. 
 
 to. 
 TAXES. 
 
 UNDER this head I fhall clafs 
 Land tax. 
 Tithe, 
 Poor's Rates. 
 
 I. The Landtax, in this Diflrict, nini 
 at about eighteen pence to two fhillings upon 
 the prefent rents. 
 
 n. Tithe. The Difrricl is moflly tithe- 
 able J but tithe is here feldom taken in kind. 
 The rents paid, in three piincipal parifhes in 
 this neighbourhood, are : 
 
 North IValJbatr.y about two fhillings and 
 nine pence, redtorial ; and one fhilling, vica- 
 rial ; an acre, all round. 
 
 S cut b- Reps, about three fhillings each acre 
 of arable land, for reftorial and vicarial 
 This parifh is allowed to be reafonably rented. 
 The rcdor refidesin the parifh. 
 
 North- Rips, for great and fmal!, three 
 
 fhillings an acre ail round j though much bad 
 
 land in the parifh. 
 
 N. B. 
 
10. NORFOLK. 65 
 
 N. B. In RczitGjry a fmall pariih of poor 
 land, about two Shillings for corn and fallow, 
 two-and-fixpence for clover and turneps, and 
 one penny halfpenny for each cow and calf, 
 as a modus for meadow. 
 
 III. Poor's Rate. In the year 1782, zrA 
 for fome years preceding, the poor's rare of 
 
 Ncrth IValfoam was about five fhiUings and 
 fixpence upon the pound, rackrent. 
 
 Scuth-Reps, Lhree Ihillings and fixpence 
 upon the rackrent. 
 
 North-Rep Sy four fhillings upon the fame. 
 
 Rcwtcn, thre^ {hillings upon the fame. 
 
 Erpinghamj (a conf^derable pariih) three- 
 and-fixpence upon the fame. 
 
 It muil be obfervcd, however, that the pe- 
 riod under notice being in the war, d;e wives 
 and families of militiamen wer« a principal 
 caufe of raifing the poor's rates to the absvc 
 high pitch. 
 
 Vol. I. F GENERAL 
 
C6 MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES, it. 
 
 II. 
 
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 E S T A T E S. 
 
 THE MANAGEMENT ofhnded eftates, 
 ;n this Dlflrift, is conducted en a plan, which 
 15 not gcnemlly known, and is Icldom if ever 
 cxecured, in other parts of the kingdom ; where 
 receiving, tv,ice a year, by a plain rentroU, is 
 tVeqiicntly the fum of management. 
 
 Formerly, it was the invari.ible prac^:ce of 
 the Diftrivfl for laiidlords not only to build, but 
 to repair; alfo to fumi.li gates ready-made ; 
 t' -t and cut hedges; and even repair the 
 
 . es of their tenants ; referving to them- 
 
 '^ :3 rlie hedgewocd ; and, in effcd:, a degree 
 of pofiefTion of the buiklings and fer.ces i the 
 •r having, of coiirfe, only a partial pof- 
 ;. ,..on of tiie farm he rented. And the fame 
 lyftem of mianagement, with fome few altera- 
 Ron«, prevails to the prefent time. 
 
 This 
 
n, NORFOLK. 67 
 
 This renders the immediate fuperintendency 
 of a laro^e eftate in Norfolk a bufv and unbroken 
 fcene of employment. The fummer months 
 are not more ad'ively employed in attending to 
 Repairs, than the winter months are in the 
 manasiement of Fences. 
 
 But thefe and other articles I fhall confide'r 
 feparately -, comprizing under the prefent head 
 fuch general matter, only, as neceffarily occurs 
 lipon every leafed efbate. 
 
 I. Texaxcy. Tenants-alzWilL^J^ tliinly 
 fcattered. Lease ^ , -: • :h .r for a term, or from 
 ycar-to-j^eai^dii-c u. ..>.-_ i . Leojes for life are 
 rarely heard of in this Diilrift. 
 
 IL Term. The term, formerly, v/as 
 twenty-one years ; but the advance of pro- 
 duce which took place fome years ago, pro- 
 ducing, as it ever will do, an advance of rent, 
 the tenant v.-ho had then juft entered on a leafe 
 of twenty-one years, became, for a fcries of 
 years, under^rented : the confequence is, 
 gentlemen, in general, refule to grant Icafcs 
 cf longer term tlian fourteen years, and many* 
 curtailed them to fcven years ; a term, in my 
 opinion, much too Ihort. 
 
 ■F a Articles 
 
63 MANAGE.M£NT OF ESTATES, it. 
 
 Articles from year-to-year are very preva- 
 lent, efpccially among fmaller tenants j and, 
 in many refpects,* they are preferable to a (hort 
 term i which is a tie to both parties, witjiout 
 beir.g, in general, advantageoui to eid:er. 
 
 Nl arli.'^g is the pnncipal ij n^iQv^mcnz ox a 
 Norfolk firm ; b'Jt who v/ould marl on a fcven 
 years leafe ? Where much marling is to be 
 done, fourteen years is too fhort a term -, — and 
 rhough landlords may once have felt the incon- 
 veniencies of rv^ent) -one years leafcs, it is 
 probable that tenants, who have of late years 
 raken lealVs of that length, wll, before their 
 cxpir^ion, experience, in therr turn,- feelings 
 of a limilar nature. 
 
 III. Rentt. The medial rent of the Diflriift 
 may be laid at twelve (hillings an acre : toward 
 t}-j^ Norm coaft the foil is lighter, and lels pro- 
 ductive, than it is in more central parts of the 
 Diibicl J but on die EaGern coa(V and in the 
 fouthem Hundreds it is much more fertile, let- 
 ting from eighteen to tvi'enty (hillings an acre. 
 
 In general, the Diftrict is very highly rented: 
 there are lands in tlie kingdom., — I will venture 
 to fay >dthin twenty miles of the metropolis, — 
 which let at eight (hillings an acre, yet are, in 
 d-.eir nature, equally fertile as thole of Norfolk, 
 
 which 
 
IX. NORFOLK. 69 
 
 which let currently for ten to twelve fhillings. 
 Nothing can account for this but the fuperi- 
 ority of the Norfolk hufbandry j and the 
 quick difpatch which prevails in every depart- 
 ment of the Norfolk fyftem of management. 
 
 IV. Covenants. Covenants of leafcs are, in \ 
 Norfolk, as in other Diftricls, various zs leafes \ 
 themfelves : the particular circumflances of an \ 
 ellate, and the Ipecial matter of agreement ) 
 bet\veen landlord and tenant, will ever produce | 
 this variety, in a greater or lefs degree : never- - 
 thelefs, every country has its natural cove- 
 nants, and its prevailing fafhions, as to re- 
 ftriclions and indulgences. I 
 
 Thefe fafhions, however, alter ; and an im^"''*'^ 
 provement has recently taken place, upon fome 
 of the firft eftates in Norfolk, with refpeft to 
 the REPAIRS of buildings and fences; the tenant 
 now covenantTng~to 'pay half the workmen's 
 wages. This has two valuable effefbs : — the 
 tenant thereby pays a ftriifler attention to the 
 workmen employed i and becomes more care- 
 ful of thofe tilings which, heretofore, he had no 
 intercft in preferving. 
 
 V. No department of the management of aiT^ 
 
 cibte gives more uneafmels to hoth landlord / 
 
 F 3 and [ 
 
 1 ^ 
 
7 J MANAGEMENT Of ESTATES. n. 
 
 . \ and tenant than do removals, or exchanges of 
 
 1 I tenants j and every covenant which facihtates 
 
 I / this unpleafant bufinefs is valuable. The fhifc- 
 
 ]i ing of tenants is no where conducted with 
 
 \ greater eafc than in Norfol^ where, it is 
 
 probable, leafes have been long in uk j and 
 
 where removals from farm to farm are become 
 
 familiar. 
 
 Yl.Ti'.zTVALOT RECEIVING RENTS,in Nor- 
 folk, is, pretty generaDy, Chrin;mas and Mid- 
 fum.m.er j landlords giving tlieir tenants diree 
 months credit. Chriflmas, however, is of all 
 others the worft time of the year for this pur- 
 pofe : many ferious evils arife from it (fee 
 MiN. 47, on this fubjed). The firft of March 
 and the ftrfr of June appear to be the moil 
 eligible rentdays in Norfolk. 
 
 r 
 
 VII. The following heads of a lease will 
 
 place the general management of a Norfolk ef- 
 
 tate in a clear and c omprc he nfivT point of view. 
 
 They are not, either in form or Ribflance, 
 
 copied, preciftly, from the leafe in ufe upon 
 
 any pardcular euate ; but exiiibit, I believe, a 
 
 pretty faithful oudine of the modem Norfolk 
 
 leafe. • 
 
 Landlord 
 
II. N O R F O L K. -i 
 
 Landlord AGREES, i, to let, certainipe- 
 cified premiies, for a term, and at a rent, pre- 
 vioiifly agreed upon. 
 
 2. Also to put the buildings, gates, and 
 fences in tenantable repair. 
 
 3. Also to furniHi rough materials, and 
 pay half the workmen's wages in keeping them 
 in repair, during the term of the demife i 
 vilful or negligent damage excepted. 
 
 4. Also to fui-niih the premifcs with fuch 
 ladders as may be wanted in doino- repairs, or 
 in preferving the buildings, in cafe of hi^h 
 v.ind, fire in cliimneys, 6cc. (an excellent 
 claufe). 
 
 5. Also to fdrnilh rough materials for keep- 
 ing the gates, gatepofts, ftyles, &c. &c. in 
 repair ; or to furniPn die materials ready cut 
 out ; tenant paying the ulual price of labour 
 for cutting out. 
 
 6. Also to pay half the expence of fuch 
 fhores and ditches as he, or his agent, fhall 
 dircdt to be made or renewed. 
 
 Landlord reserves, i. ail minerals, fofiils, 
 
 marls, clays 3 with libcrt>^ to work mines, 
 
 quarries and pits, and to burn lime and bricks 
 
 upon the premifes ; likewife to cmj away 
 
 r 4 fuch 
 
72 MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES, n. 
 
 fuch minerals. Sec. &c. ; excepting fuch marl, 
 or chy, as may be ';^■anted for the improve- 
 ment of the ^m. 
 
 2. Also, all timber trees, and other trees 
 and woods, imdenvood avd bfdgrj^ccd -, with 
 liberty to fell, convert, char, and carry off 
 fuch timber or other woods j excepting fuch 
 f horns and bufhes as fhall be fet out by land- 
 lord, for making and repairing fences ; pro- 
 vided the thorns, &c. fo fet out be cur in the 
 winter months ; excepting, however, out of 
 this provifo, fuch few as may be wanted in the 
 courfc of the fummer months, for flopping 
 accidental gaps. 
 
 3. Also, full liberty of planting dmber- 
 rrecs in hedges, or on hedgcbanks ; with a 
 power to take to himfelf, after twelve montlis 
 notice given, fom.e certain number of acres of 
 land for the purpofe of raifmg timber trees, 
 other trees, or underwood ; allo-^^ing the tenant 
 fuch yearly rent, &c. for the land fo taken, as 
 r^'o arbitrators Ihall fix. 
 
 4. Also, a power of altering roads, a.vd 
 of inclofing commons, or waflc lands, >^ith- 
 out the controul of the tenant; to which 
 intent, all commonright is ufually refcr^^ed^ 
 
;i. NORFOLK- 7j 
 
 /■;/ fcrm^ though fcldom in effeEl^ to the land- 
 lord. 
 
 5. Also, the cuftomary liberty to view 
 buildings, do repairs, and, confequently, to 
 bring and lay materials. 
 
 6. LASTLY, the right of fpofting and de- 
 Ilroying vermin. 
 
 Tenant agrees, i. to pay the flipulated 
 rent half-yearly j and within thirty days after 
 it be due j under forfeiture of the leafe ; and, 
 further, to pay the laft halfyear's rent two 
 months, or a longer time, before the expira- 
 tion of the term. 
 
 2. Also, to do all carnage for repairs (with- 
 in a Ipecified diftance) j and to find all iron- 
 work, and nails ; and to fumiih wheat-ftraw 
 for thatching ; and to pay half the workmen's 
 wages, and find them with fmall beer. 
 
 3. Also, to do all ditching, &c. fet oiit 
 by landlord (provided the quantity fet out do 
 not exceed one tenth of the whole) ; and to 
 pay half the workmen's wages, and find them 
 in fmall beer; and to defend with hurdles, 
 or otherwife, all luch young hedges as fhall be 
 cxpofed, in fpring and fummer; to the brp^vz* 
 ings of pafturing (lock. 
 
 4. Also, 
 
74 MANAGEMKNT OF ESTATES, u, 
 
 4. Also, to make, or pay for making, 
 fuch gates, &c. as {hall be wanted upon the 
 farm during the term of the demife ; and to 
 hew, or to pay for hewing, all necefTary 
 gate-polls ; and to put down and hang, in a 
 workman-like manner, fuch gates and gate- 
 polls, at his own fole expence ; as well as 
 keep all the old gates on. the premifes in 
 tenantable repair. 
 
 5. Also, not to afTign over, nor, in any 
 other way, part with pofieffion of his farm ; 
 but to make it his conflant refidence during 
 the term of the leafe. Nor to take any other 
 farm -, nor to purchafc any lands adjoining, or 
 intermixed with it ; without the licence and 
 confent of landlord ; under forfeiture of the 
 icafe. 
 
 6. Also, not to break up any meadow, 
 pafhire, or furze ground, under the penalty of 
 ten pounds an acre a year. Nor to cut 
 " flags," that is, turves, under fifty fhillings 
 a hundred. * 
 
 7. Also, not to \ov or top any timber- 
 tree, under the penalty of twent}' pounds : nor 
 other tree, under ten pounds: wor cut under- 
 wood or he dgewood (except as before excep^d) 
 
 under 
 
II. N O R F O L K. 75 
 
 iinder ten pounds a load. But, on the 
 contrar)', to preferve them from damage as 
 much as may be i and, if damaged by others^ 
 to give every information in his po\\-er, under 
 the penalty of twenty pounds. 
 
 8. Also, not to take more than two crops 
 of corn without a whole year's fallow, — a crop 
 of tumeps rvsice hoed, — or a tv/o years hy,-^ 
 intervening, under the penalty of . 
 
 9. Also, to confume on the premifes all 
 hay, liravr, and other ilover ; and not to carry 
 off, or fufter ro be carried off, any part, under 
 pretence of being tithe compounded for, or 
 under any ether pretence whatever, under the 
 penalty of ten pounds, for every load carried 
 off. 
 
 10. Nor to carry off, nor fuffer to be car- 
 ried off, any dung, muck, &c. under five 
 pounds a load. 
 
 1 1 . No?>. to impair the foundations of tht 
 buildings round the dung>'ard, by fcooping 
 out the bottom of the yard too near the build- 
 ings i but to keep up a pathway three feet 
 wide between the dungpit and the founda- 
 tions (an excellent claufe). 
 
 12. Also, 
 
76 MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES, ii. 
 
 12. Also, not to flock any part of the 
 premifes with rabbits ; but to endeavour, as 
 much as may be, ro deflroy tliem. 
 
 13. Also, during the lajl f.vo years of the 
 kajej not to take in ajiy agiflment flock. 
 
 '14. Also, /// the lc.fi year^ not to fufFcr 
 f^vine tj go loofe without being yoked and 
 rung. 
 
 15. Also, /;; the lafi year, to permit land- 
 lord, or incoming tenant, to fow grals feeds 
 over the fummer corn; and to harrow them 
 in, gratis j an'd, not to feed cf the young 
 grafTes after harvefl. 
 
 16. Also, /'// the lafi year, not to fow lefs 
 
 than acr^s of fallow, of, at leafl, three 
 
 plowing and fuitable harrowings, with two 
 pints an acre of good, marketable, white- 
 loaf nirnep-fced ; and, in due time, to give 
 tlie plants two hoings (cr, if the crop mifs, 
 to give the faUo-jo t-J70 extra pl(rj:ings) in a 
 Kulbandlike manner ; amd, at the expiration 
 of the term, to leave fuch tiirneps growing on 
 the premifes ; free from wilful or neglectful 
 injury i under tlie penalty of pounds an 
 
 SLCiC. 
 
 17. Also, 
 
tx. 
 
 NORFOLK. 77 
 
 17. Also, to permit landlord or incoming 
 tenant to begin, on or after the firft day of 
 July, in the lafi yar, to break up the two 
 years lay (hereafter agreed to be left) for wheat 
 fallow, or any other purpofe ; akd to harrow, 
 ftir, and work the laid fallows ; and to carry 
 and fpread dung or other manure thereon, 
 without moleftation. 
 
 18. Also, in the laji yeavy to permit land- 
 lord, or incoming tenant, to lay up hay, or 
 other fodder, on the premifes, and to protect 
 it thereon. 
 
 19. Also, to lay up and leave upon the 
 premifes, at the expiration of the Icajey all the 
 hay of the laft year (or of any precediilg year, 
 if unconfumed at the expiration of the term) 
 
 except loads, which tenant is allowed to 
 
 carr)' off*. 
 
 20. Also, to lay up, in the ufual barns and 
 rick yards, the laft year's crops of corn j to- 
 gether with the tithe, if compounded for; and 
 to thrafh them out, in proper Jeajon -, and in 
 fuch manner that the ftraw, chaff, and colder 
 fhall be injured as little as may be. 
 
 1 1 . Also, at the expiration of the term, to 
 
 ieave no Icfs than acres of oUand, of 
 
 two 
 
78 MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES. 11. 
 
 tn'O years lapng (including that which may 
 have been broken up by landlord or incoming 
 tenan:) and which (hall have been laid down 
 in a huibandlike manner, after turneps or a 
 lummer fallow, and with not lefs than tv^-elvc 
 pounds of clover, and half a peck of ray 
 
 grafs, feeds an acre — iir»der the penalty of • 
 
 pound an acre. Also not lefs than acres 
 
 of oUand, of one year's laying, to be laid down 
 
 as above ipeciBed, under the pciialty of ■■' 
 
 pound an acre. 
 
 22. Also, a^ tke expiratkn cf tbs terniy to 
 leave all the yard manure, produced in the 
 kft year of the leafe, piled up in a hufband- 
 like manner, on the premifes ; excepting fbch 
 par: of ir as may have been ufed for rhc tur- 
 nep crop ; and excepting fuch other part as 
 may have been uied by landlord, or incoming 
 tenant, for wheat. 
 
 23. Also, ai the cxpraiicji cf the tenn^ to 
 leave the buildings, ladders, gates, fences, wa- 
 ter-courfcs, &c. &c. in good and tenantabJe 
 repair ; landlord in this, as in every other cafe, 
 perionring his part as above agreed to *. 
 
 • Also, cpon fuch parts of an eftate as lis near the 
 rsiidencc cf lie owner, it is culloaary for the tenant to 
 
IZ. 
 
 NORFOLK. 79 
 
 Tenant to be allowed, i. the full value 
 of all the hay left upon the premifes, of the laft 
 year's growth, or of the growth of any pre- 
 ceding year ; provided the quantity of old hay 
 do not exceed loads, 
 
 2. Also, the full value of the turneps left 
 en the premifes -, or the accuftomed price for 
 the plowings, harrowings, and manuring ; at 
 his own option. 
 
 3. Also, the feedageof the lays broken up, 
 by the landlord or the incoming tenant, from 
 the time of their being broken up until the 
 expiration of the term the enfuing Michael- 
 mas ; also, for all damage arifing in carrying 
 on manure or othcrwife. 
 
 4. Also, the feedage of tlie young clovers, 
 fr jm harveft to Michaelmas. 
 
 5. Also, the ufe of the barns and rick- 
 yards for fummer corn until Mayday; and 
 for winter corn until the firfr of July next en- 
 fuing. 
 
 agree to furnifh annually, a certain number of loads of 
 Itraw, according to the fize of his farm ; also to do the 
 carriage of a certain number of loads of coals ; also to 
 keep dogs, warn off fportfmen, and fuffcr them to be 
 profecuted in his name: remnants, thefe, of the anticnt 
 bafc tenures of focca^je and viib.na3-e. 
 
 6. Also 
 
So MANAGEMENT OF ESTATES. ir. 
 
 6. Also, (by x^/ay of a confideration for the 
 flover) the cioftomary price for thrafhing and 
 drefTrng the corn ; the landlord, or inconiing 
 tenant, also carrying the fame to market, 
 gratis : provided the diflance required to be 
 
 carried does not exceed miles, and the 
 
 quantity required to be carried, at one jour-ney, 
 be not lefs than coombs. 
 
 All the above allowances to be referred 
 to two arbitrators ; one to be chofcn by each 
 party, in Michaelmas week j and the amount 
 av/arded to be immediately paid down by the 
 landlord, or the incoming tenant. 
 
 For the method of condufting exchanges of 
 inUrmixsi lands y in Norfolk, fee Min". 4. 
 
 For the time of receiving rentSy fee Min. 47. 
 
 For the operation ofa rife cfrenty fee ^'Ii n. 5 3. 
 
 For an inftance of improvement by rabbit- 
 'xarrciiy f::e Mik. 79. 
 
 For infrance of improvement by buildinz- 
 Av/l'i, fee Min. id6. 
 Foran IMPROVEMENT by/W./;/r^,feeMix. 137. 
 
 N.tr. Bef.des rhe abo%'e particulars, refpeSing the ge- 
 neral mar.agsment of ellates, I find myielf pjflVflcd of a 
 variety of others, on the more immediate conneflion be- 
 tween landlord and tenant ; but they cannot, with I'iriit 
 propriety, be publilhed in the present volu res. 
 
 1 '> 
 
XI. N O R F O L K. it 
 
 12. 
 
 Buildings and Repairs. 
 
 THE FARMERIES ofNorfolk are, in ge- 
 neral, large and convenient. Many of them 
 have been the refidencies of that yeomanry, 
 which, as has been already obferved, is now 
 nearly extind. 
 
 I.The dwelling house, in general, is com- 
 modious: kitchen and '' backhoufe;" par- 
 lour J and, on the larger farms, a " keeping 
 room," in which the mailer and his family fit 
 apart from the fervants. 
 
 n.THE BARNS ofNorfcik are fuperior to thofe 
 of eveiy odier county j numerous and ipa- 
 cious. No farm has leis than three thralhing 
 floors; feme farms five or fix, and thefe of 
 unufual dimienfions. Twentyfour feet by eigh- 
 teen is confidered as a wellfized floor -, twenty 
 by fifteen, a fmall one. Indeed, a floor of lefs 
 dimenfions is ill adapted to the Norfolk me- 
 thod of cleaning corn i which is univerfally 
 cflTecfted by cafting it with fliovels from one end 
 
 Vol. L G of 
 
?2 BUILDINGS. la. 
 
 of the floor to the other. To obtain this ne- 
 ccHary kngth of floor, a porch on one or both 
 fides of the barn, is ahnofi: univerfal. A leanto 
 porch, with double doors to kt our an empty 
 wa^on, and with a range of leanto fheds or 
 hovels on either fide, continuing the roof of 
 the bam, without a break to the eaves of the 
 porch and fheds, is at prefent, defervedly, in 
 good eftimation. 
 
 in. Bars floors are of phnk, «' lumps" (a 
 kind of bricks), or clay : the laft are moft pre- 
 valent ; and although they be confide red as in- 
 ferior to the firft, they are in better elleem in 
 Norfolk than in mofl other places -, for a Nor- 
 folk farmer is aware that what he lofes by the 
 handle of his com> thrafhed on a clay floor, he 
 regains by meajure ; for the fame dull which 
 gives the roughnefs of handle in the lample, 
 prevents the com, thus foiled by the clay's 
 beating up, from fettling fo clofe in the bufhel, 
 as that which has been thrafhed on a clean 
 wooden floor* 
 
 IV. Thz stables are no way peculiar; ex- 
 cept in their having, in general, " a hayhoufe" 
 adjoining to them, bflead of a haychambcr 
 
 over 
 
12. NORFOLK. S3 
 
 over them -, a ciiftom which is ac once waile- 
 ful both of hay and houieroom : at pre lent, 
 however, it is the practice to raile ftabks high 
 enough to admit of hay chambers over them ; 
 "With floors, not of boards, but of clay -, which 
 is cheaper, and, in other refpecbs, much pre- 
 ferable to board floors. 
 
 y. Cow HOUSES are unknown in a Norfolk 
 farmery : a imaW " fuckling place" and a 
 " calves' houfe" are the only buildings appro- 
 priited to cattle : except 
 
 VI. Bullock sheds, which are fometlmes 
 (but not generally) erected -, more efpecially 
 in the fouthern Hundreds of trii Difbict. See 
 MiN-. 118. 
 
 VII, The hoc-sty of Norfolk is fuiguiar, 
 though not particularly excellent: inftead of 
 creeping into a pigft>', in the manner ufually 
 done, a Norfolk farmer walks into his '•' pig- 
 houfc,"' at a door fmiilar to thofe of his other 
 outbuildings ; the building is of courfe higher 
 and more expenfive, but certainly more com- 
 modious, than in the ufual form. 
 
 Vni. Granaries are few: I faw none upon 
 Jeparate pillars 5 and but very few over. 
 
 G 2 IX. Wag- 
 
84 BUILDINGS. 12. 
 
 IX. Waggon SHEDS. Thele in general are 
 commodious. I met with a cart shed on an 
 admirable plan. The width equal to the cart 
 and fhafts -, open in front j with a bank of earth 
 on the back part, about eighteen inches high, 
 and of fuch a width as jufl: ro take the wheels 
 before the tail of the cart reach the back of 
 the fhed : the cart is backed in, the horfe taken 
 out, and the cart fuftered to tilt : the bank 
 receives the tail, while the fhafts rife under the 
 eaves of the front — dry, — and out of the way 
 of cattle : the hcrfe is put in with equal facility: 
 the backband, which remains faft at both ends, 
 is entered into the groove of the laddie, and the 
 fhafts pulled down. 
 
 X. Rick YARDS in general are fmall, owing 
 to the capacioufnefs of the barns. It is pretty 
 common, and very convenient, to have a rick 
 frame at one or both ends of the barn, v.i'jh 
 a pitching hole, in at which the corn is houfed, 
 without the afllflance of team labour. Some- 
 times thcfe {lacking places at the ends of barns 
 are inclofed, without having a frame for the 
 fcack ; which being houfed immediately after 
 the firfl clearing of the barn, the inclofure af- 
 terwards 
 
5*. NORFOLK. 8j 
 
 tenvards makes an admirable foidyard for 
 calves or yearUng cattle. 
 
 XL Fold YARDS — pro\Tnciallt,"paryard5/* 
 in general, are warm and ihug : the outer fence is 
 moftly " battened 3" namely, made Msithpofts, 
 and three or four v.ide flrong rails, or " bat- 
 tons ;" an inch to one inch and a half thick, 
 and eight or nine mches wide j the lower cnes 
 being placed clofe enough for an effechial fence 
 againft lV\ine. Thefe in autumn are fbmetimes 
 lined with tall thorn faggots, efpecially on the 
 bleaker fides. The area is parted inro feparate 
 yards witli common polls and rails, to which 
 fimilar faggots (provLnciaiiy, " kidds") are 
 faftened : this, at a f nail expence, keeps the 
 different fpecies of ftock feparate, and renders 
 their apartments comfortable. 
 
 XII. Drinxixc pits, nctv,ithicandlng rhe 
 abforbency of the Norfolk foil, are common 
 to mofl- farm yards. It feems probable that they 
 have, formerly, been made by art, and with 
 much judgment j as in general they retain the 
 water very perfecUy. At prefcnt, however, the 
 art, if known, is out of ufe : indeed the rivu- 
 
 G J LiT5 
 
86 B U I L D I ts^ G S. 
 
 12. 
 
 LETS v.'hieh abound in fo fingular a manner in 
 Norfolk, preclude, in fome meafure, the ufe of 
 artificial watering places, except in or near 
 farm yards : befides. Wells, in general, are fo 
 fhallow, and their water lb excellent, that 
 both of them might, witliout extreme incon- 
 venience, be difpenfcd ^vith. 
 
 The building materials of Norfolk are, 
 
 I. Bricks, wliichare here manufadVured with 
 great fkill. The materials are good: the fubfoil, 
 in many places, is naturally a very fine brick 
 earth, without any admixture being required. 
 
 Befides the common red bi ick, of which the 
 buildings of a farm are generally conflrucled, 
 Norfolk is celebrated for an admirable zvbi/ey or 
 rather STOKz-coLouRED brick, which, except 
 on a near view, has all the efi^cct of a well-co- 
 loured ftone. Of this brick the firft houfes iii 
 the county are built : for lb expert are the 
 moulders of this excellent material, that cor- 
 nices and even columns, with dieir pcdeftab 
 and capitals, are formed of it. 
 
 Tliis fupcriority in brickmaking is, how- 
 ever, one of thole efibrts of neceflit)*, which 
 are ficquently productive ot excellency in in- 
 vcndon : there is not, generally fpeakijig, a 
 
i2. NORFOLK. ^f 
 
 ■Jione In ttie county ; excepting a few flints, 
 thinly fcattered among the foil ; and excepting 
 the Jea fio^tt-> which, ntar the coaft, is ufed 
 inllead of bricks. 
 
 1. Sea stones, however, are, in unfl^ilful 
 hands, a dangerous material to build with j for, 
 being globular, their ovm weight, if the wall be 
 high and runuphaitily,isfufncient to criifh it to 
 the ground : and, when carried up deliberately, 
 if the lime be bad, or the mortar injudicioufly 
 made, fea-ftone walls are liable ro part 3 hav- 
 ing nothing but the mortar to bind them to- 
 gether. Their durability is their beft recom- 
 mendation J for, though the wall decay, the 
 ftones ftill are there j and it is highly probable 
 that many of the ftones which were ufed in the 
 firft buildings of that material are ftill in ufc. 
 When they are found among ruins, upon oi* 
 near the fite to be built upon3 they may, if 
 fkilfully fet (and elpecially if the quoins and 
 jams be carried up with bricks), be a very 
 eligible building material. 
 
 Weaiherboarding is made little ufe of in 
 Norfolk i — in ordinary buildings, day daubing 
 fomerimes is ufed as a fubfcitute. 
 
 3 . With refpect to the materials of the house- 
 carpenter, oak is generally ufed for door and 
 G 4 window 
 
SS BUILDINGS. 12. 
 
 window frames : alfo for wallplate o and fills 
 of every kind, and for beams, when it can be 
 had. But. in a country where the growth of 
 oak is confined, in a great meafure, to the 
 hedge-rows, it cannot be expedled tint a fSil 
 hipply can be fpared for building, ^jhznd chn 
 are ufed as fubflitutes j and, in a maritime 
 coiinrrr, fcrcign timber is had at a reafonable 
 price. 
 
 4. Ccv£RixGS are principally oipantile or of 
 reed y — vn^riy ftra'U) roofs remain j but, a: prc- 
 fcn:, few new ones are put on. 
 
 RtED is, ?.t prefent, the favorite roof; and 
 is of all others (good flate excepted) the moft 
 eligible for farm buildings. A reed roof pro- 
 perly laid, will lie fifty years without touching ; 
 and thirty or farty more, with only adjuiting 
 ("driving") it, and levelling the hollows with 
 a litde frefh reed. At an hundred years old> 
 it may be relaid i and will then, if laid upon 
 the upper pans of the roof, laft through a 
 confidcrable part of another century. 
 
 It is principally cut from the margins of the 
 " broods ;" and is carried, perhaps, forty or 
 fift}' miles into the central and northern parts 
 of the count)'. 
 
 A cover- 
 
32 X O R F O L FL 89 
 
 A covering of reed is, in the firil: inflancc, 
 coftly : but when its durabilir\', and the high 
 degree of prefer\'2tion in '.vhich it keeps the 
 roof are taken into the account, it is of all 
 others the cheapeft covering 5 befides its being, 
 whether in the extreme of heat or cold, the 
 moil comfortable. 
 
 The price of reed, in the place of its gro^^th, 
 is from three pounds to three guineas a hun- 
 dred; con tauiingf.xfcore fathom; eachfatliom 
 (compofed of five or fix meaves) meafuring 
 fix feet in circumference. A hundred of reed 
 \^-ill cover five fquares of roof: the hying is 
 a halfpenny a yard, or four fl:!ildngs and two- 
 perxe a fquare ; and the tar-rope and rods for 
 faftening it on, coft eighteen pence a fquare : 
 fo that a covering of new reed cofls about 
 eighteen fhiilings a fquare, containing one 
 hundred fqua'-e feet; bcfides carriage, and 
 what is called *' roofjig;" namely, a cap of 
 wheat flraw- placed upon the ridge, in a fome- 
 what fimilar manner, and for the fame purpoie, 
 as ridge tiles are put on. 
 
 This capping, which is dene m a mofl effec- 
 tual, but in a tedious and experJive, manner, 
 cofls in materials and workmanlhip about 
 
 fixteen 
 
$o 
 
 BUILDINGS. 12- 
 
 fixteen pence each foot in length ; which, upon 
 a roof of fixteen feet and a half fpar, is an ad- 
 ditional expence of four fliillings each fquare 
 of reeding. 
 
 The cairiage is in proportion to the dif- 
 tance. Taking twenty miles as a medium dif- 
 tance ; and one (hilling a mile as a medium 
 price; the expence is twenty (hillings a " load'* 
 of fixty fathom, or forty fhillings a hundred ; 
 which laying five fquares is a further addition 
 of eight fi.ilUngs a fquare : therefore the 
 whole expence of a covering of reed fetched 
 ty/enty miles may be laid at diirty fhillings a 
 fquare *. 
 
 I am the more minute on this head, as I fee 
 this valuable material entirely negleclcd, as a 
 covering for buildings, in moil parts of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 5. The FLOORING MATERIALS of this Diflricl 
 are, for upper floors, deal^ cflj, elm^ and poplar 
 boards: fomctimes clay is ufed for cottages, and 
 for common garrets; but, for the ground floor, 
 
 fquare bricks, paving tiles provincially, 
 
 *' pavements" — are, in farm houfes, the almofl: 
 univerfal flooring: even the beft rooms, of the 
 
 • For the method of laying reed and fetting on the 
 roofing, fee Min, 32. 
 
 firii 
 
12. NORFOLK. 91 
 
 firft farm hoiife, are generally laid with this ma- 
 terial ; which is manufaflured in an excellent 
 manner, of various colours, and of various di- 
 menfions, from nine inches to eighteen inches 
 fquarc. Two pavements of the lad dimcnfion 
 make, for a common room, an excellent 
 Hearth. 
 
 6. Lime is made from marl, entirely; this 
 Diftricft affording neither limeftone nor chalk : 
 Weft Norfolk, however, abounds with a ipecies 
 of hard fofTil — ^provincially, " caulk" — a kind 
 of hard chalk — from which lime of a tolerably 
 good quality is burnt. See Manure, p. 26. 
 
 Lime is univerfally burnt with coals, and 
 generally in drawing kilns : it cofts from feveii 
 to eight fliilllngs a chaldron (more or lefs ac- 
 cording to the diflance of the carriage of the 
 coals), and is fold for nine fhillings to ten 
 lliillings a chaldron *. 
 
 Bricks are burnt principally in kilns j few 
 In clamfs : the bottom of tlie kiln is always 
 fet with bricks j while the upper parts are 
 occafionally filled with tiles, pavements, and 
 other ware. 
 
 For 
 
 ♦1782.0.?. 26. Foarchaldronandahalf of coals(thirty- 
 fix bufliels) burned thirty-four chaldron thirty bulhelsof 
 
 linic 
 
«2 
 
 BUILDINGS. 12. 
 
 For the price of indUing materials. Sec. fee 
 
 LIST OF RATES. 
 
 For the method, and expence, of making 
 barcbamia-f:/CTs v,izn.ch.Y, fee Mix. 15. 
 
 For oblervaiions on the coping of galks, 
 fee Mi K. 25. 
 
 For the method of laying reed, and fetdng 
 on ridge caps, lee Mix. 32. 
 
 For the method of laying pantiles on reed,- 
 &:c. fee Mix. 33. 
 
 For obferv-ations on check beams acrols birn- 
 fioors, fee Mix. 35. 
 
 lise (thirt}.'-rsrobufcel£% In genera:, howerer, tilrtr- 
 two chaJdron is the produce of that quantity : this is 
 fomewhat more thanyi'^rir chaldron of lime to a chaldron 
 id J€*-coals. 
 
 One chaldron of coals and carriage four nules i 1 7 6 
 Labonr, atrsrenry-psnce a chaldron of lime, 0118 
 Hoiie and c^rt for moving inar!, - -010 
 
 Scvsn cnaldron, at I'cvcn fhillings ar. d two- 
 pence a chaldroz, - - - jTzioz 
 
 I hire kno-wn a qcantity fold, for manure, at eight 
 ihilHng5 a chaldron. 
 
 The chalk of Su-air^.anj yields about fve chaldron of 
 line (thiny-rwo buiheLv) 10 one chalr.ron of /?fl-coa!s 
 (of thirr)-£jc boihels). 
 
 For 
 
12. NORFOLK. 93 
 
 For obfervations on the utility of laying tiles 
 en mcrtar^ fee Min. 48. 
 
 For obfervations on huttrejfes, fee Min. 60, 
 
 For obfervations on the general management 
 of repairs, fee Min. 64. 
 
 For the eficcls of a bigb vjindy fee Min. 91. 
 
 For general obfervations on the refidence of 
 workmen^ fee Min. 92. 
 
 For defcription of 2, farm _>•« r^ in Fleg, fee 
 Min. 106. 
 
 For obfen^ations on farmyard walls, fee 
 Min. 115. 
 
 For obfervations ony^^y?c«<7uW/j, fee M. 116. 
 
 For the defcription of a bullock fhed in 
 Blowfield Hundred, fee Min. 118. 
 
 For the method of building a hog cillernj 
 ite Min. iji. 
 
 J 3. 
 
94 GATES AXD DEAD FENCES. 13. 
 
 GATES and DEAD FENCES. 
 
 IT has already been mentioned as a prac- 
 tice of Norfolk, for landlords to furniih dicir 
 tenants with gates ready-made. 
 
 This, when an eftate is intended to bf made 
 the moft of, and where the tenants, being un- 
 der leafe, have no right to expect other indiil- 
 grnces than the leafe gives Lhem, is a good 
 practice ; for when rough timber is allowed, 
 even though it be fct out, a defigning tenant 
 will generally get the advantage, let lHc cftate 
 be ever lb well looked after. 
 
 It is reafonable, however, and is, now, oq 
 fbme eftates cuflomary, in this cafe, to charge 
 die tenant for fawing and making up j alfo for 
 hev.'ing pofts ; and for fawing out fuch parts 
 of gates as are wanted for repairs ; which, as 
 well as putting down p)ofts and hanging new 
 gates, is generally done at the expcnce of the 
 tenant, who fomedmes, but not always, finds 
 ga!e irons. 
 
13- NORFOLK. 95 
 
 It Is a praifHce, not uncommon here, to diive 
 hooks on both fides the hanging-pod -, m order 
 that the gate may be ihiited to this or that fide, 
 as the pafturing (lock are Ihifted : and fome- 
 times I have feen two gates hung upon the 
 fame poftj one on either fide : a moll effec- 
 tual guard, when both fides are in pafhire. 
 
 The prevailing dead fzxce is battoTmig 
 (fee foldyard) j the tenant being charged 
 for hewing polls and fawing battens, in the 
 fame proportion he is for gates or gatefuiif ^ 
 namely, the full expence of workmanfliip. 
 
 Even STILES are frequently provided, and 
 charged for, in the fame way, by landlords. 
 
 For an inlhnce of izy being fcrviceable to 
 difeafione fence wall, fee Mix. 9. 
 
 For general obfervations on farmyard fence 
 wallsy fee Min. 115. 
 
 For the method of fetting a furze-fa^ot 
 fficCi fee Min. 135. 
 
 14. 
 
^ LIVE HEDGES. 14. 
 
 14. 
 
 LIVE HEDGES. 
 
 THE WOODLANDS of Eafl: Norfolk 
 bcuig fcv.-, UNDERWOOD, either in woods or in 
 coppcc'Sy is in a manner unknown. The 
 HEDGEROWS, alone, may be faid to furnifb the 
 Xliftrict with timber y topwoody and undsr'ujood. 
 
 Old hedges, in general, abound with oak, 
 afh, and maple (tubs, off whigh the wood is cut 
 every time the hedge is felled j alfo with pol- 
 lards, whofe heads are another fource of fire- 
 wood ; which, in a country where coals can be 
 had only by fea, is of courfe fought after : yet 
 it is a facl, as notorious as it is interefting, that 
 Eafl Norfolk does not experience, to any 
 degree of inconvcniency, a want either of tim- 
 ber or firewood ; although its entirt fupply 
 may be faid, with little ladtude, to be fron^ 
 hedge ro^^'s. 
 
 It is probably from this clrcumfhincc, that 
 hedgcwood is fuffcred to ftand to fo great aa 
 
 ag9 
 
.i^. NORFOLK. 97 
 
 age and growth as it does in Norfolk. Twelve 
 or fourteen yc^ars is confidered as a moderate 
 growth i twenty, and even thirty years it is 
 Ibmetimes permitted to remain without cutting. 
 The " ftubwood," it is true, by this means ac- 
 quires a degree of utility and bulkinefs j but 
 the " thorns" are in the mean time overhung 
 and deftroyed. 
 
 It appears by the heads of a lease * that 
 the topwood, the ftubwood, and the loppings 
 of timber, if any, belong to the landlord. They 
 are, however, in general, of more value to the 
 occupier of the land than to any other perfon ; 
 befides the tenant having a degree of claim to 
 the refufil of them ; and it is cullomary to fell 
 them to him at a moderate valuation. 
 
 I. ThEMETHOD of valuing HEDGEWOODIS 
 
 as follows : the tenant liaving been confulted ; 
 and the particular hedge or hedges to be felled, in 
 any given feafoh, having been determined upon ; 
 each top is (or ought to be) valued and minuted 
 feparately ; carrying the Jlubwood in the eve 
 until fome certain quantity is gone by. But a 
 readier mediod is, I am told, fometimes prac- 
 tifed; namely, that of walking by the fide of 
 the hedge without particularizing the indivi- 
 
 • Page 72. 
 
 Vol, L H duals j 
 
9^ HEDGES. 14, 
 
 duils i or, which is dill fliorter, but dill lefs 
 accunitc — that of ftanding at one end, and, 
 by merely glancing the eye along ir, putting 
 down a random valuation. 
 
 II. Butvaluingthe tops and {lubwood, though 
 done in t.he moft accurate manner, is by no 
 means all that is nece{I:.ry to be done in fetting 
 out what is called " ditching :" every timber 
 TREE,and every pollard, ftanding in thehedge 
 to be felled, fhould be cautioufly attended to. 
 
 The timbers which are going to decay, or 
 which, to appearance, will receive injury before 
 tlie next fall of the hedge, fliould be marked 
 to ccme dcxn : if gate -pods be wanted upon 
 the farm, fuch pollards as are fit for that pur- 
 pofc Hiould be fct out i alfo all fuch pollards 
 as are already dead, or will not to appearance 
 bear a top equal to their prefent value, before 
 the next fall of the hedge, oug' it to be valued 
 to the tenant as firewood. 
 
 III. Othervery mate ri.il things to be attended 
 10, are the young oaklings rifing among the 
 hedcewood : as well as the " stands," and the 
 GROWING TIMBERS i which ought to bcpruwd, 
 and/<r/ up, in fuch a manner, as to give freedom 
 to the hedge and the herbage growing under 
 
 tlitm ; 
 
X45 NORFOLK. n^t^ 
 
 them ; and at the fame time to encreafc their 
 own value, by giving them length and clean- 
 nefs of ftem. 
 
 This part of the bufmefs, however, ought 
 not to be left to the ditchers j but fhould be 
 performed by fkiiful woodm-en, fent round for 
 the purpofe (fee Mrx. 5. on this fubjed)i 
 
 It may be nee die fs to add, that to go through 
 this various bufinefs properly, palling once 
 along the hedge is not fufficient : the timbers, 
 pollards, and timberlings, fliould firll be in- 
 fpefled, and, if requifite, marked ; by which 
 means the quantity of firewood Vvill be more 
 fully afcertained, and its valuation, by this 
 double view, be rendered m^ore accurate*. 
 
 * Left the reader (liould think that I am here deviating 
 from the plan of this part of the '.vcrk, by entering into 
 the dida£lic where defcription only was necefTary, more 
 efpecially as fimilar diredions are fcattered in the Mi- 
 nutes; 1 beg leave toobierve, that the fubjeft appears to 
 me to be of fo mueh importance, and to have been fo 
 flightly, if at all, touched upon by writers, that it ought 
 to be placed in every point of view which will throw 
 frefh light upon it. And although I may, in another 
 work, have treated very fully upon tliis fubjeft, I never- 
 thelefs think it proper to derail, in this, the incidents and 
 reflections which have arifen, immediately, oat of my 
 praftice and obfervation in Norfolk. 
 
 H 2 IV. Th£ 
 
ic?o HEDGES. 14.* 
 
 IV. The treatment of old hedges^ 
 The hedgewood being felled to the flub, and 
 the pollards headed, the ditch is fcoured to its 
 original depth } the bell of the foil being col- 
 lected into heaps on the brink of the ditch for 
 the ufe of the farmer, in bottoming his yard or 
 his dung heaps, and the remainder laid to the 
 roots of the Hubs, or formed into a bank be- 
 hind them. On the top of the bank a bnifli 
 hedge is fet as a ^iiard to die back; — while 
 fometimes the bottom of the ditch is pointed 
 (that is, narrowed to a point), or filled witli 
 thorns or other bulhes, — as a guard to the face 
 of the young hedge. 
 
 The laft, however, is feldom done, nor of- 
 ten requifite ; for the Norfolk hufbandmen are 
 pretty obfervant in cutting thofe hedges, in 
 any given year, v>hich face their wheat in that 
 year ; by which means the young hedge ac- 
 quires four or five years growth before the 
 inclofure, it is expofed to, becomes a ipring 
 or fummcr pafture. 
 
 This is the ufual treatment of old rouzb 
 hedgts in which pollards and ftubwood abound, 
 and which conftitute the principal part of the 
 hedges of Eaft Norfolk. 
 
 There 
 
t4. NORFOLK. loi 
 
 There are, however, many planted hedges ; 
 fome of them very old : of thefc, a twofold 
 treatment prevails: namely, tnat above -de- 
 fcribed; and another, lefs eligible, called 
 " buckftallingi" which is cutting off the 
 hedgewood, about two feet above the top of 
 the bank, and '' out-holling," that is, fcourino- 
 out the ditch for manures withoutreturningany 
 part of the foil to the roots of the hedo-e- 
 wood. But by a repetition of thefe bad prac- 
 tices, the hedges, fituated as they are in Nor- 
 folk, near the top of an artificial bank, with a 
 deep ditch beneath them, are at length left 
 deftitute of mould to nouriili and fjpport 
 them, dwindling away, ftub after Hub, until 
 thty are no longer adequate as fences. 
 
 The pradice oi pkjhing, or laying hedges, 
 IS, in a great degree, unknown in this Diftri6t. 
 — Workmen, from countries where this is a 
 favorite and common pradice, have been 
 employed by gentlemen in diis Diftridj but 
 the fuccels has been fuch as has rendered thofe 
 to whom it has become known, inveterate ene- 
 mies to the practice. 
 
 The unpardonable cuftom of hacking off 
 
 the fide boughs of tall hedges, leaving the tops 
 
 Hj to 
 
fO» HEDGES. 14, 
 
 to overhang the young ihoots, is here too pre- 
 valent. But futi'ering the foil to be wafiied 
 away from the roots, is not more deftruftive 
 to a hedge th.in is this vile praAice, 
 
 If" kid" and " oven fuel" be wanted, let 3 
 hedge which is fully grown be felled to the 
 (lub. There is fcarcely a farm in the Diftrict 
 which is not more or lefs " wood-bound j" that 
 is, injured by overgrovrn hedges -, which are, 
 year after year, recti\ing irreparable damage 
 -for v/ant of cutting; while the undergrown 
 ones are dami":ged by a lefs pardonable treat- 
 ment. 
 
 The tenant's motive is founded in fclf-inte- 
 .reft: he getsfuti and " manner," l^^rhoutany 
 conringent expence or trouble -, — and whether 
 rfi€ hedge endure, henceforward, for one or 
 for two centuries, is not an object to him. — 
 Bur as, at the expiration of his leafe, his farm 
 will be worth more or lefs, according to the 
 Hate of its fences, it ought to be the efpccial 
 tare of the landlord, or of his agent, to fee that 
 thty are properly treated. 
 
 V. The method of rXisinc new hedges 
 in Norf jlk is a cheap one ; and may be prac- 
 
 tlfe4 
 
14. NORFOLK. 103 
 
 iifcd In any country where the foil is free from 
 ftones and ocher obilrudions of the fpade. 
 
 The hedgeiing is defended on one fide by a 
 deep ditch, while the other fide is fufficiently 
 guarded by the excavated mould formed into 
 a mound, and crefled with a flout brufh hedge ; ■ 
 in the fettiiig of which the Norfolk labourers, 
 from conftant pradice, are very proficient. 
 
 It is a flriking, and indeed an interefting facl, 
 that hedges in Norfolk are raifcd with good 
 fuccefs, although neither pod, rail, flake nor 
 edder be made ufe of in defending them. — 
 And it may be a moot point, whether a ivant 
 of underwood has given rife to this, as a prac- 
 tice ofnecefTityj or whether the pradice, by 
 rendering coppice^ lefs valuable, has been a 
 means of doing away, fo completely, the 
 woodinefs of this Diflrift. 
 
 But notwithflanding much praife is due to 
 the Norfolk metiiod of defending young 
 hedges, the mode of planting, here in common 
 ufcy is very reprehcnfible. Jnflead of the 
 quickfets — provincially," layer" — bt jngplant- 
 ed in or near the foil vv hich is to fupport it, they 
 are laid in near the top of tlie bank — per- 
 |iaps, two feet above the natural level of c'le 
 H ^ adjoming 
 
iO| HEDGES. 14; 
 
 adjoining inciofure — 2nd probably five feet 
 above the bottom of the ditch: nor are they, 
 there, planted with their roots downward, in 
 the manner which nature dictates ; but with 
 their heads pointing into the ditch : and, to 
 complete the abfurdity of the bufinefs, the 
 workman, in drefiing the face of the bank, fre- 
 quently draws the back of his fpade down- 
 wards over the tops of the plants, prefiing 
 them, of courfe, flat to the face, in which they 
 not unfrequently (lick ! yet, he fays, he there- 
 by does no harm : and it is pofTible he may be 
 rieht ; but, tj a perlon who has fecn any other 
 method of proceeding, he appears to be doing 
 very v^Tong. 
 
 Neverthelefs, it is furprizing to fee the pro- 
 grefs which quick, thus planted, will fometimes 
 make the firft two or three years after plant- 
 ing : and this, probably, is the falfe light by 
 which the advocates for the method are led 
 away. The top of the bank is loofe madegrouudy 
 and the upright brufh hedge, by coUedling 
 driving rains, fupplies it amply with moifture. 
 But die fame rains not unfrequently afTifl: in 
 wafhing down the face of the bank, together 
 with the quick, into the bottom of the ditch. 
 
 Ev?n 
 
14. NORFOLK. 105 
 
 Even the ordinary mouldering of the bank, by 
 frofcs and moderate rains, leaves, in the courf- 
 of a few years, the roots entirely expofed.^ 
 Should the plants preferve their upright pof- 
 ture, they foon lofe their vigour ; but ic is no 
 uncommon thing to lee them hanging, per- 
 haps by one fibre, v.ith their heads dov.nward 
 againft the face of die bank. Conlequentiv, 
 hedges which have been planted in this man^ 
 ner are full of dead gaps ; and the plants which 
 have fundved and have got down to the natural 
 foil, are, by die crov.iis of their roots being 
 
 confb-ndy expofcd, ibnted and unheaimy. 
 
 Whoever will be at the trouble of making die 
 obfervation, will find, that the full-ftemmed 
 luxuriant hedges, which occur, more or lels, 
 in every part of die Difbid, (the NorfoLk foil 
 being naturally affecled by the hav.thorn) but 
 more parucuk-Iy in the Fleg Hundreds, have 
 been planted ^X or near the foocti^L^.^ -^"nt^ 
 1 he realbn why a hedge planted low in tt? 
 face of the bank, does not flourifh for a few 
 years after planting is obvious : the bank beino- 
 fleep, and without a break from top to bottom, 
 it fhoots off" the rain water, which fails againil 
 }tj mto the ditch i \vhile diat colleded by the 
 
 dead 
 
|06 HEDGES. 14. 
 
 dead hedge, above, is not fufHcient to moiften 
 jt to the bottom ; which is, of courfe, de- 
 prived of the benefit of rain water. Bciides 
 this woTit of moillurc, the fuperir.cumbent 
 wei^lit of the bank is inimical to die tender 
 fibiils of the'young plants j and their pro- 
 grefs, fo long as they remain confined under 
 the bank, and cramped w ich its prcliure, is of 
 courfe flow. 
 
 But this diilicult}' once overcome ; the roots 
 having om:e reached tlirough the bank, and got 
 pofTeinon of tlie adjoining incloiure ; the 
 {^nts flourifli amain; while their principal 
 roots being firmly and cooly fituated, they con- 
 tinue to fiouriili, even in defiance of " buck-* 
 ihlling" and " out-holling." 
 
 It is not my dcfire to cenfurc the practices 
 of Nonolli huibandmen ; much Icfs my inten- 
 tion to aim generally, at their inftruililion : I 
 father hope to difleminate oyer die Ifland the 
 excellencies of dicir management : neverthe- 
 Icfs, Norfolk, as every otiier Difbiil: I have 
 yet vifited, has its prejudices, and its want of 
 ferfeflicny in particular departments of manage- 
 ment. It may however be fiid, and I believe 
 uidi fuid jufiice, that no Diilrict has feivcr 
 
 imperfections 
 
J4- NORFOLK. 107 
 
 imperfections than Norfolk ; and what is fin- 
 gLiIariy to the credit of the Norfolk hufband- 
 men, their perfeverance in praiTdfing the me- 
 thod of planting hedges above defcribed, may 
 perhaps be called their only roofed prejudice. 
 
 The reafon why quick, recently planted at 
 the foot, a-fui in the face^ of a tall bajik, is 
 checked in its growth, for the firil rwo or three 
 years, is not more obvious than die method of 
 preventing it. If inftead of laymg-in the 
 plants in the immediate hz€: of an unbroken 
 bank, they were to be planted on the back 
 part of an cfset^ or break in the bank, }^n^ evil 
 cfFed:s abovementioned would be removed; 
 for by this fimple alteration in the formation of 
 the. bank, the young plants become fupplied, 
 at once, with every thing necellary to their 
 fupportj namely, moiilure, air, and loolc 
 eartli for the infant roots to ftrike in. 
 
 This is not merely a theoretic plan : it is in 
 common practice in many parts of the kinar- 
 domi and I have myfeifpradikd it, m three 
 different and diHant pares of it, with fuccefs. 
 
 In Norfolk hov>'cver, where hares are ver- 
 min, fome caution is necefiary : the flielf 
 /houid not be made too v/ide; and Ihould, while 
 
 Che 
 
tot HEDGES. 14: 
 
 the plants are young, be kept iluck wi*h biifhes, 
 to prevent the hares from running along it. 
 
 Tbeftze of the ditch is from three to five (ttt 
 wide — and r^vo to three and half feet deep ; the 
 medium, four feet wide and three feet deep» 
 with a bank three (ctt high, forming what is 
 called "a fix-foot dick." For an out-fide 
 fence againft a common or a road, five feet wide 
 and icven feet high, (meafuring from the bot- 
 tom of the dirch to the top of the bank when 
 frelh-made) is a more fuitablc fence. 
 
 The price of a common fix-foot ditch is four- 
 teen pence a rod (of feven yards), or one IhiU 
 ling z rod, and beer, for making the ditch, 
 planting the layer, adjufting die bank, and let- 
 ting the hedge. 
 
 71:: meojj drjfancc of planting quick is about 
 fix inches : tlie calculation is a hundred to 
 three rods ; the price fourpence to fixpence a 
 handred. 
 
 Thus, the whole exfence of planting a quick 
 hedge in Norfolk is not twopence halfpenny a 
 yardi while in many parts of the kingdom, 
 where two rovi's of polls and mils are in com- 
 mon ufe, eightpence to one fliilling a yard is 
 the ufual expcndiaire. 
 
 At 
 
14- NORFOLK; 109 
 
 At prefent, it is a praftice, though perhaps 
 not of long Handing, to fow furze feed upon 
 the top of the bank, as a guard fuccelTive to 
 the brufh hedge, and as a fource of kid and 
 fuel. The common way is to fow it tipcn the 
 back, at the foot of the dead hedge : this, how- 
 ever, is injudicious -, for the furze being of a 
 fpreading nature it is liable, after the hedge is 
 gone to decay, to overrun t\\t quick. Many- 
 fine young hedges I have (tta materially 
 harmed through an injudicious management of 
 the furze hedge ; which ought to {land on th: 
 iacky not upon the top, of tht bank j as iji 
 this iituation it is a better guard to the bank 
 (which is liable to be fcraped down by cattle 
 and fbeep), and Icfs injurious to the hedge it is 
 intended to defend. About tr^'o thirds of the 
 diflance ber\veen the foot of the bank and the 
 foot of the brufli hedge ; namely, one third of 
 that fpace from the foot of the hedge 3 is a 
 good fituation. But fee Mix. 1C4. on diis 
 fubjeft. 
 
 I met v.'ith one inflance, and that in the 
 pradice of one of the firft men in the county, 
 of furze feed being fown on wliar is called the 
 
 " out- 
 
fiO HEDGES. iit 
 
 " out-hoUj" namely, the outer brink of the 
 dicch. 
 
 This is a good guard to the face c^ 
 the hedge : and, if the fide tov/ards the inclo- 
 fure be kept cur, to prevent their fpreading 
 into it, furzes, growing in this fituation, be- 
 come a fupply of fuel, without being an in- 
 cumbrance ; a ditch being always confiiered 
 as irretrievable waile ; and this is the nrfl in- 
 ftance I have met with of its being rendered 
 valuable by being cropped, h imiead of fov/- 
 ing the furze feed on the brink, i: were drilled 
 on tlie Hope of tiie ditch, diere would be iefa 
 danger of the plants encumbering the adjoin- 
 ing inclofure. 
 
 A principal inconveniency of the Norfolk 
 mound fence is the mouldering of die back 
 of the bank, for the firil two or three years 
 after making or repairing i before it geis gralTed 
 over. 
 
 To obviate this I have had grafs feeds fown, 
 after the bank was raifed, bu: before it was 
 iinilhed, and the feeds dreflcd in v.ith die back 
 of the fpade, in the finilhing operation of the 
 bank : the fuccefs has been beyond expecta- 
 tion : in a few weeks the ba:;k becomes green, 
 
 and 
 
14. NORFOLK. jit 
 
 and the firfl year furnlllies a fupply of ufeful 
 herbage ; inllead of being, as it iifually is, a 
 nurfcry of wingf e Jed weeds. The back of the 
 bank in this cafe ihoukl not be made too up- 
 right. Thebeft feeds are thofe of white clo- 
 ver (among which thofe of ray grafs or other 
 grafies may be mixed) -, for this plant, by run- 
 ning upon the furfacc, and fcriking root at the 
 joints, foon forms the requifite matt of her- 
 bage. 
 
 VI. Replantingworxouthedges. Itwill 
 be doing juftice to the Norfolk management 
 to mention a pracHce, which at prefent pre- 
 vails, of grubbing up old wornout hedges, 
 and planting new ones in their Head. 
 
 In this cafe the old hedge is (or ought to be) 
 thrown down in autumn — that the foil may be 
 thoroughly foaked and tempered with the win- 
 ter's rains and frofts : — early in ll^ring the foot 
 of the bank Hiould be formed, and, in due fea- 
 ibn, the layer put in, and the fence completed. 
 
 By this means a difgraceful nuifance is re- 
 moved, and a new fcraight hedge obtained ; 
 and this at a fmall additional expence. — The 
 roots alone, if the old hedge be full of larcre 
 ftubs, and loaded with flems, — will pay for 
 
 c^rubbing : 
 
112 HEDGES. i4i 
 
 grubbing : I hare known one let to grub uport 
 thefe terms. I have alfo known fixpence a 
 rod (of feven yards) befides the roots given j— ^ 
 alfo, one fhiUing a rod and the fmall roots. 
 
 The price of re-making — that is, Icouring 
 and banking up— an old ditch is ninepence a 
 rod, and beer ; fo that the difference between 
 re-making the old one, and railing a new one,- 
 is but threepence a rod. 
 
 Vn. Grubbing THE BORDERS of oldhedges, 
 and turning up the leaves, rough grafs, and 
 top-fjil for manure, is much in practice j and 
 provided too much foil be not carried away 
 from the roots of the hedgewood, the practice 
 is a good one. The unplowed flip on tiie ditch 
 fide is, generally, when the ditch is fcoured, 
 treated in the fame manner, and mixed with 
 the Ihovellings of the ditch. 
 
 Thefe are prafbices, which, though valu- 
 able, are in many parts of the Ifland entirely 
 neglefted i the borders, on both fides, being 
 left as nurfcries of weeds, whofe feeds become 
 a nuifmcc, not only to tl\e farm they grow 
 on, but to its neighbourhood. 
 
 VIII. The HEDCEwooD ufually planted is 
 Wj^/'/tVi^in/i which, if properly phntedjflourifhes 
 
 abundantly 
 
n- NORFOLK. ,3j 
 
 abundantly in the Norfolk foil • feme few bar- 
 ren fpots excepted ; in M^hich fituationsArz. is 
 the. principal fence. Crakree is fometimes 
 though feldom, planted; but I have ftcn k 
 make a rapid progrefs upon very poor foil > and 
 for fuch it would, I apprehend, be found pre- 
 ferable to the hawthorn. Hc/Iy abounds in old 
 hedges ; growing very luxuriantly, and forming 
 an admirable Ihelter for cattle in winter- be 
 fides giving, in that bleak feafon, a chearfuln^fs 
 and fancied llielter to the face of the country. 
 
 IX. Upon fome eftates it is the pracflice to 
 put in, when a new hedge is planted, a holly at 
 every rod, and an oak plant at every two or 
 three rods, among the whitethorn layer 
 
 This is an excellent pracflice; provided the 
 young oaks be trained to a proper height be. 
 fore they be fufFcred to form their heads! For 
 in this cafe, they will become a valuable fource 
 of timber, without injuring, in any material 
 degree, the inclofures they grow between It 
 IS the roots of the all. and elm, and the tops of 
 low pollards, and tall overgrown hedgewoods 
 which are injurious to the farmer. A timber 
 oak, of fifteen to twent)- feet flem, does ver/ 
 Vol. I. 1 ,. / 
 
 ^ little 
 
!I4 jl E D G E S. 14* 
 
 little if any injury either to the crop, or the 
 hedge growing under it. 
 
 But if, on the contrary, the oaklings, thus 
 planted, be fuffered to rife with more tlian one 
 ftem, as ftubwood i or, rifing fingly (which is 
 feldom the cafe in a young hedge), they be 
 permitted to form their heads at eight or ten 
 feet high, with flat wide- fp reading tops,— they 
 lofe their intended value, and become nui- 
 fances, not only to the adjoining inclofures, but 
 to the hedge in which they grow. — Eligible, 
 therefore, as it is to plant young oaks among 
 hedgewood, the advantage to be obtained 
 from it reds wholly on the after- manage- 
 ment. 
 
 For reafons why a tenant fhould not be fuf- 
 fered to prune tmber treesy fee Min. 5. 
 
 For reflecbions on the time of cutting hedges, 
 fee Min. 34. 
 
 For apropofed method q( frrjtntirjg tenants 
 from dcjiroying hedges y fee Min. 42. 
 
 For obfervations on ditches againji the fides of 
 bills, fee Min. 45. 
 
 For obfervations on ivied diuhbanksy fee 
 Min. 6^^ 
 
 For 
 
14. NORFOLK. 115 
 
 For obfervadons on thin/iing timherSj and on 
 fJi'in timbers i fee Min. 85. 
 
 For obfervations on renevjing wornout 
 hedges, fee Min. 87, 
 
 For an inftance of a fufficient furze hedge, 
 fee Min. 88. 
 
 For general obferv^atlons on timhers andpU 
 lards in hedges, fee Min. 90. 
 
 For an inftance of ditches wajhed down by 
 rain, fee Min. 103. 
 
 For the method o^ fcjuing furze feed, with 
 general obfervadons on furze hedges ^ fee Min. 
 104. 
 
 For the management of hedges in Fleg, fee 
 Min. 106. 
 
 Forrefledions oil the Midfummer Jboct, fee 
 Min. 130. 
 
 2 2 15. IN- 
 
Ii6 I N C L O S U R E S. iSi 
 
 ^5' 
 
 INCLOSURES. 
 
 .. THIS DIVISION of the county being prin- 
 cipally inclofed — Ibme heaths and a few com- 
 mon-fields towards the north coaft excepted — • 
 in fiances of in closure feldom occur. Two 
 inilances, however, have fallen fo far under my 
 notice, as to enable me to convey a general idea 
 of the principles on v.-hich they were condufted. 
 
 One of them took place in the nortJiern part 
 of the Diflrict. "The fubjefls of inclofurc 
 were a heathy wafte of fcveral hundred acres, 
 of a tolerably good foil — (but, being over- 
 grown with furze, heath, brakes, and other irb- 
 cumbmnces, afforded little profit either to in- 
 dividuals or the communit}') ; together with 
 tv.o or three hundred acres of common-field 
 land ► 
 
 This inclofure was prokcuted on the fame 
 libtml priiiciples which raifed the HolkhaM 
 
 cflate. 
 
15. NORFOLK.^ 117 
 
 eflate, and other eflates in Weft Norfolk, to 
 their prefent ftate of produclivenefs. But as 
 the particulars which I procured, refpefting it, 
 will appear in a Minute at the clofe of the fe- 
 cond volume, it is unneceflary to mention 
 them here. 
 
 The other took place (or was intended to 
 take place) in a more fouthern part of the 
 Diftrift : the fubjeft, part of an extenfive and 
 chiefly barren heath, belonging to feveral fur- 
 rounding pariJJjeSj and fituated dijiant from 
 manures. But here I am debarred, by motives 
 which I flatter myfelf are a fufficient excule for 
 my filence, from entering into further parti- 
 culars} and my only reafbn for introducing 
 the article inclosures into the prefent volume 
 was, to gain an opportunity of inferring, from 
 obfervations made in this Diftri<5l, that very 
 much depends, not only on the manage- 
 ment, but on the subject, or fite, of inclo- 
 furej and that lucrative and laudable as inn 
 clofures in general are, or might be rendered, 
 it behoves men of landed propert)', and all 
 men concerned in thefe important tranfac- 
 Cicns, to ftudy with fufficient attention the 
 
 I 3 NATUJIAL 
 
ii8 I N C L O S U R E S. 15. 
 
 NATURAL ABiLiTy of the obje(fl in view, and 
 to raife their cftimate with circumfpecbion, on 
 PRrN'ciPL£S Of MANAC£M£NT fufficiently en- 
 larged, to guard againll mircarriages, and 
 fecure, with a degree of moral certaint)-, a 
 
 PERMANENT IMP&OVtMINT. 
 
 For fome account of the Felbrigg inclofure^ 
 kt MiN. 137. 
 
 16. PLANT- 
 
^4, H O R F O L K. 119 
 
 16. 
 
 PLANTING. 
 
 PLANXrNG is not only laudable as an art, 
 at prefent of the higheft importance to this 
 ifland, but pleaf.irable as an amufement. 
 
 In Norfolk, I had neither leifure nor oppor- 
 tunity of extending, on a large fcale, my prac- 
 tice in this art j but, as far as ohjervation could 
 inform me, I had every advantage. A perfon 
 who had been regularly bred up as a nurfery- 
 man, and who was a credit to the art he pro- 
 fcfled, gave me every opportunity of making 
 myfelf fully acquainted with the bufmefs of the 
 nurfery, and the manual operatior.s of planting : 
 while a fuite of plantations, of various ages, 
 and in various fiates, pafTing daily under my 
 cyey afforded me an opportunity, equally for- 
 1 4 tunate. 
 
120 P L A N T I N G. i'^ 
 
 tunate, of making my obfervadonscn what may 
 be termed the ib^cry of planting. 
 
 But my mind being fufficiently employed on 
 the fubjeds of estate acexcv and husban- 
 dry, I did not attempt, in Norfolk, to digeft 
 my ideas upon pl axtin'g. I was fatisfied with 
 having gained a general knowledge of the fub- 
 ^ecty and with h-aving impreflcd on my me- 
 mory a few leading principles. 
 
 Hedceplanting, and the management of 
 HEDGEROW TIMBER, I confidcred as infepara- 
 ble departments of the management of eftates 
 (fonearlyareplantingandeftate agency allied); 
 and therefore ftudicd them with unremitted at- 
 tention. I was alfo kd, in a few inftances, from 
 the eftate to the plantation, as will appear by 
 Minutes made at the time of practice j and 
 was alfo iixiuced to minure afewftriking inci- 
 dents which occurred to my obfcrvation. 
 
 But THE "propagation OF WOODLANDS, 
 
 merely as fuch, not beuig a practice of the 
 Diilrift, I had few opportunities of making 
 obfcrvacions on that important rubjecl-. Or- 
 namental plantations, about the refidcncies of 
 men of fcrmne, are here, as in ether Diftricls, 
 
 fafhionable : 
 
l^ NORFOLK. 12^ 
 
 fafhionable : not, however, as objeiLS ororna- 
 ment merely, but likewife as nurferies of game. 
 But it being my intention to confine myfelf, 
 in this work, to utility, rather than to treat ei- 
 ther of ornaments or amufements, I will, under 
 this head, only beg leave to recommend to the 
 proprietors of landed eftates in Eafb Xoi-folk 
 to propagate coppice woods on the fpringy 
 margins of meadows, and on thofe incorrigible 
 fwamps which occur in almoft every eftate ; 
 and to remove the woody hedge-rows, fo dif- 
 graceful to Norfolk as an arable country : 
 raifing, in the new-planted hedges, oak ti. fi- 
 bers at fuitable diflanccs i training them up to 
 luch height as \vill render the timber of the 
 greateft value, and do the land they grow in 
 the leaft pofiible injury. I will alio beg leave 
 to intimate that the fpirit which, at prefent, 
 very properly prevails of extirpating ash tim- 
 ber from hedgerows, will, in all human pro- 
 bability, be productive of a fcarcit}'', in time 
 to come, of that neceflar)- material in rural af- 
 fairs : and it is equally probable, that whoever, 
 at this dme, propagates groves of ash, in 
 angles and vacant corners, will be increafmg, 
 at a fmaU expcnce, the value of his eftate, 
 
 and 
 
J21 P L A N T I N G. ];6. 
 
 and be providing, at the fame time, a tiecejfar^ 
 eflife for the rifing community. 
 
 It now only remains to mcniion the method 
 
 of SELLINTG and TAKING pOW.V TIMBER, 11% 
 
 this Diilridt. 
 
 The prevailing praflice is to fell it (land* 
 ing, at fo much a ton when fallen -, meafuring 
 the timber^ down to fix inches timber girt 3 the 
 topvjood and the bark (of oak) becoming the 
 propcrt}'- of the purchafer ; who is ufually at 
 the expence of taking it down. 
 
 It is likewife cuftomary for the purchafer 
 to difpofe of the bark (of oak), and fometimes 
 the topwood, by the fame admeafiiremcnt ; 
 the prices of both varying according to the 
 proportion w]iich the tops of the trees, under 
 fale, bear to their ftems. 
 
 The price of oak timber y m 1782, was three 
 guineas to three pound fifteen Ihillings a ton, 
 of forty feet : the price of oak bark^ from ten 
 to r.velve fliillings: and of topzvoody from 
 ftven to twelve fhillings, each load of timber. 
 The price of naked oak timber, in the rough, 
 was fifteen to twentypence a foot. 
 
 The price ol aflj timber y {landing, was forty to 
 fifty fhillings a ton : in the Itick, ninepenceto 
 one Ihiiiing a foot. 
 
 Tli^ 
 
|6. NORFOLK. 123 
 
 The elm of Norfolk is of little value ; for 
 before it acquires a fize to be ufcful, it begins 
 to decay at the heart i — perhaps, owing to the 
 Jightnefs of the foil. 
 
 The aJJj on the drier lighter foils appears 
 {hinted and fliort j but in, and near, the mea- 
 dows and fwamps, it is of a firm growth, and a 
 good quality. 
 
 The heech is very rare in this Diftrict ; 
 neverthelefs, I have feen it, upon a fut^flratum 
 pf marl, of a beautiful growth, and confider^ 
 able fize. 
 
 The method of taking down timber, in 
 Norfolk, is uniform, and, perhaps, peculiar 
 to the country. It is called, very aptly, grub- 
 felling : the operation partaking both of grub-^ 
 IjLng and of felling with the axe, — in the com- 
 mon way aboveground ; a method which is 
 vyafleful of timber. The Norfolk woodman, 
 therefore, fells below the furface of the 
 ground i by cutting off the horizontal roots 
 clofe to the flem j which, inftead of ihorten- 
 ing, he, in efFect, lengthens, by adding to it 
 a conical point, cut out of the crown of the 
 root : fo that by this way of proceeding, a 
 greater length of timber is obtained, dian by^ 
 
 firlV, 
 
124 PLANTING. i6. 
 
 firft, grubbing, and, afterward, cutting off the 
 butt with a faw. Grubfelling is, no doubt> 
 the moft eligible way of taking down hedge- 
 row timber i and this accounts for its being 
 the eltablifhed practice in Norfolk. 
 
 For an inftance of the circumfpecVion requi- 
 fite \n pruning be^gcrozv timbers^ fee Min. 5. 
 
 For an inftance of tapping ycung oak plants, 
 in a neglected nurfery ground, with a common 
 fpade, fee Min. 36. 
 
 For an inftance of fuccefs in tranjplanting 
 large oak:, fee Mis. 37. 
 
 For general obfep/ations on the proper foil 
 and fituation for the ajhj fee Min. 38. 
 
 For an idea relative to changing the crop of 
 timber in a given fituation, fee Min. 81. 
 
 For obfervations on thinning hedgero'iu tim- 
 hersy and on fui^in limbers, fee Min. 85. 
 
 For general obfervations on the treatment of 
 timbers andpcllards in hedges, fee Min. 90. 
 
 For an inftance of thinning a tali mixed plan- 
 tation, with obfervations on different ^fr/Vj of 
 timber trees, and v/ith refieftions on tiie rt//fr- 
 j/;/3«^^t';«(f;;/ofplantarionsingeneral,fceMiN.95. 
 
 For obfervations on tlie AUdJummer Jljcot, 
 fee. Min. 130. 
 
 GENERAL 
 
17- 
 
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT 
 
 O F 
 
 F A R M S* 
 
 THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTS of the 
 
 Eaft Norfolk hufbandry are, 
 
 Bullocks, 
 
 Barley, 
 
 Wheat ; 
 the other produ6Hons of the Dlflrift being In a 
 great meafure fubordinate to thefe three -, from 
 which, chiefly, the firmer expefls to pay his 
 rent and fuppcrt his family. 
 
 The bullocks are fatted chiefly on 
 
 TuRNEPS, 
 
 and fometimes finifhed with 
 
 Ray grass, and 
 Clover: tt 
 
 which laft are alfo raifed for horfes, ftore- 
 
 cattle, and the dair\'. 
 
 Oats, 
 
126 MANAGEMENT OF FARMS. 17. 
 
 Oats, 
 too, are raifed in fmaU quantities for horfe- 
 corni and 
 
 Buck ♦, 
 in great abundance, for pigs and poiJtr)'. 
 Some few 
 
 Pi AS 
 are alfo grown for fwine (or are bought up 
 by 'he millerS, to i.nprove the cchur of their 
 whe. t-flour) i — and fome, but very few, 
 
 Vetc^s, 
 for foiling horfes. 
 
 Weld, 
 
 Hemp f. 
 
 Hops, and 
 
 Cole seed, 
 (the lafl more particularly in Fieg) are occa- 
 fionally raifed, but m inconfiderabk quantities. 
 
 • Buck — poijgrnum fazofyr um • b uck wheat, or irojti ; 
 its coainion name in tne foa;h2»n hundredi of Eafl Nor- 
 folk ; but in itis part of the county its orJy name is 
 B'jcr: indeed the a Jditlon wA^j/ (probably a corrup- 
 tion of the Dutch v.eetj ii abford, and alrogetaer ia»- 
 prtjp^r. 
 
 f Scnie Cilfe]! quantities are grown upon the cailera 
 ccaft. 
 
 Skeep 
 
1^; N O k F O L K, ily 
 
 Sheep 
 can fcarcely be enumerated among the ob- 
 jects of t.ie Eaft Norfolk hufbandry ; and 
 
 Cows 
 are kept chiefly for the purpofe of breeding, 
 and the ufe of the family. 
 
 SwixE and 
 
 Poultry 
 are well attended to ; and, in the fouthern 
 parts of the Diftricl, are carried, in great quan- 
 tities, to the Norwich and Yarmouth markets. 
 
 Rabbits, 
 though fome few warrens occur in Eafc Nor- 
 folk, are not "a llaplc produclion. 
 
 But before the particular pradlices obfci-ved, 
 and the procefles made ufe of, in obtaining, fe- 
 parately, thefe feveral production's, cm, with 
 any degree of proprierr, be defcribed ; — it 
 will be necefTar)', firll, topremife fuch gsn-z- 
 ral processes, and departments of manage- 
 ment, as do not pertain, eipeciaHy, to any 
 individual object. 
 
 The general subjects necefTary to be 
 premised on the prefent occafion, are. 
 
 The prevailing method of laying out 
 FARMS, in Norfolk, 
 
 The 
 
128 MANAGEMENT OF FARMS. 17. 
 
 The SUCCESSION of .arable crops, in this 
 biftrifl. 
 
 The soil process i — or the Norfolk me- 
 thod of putting the foil into a proper (late of 
 cultivation. 
 
 The manure process ; — or the general 
 application, and method of applying, manures 
 in Norfolk. 
 
 The seed process ; — or general obferva- 
 dons on the different modes of fowing. 
 
 The vegetating process ; — or the fi:m- 
 mer care, protection, and management of 
 crops, in general, from feed-time to harveft:. 
 
 The harvest procsss —not the procefs of 
 harvefting any one particular crop -, but the 
 general bufmefs of han'eft. 
 
 The farmvard MANAGEiiENT; not a de- 
 tail of the barn management and confumption 
 of one feparate fpecies of crop, nor the -win- 
 ter treatment of any one particular fpecies of 
 liveftcck J but a dcfcription of fuch general 
 bufmefs of the barn, and the farmyard, as 
 cannot with the fmalleft degree of propriety 
 be given under any one Ipccies, — either of 
 (lock, or crop. 
 
 For 
 
ry.* NORFOLK. J29 
 
 For obfervations on the Norfolk farmers 
 partiality to arable land, fee Min. 49. 
 
 For further obfervations on this fubje6l, and 
 of their negleil of graf^land, fee Min. 51. 
 
 For an evidence that the flock of a farm 
 ought to be adapted to the given foil, fee 
 Min. 75. 
 
 For an evidence of the cheapnefs of the Nor- 
 folk practice of hulbandr)', fee Min. 98. 
 
 For the general management of the Fleg 
 Hundreds, fee Min. ic6. 
 
 For an eviden<Je of the excellency of the 
 arable management of Norfolk, fee Min. 112. 
 
 For an evidence of its being adapted to a 
 dry foil, fee Min. 114. 
 
 For the general manasrement in Blowncld 
 Hundred, fee Min. iiS. 
 
 VoL.i. K 18. LAY. 
 
130 LAYING-OUT FARMS. i8. 
 
 i8. 
 
 LAYING-OUT FARMS. 
 
 MANY of the prefent farmsj efpecially 
 thofe of confiderable fize, have formerly Iain 
 to perhaps two, three, or more feparate mef- 
 fuages ; each, perhaps, occupied by its refpec- 
 tive owner : this, and the intermixture of pro- 
 perty already fpoken of, accounts for that abun- 
 dance of petty intlofures, — or "pightles" — [o 
 diri2;raceful to Eall Norfolk as an arable coun- 
 try. 
 
 It is, however; the {prevailing fafliion at pre- 
 fent, when adjoining pightles belong to the 
 fame proprietor, or when they can, by ex- 
 changes, be brought into the fame h^nds, to 
 erafe the intermediate fences, and lay them 
 into incloi'ures proportioned to the fize of the 
 farm ta which they belong. 
 
 This, namely proportioning the fize of the 
 fields to that of the farm, is a matter to which 
 
 Norfolk 
 
is, NORFOLK. 
 
 131 
 
 Norfolk hufbandmen, at prefcnt, are very at- 
 tentive. The fingiilar fyftem of hufbandry 
 praClifed in this Diftrid calls for a greater num- 
 ber of divifions than are nccefiary in moft 
 other places. For although an Eaft Norfolk 
 farmer divides his farm into what he calls " fix 
 fhifts," to receive his principal crops in rota- 
 tion, he does not wi{h for fcv/er than nineteen 
 or twenty arable divifions, in order that he may 
 have an opportunity of diftributing his turnep 
 crop over different parts of his farm. 
 
 For fimilar reafons he does not clafs, but in- 
 termixes, his other arable crops. 
 
 This intermixture of crops renders driftways 
 neceffary ; — and they are nowhere more nu- 
 merous than in Norfolk. 
 
 Another important matter to which Nor- 
 folk hufbandmen are attentive in laying-out 
 their farms, is that of endeavouring to lay their 
 ** furlongs" north-and-fouth, that the lun may 
 have an equal influence on either fide the nar- 
 row ridges, upon which their wheat is almofl 
 imiverfally raifed. 
 
 K 2 19. sue* 
 
132 SUCCESSION. 19. 
 
 19. 
 
 SUCCESSION. 
 
 IN NORFOLK, as in other arable coun- 
 tries, hufbandmen vary more or lefs in the luc- 
 ceflion of crops and fallows to each other. — 
 But if we confine ourfelves to this Diftrifl; 
 namely, the north-eaft quarter of the county ; 
 we may venture to aflert, without hazard, that 
 no odier Dillrict of equal extent in the king- 
 dom is fo invariable in this refpefb j common- 
 field Diftrids excepted. 
 
 It is highly probable, that a principal part of 
 the lands of tliis Diftri6l have been kept inva- 
 riably, for at Icaft a century paft, under tlie 
 following courfe of cultivation : 
 
 Wheat, 
 
 Barley, 
 
 Turneps, 
 
 Barley, 
 
 Clover, 
 
 Ray grafs, broken up about Mid-' 
 rummer, and fallowed for v»'hcat, in rotation. 
 
 Thus, 
 
ig. NORFOLK. 133 
 
 Thus, fuppofing a farm to belaii-out, with 
 nineteen or r^venty arable divifions, of nearly 
 equal fize, and thefe to be brought into fix re- 
 gular {hiftSj each fhift would confift of three 
 pieces j with a piece or t>\'0 in referve, at li- 
 berty to be cropped with oats, peas, tares, 
 buck; or to receive a thorough cleanfing by 
 a whole-year's fallow. 
 
 Tills courle of culture is well adapted to the 
 foil of this DiftriuL, which is much more pro- 
 ductive of barley than of wheat ; and is in 
 every other refpecl, as will hereafter appear, 
 admirably adapted to that excellent fyftem of 
 management of which it is the balls. 
 
 The foil of the fouthern parts of the Dif- 
 tn£t being llronger and deeper than that upon 
 which the foregoing courfe of crops is preva- 
 lent, it is better luited to wheat ; and there the 
 round of 
 
 Wheat, 
 Turneps, 
 Barley, 
 Clover, 
 is common ; though not in univerfal praclice. 
 
 This difference in foil and management 
 
 renders it neceflary to confider the fouthern 
 
 K 3 Hun- 
 
134 SUCCESSION. 19. 
 
 Hundreds of Fleg, South-Walfham, and Blow- 
 field, as appendages, rather than as parts, of 
 the Diftrift mod immediately under defcrip- 
 tion : which is furnifhed with a lefs genial foil ; 
 namely, that fhallow, and fomewhat lightifh, 
 fandy loam, which may be called the common 
 covering of the county ; broken, however, in 
 fome places, by a richer, ftronger, deeper foil j 
 and in others, by barren heaths and unproduc- 
 tive fands 3 from v/hich even the Hundreds of 
 Erpingham, Turnilead, and Happing, are not 
 entirely free s though, perhaps, they enjoy a 
 greater uniformity of foil than any other Dif- 
 trid of equal extent in the county. 
 
 This, therefore, is the fite beft adapted to the 
 ftudy of the fyftem of management which has 
 raifed the name of Norfolk hufbandmen, and 
 which is llill preferved, inviolate, in this fe- 
 cluded Diftricl. For a fhallow fandy loam, no 
 matter whether it lie in Norfolk or in any other 
 part of the kingdom, there cannot, perhaps, 
 be devifcd a better courfe of culture ; or, taken 
 all in all, a better fyftem of m.anagement, than 
 that which is here in univeri'al practice *, 
 
 ♦ If any improvement of the prefent fyflem can be ma^f , 
 it woald perhapj be by adortirg the practice of a judi- 
 cious 
 
19. NORFOLK. 135 
 
 But excellent as this fuccefTion of crops un- 
 doubtedly is, it cannot be invariiibly kept up 3 
 for even a Norfolk hufbandman cannot com- 
 mand a crop of turneps or a crop of clover j 
 and when either of theie fail, the regularity of 
 the fuccefiion is of courfe broken into. 
 
 If his turneps difappoint him, he either lets 
 his land lie fallow thrqugh the winter, and fows 
 it with barley, in courfe, in the fpringj or 
 more frequendy, though lefs judicioufly, fo\vs 
 it with wheat in autumn ; fometimes, though 
 not always, fowing it with clover and ray grafs 
 in the fpringi by this means regaining his 
 regular courfe. 
 
 If the clover mifs, the remedy is more diffi- 
 cult i and no general rule is in this cafe obferv- 
 ed. Sometimes a crop of peas is taken the firfl 
 year ; and the next, buck plowed under : or 
 perhaps a crop of oats are taken the firll year, 
 and over thefe clover fown for the fecond : in 
 
 clous hufbandman in the northern part of iheDiilricl (Mr. 
 Edmund Bird, of Plumftead) ; who divides his farm into 
 feven, inilead of fix, Ihifts ; his courie of crcjis are the 
 l:.me as thoie of his neighbours ; his feventh ihift being 
 » whole-year's /al/cnv for wheat. 
 
 K 4 cither 
 
136 SUCCESSION. 19. 
 
 cither of tht^fe cafes, the foil comes round for 
 wheat the third year, in due fuccenion. 
 
 Ic has already appeared in the heads of a 
 LEASE, page 75, that the Norfolk farmers are 
 reftrjcted from taking more than tv/o crops of 
 corn fuccefilvely. At the clofe of a leafe this 
 reftnTtion may fomctimes have a good effect i 
 for ill-blood between landlord and tt.'ant too 
 frequently leads a farmer to do what he knows 
 will, ii the end, be injurious both to himfeif 
 and hi:i farm. The crime of taking more than 
 two crops of corn fuccelTively is, h'jwever, 
 held, by farmers in general, in an odious light, 
 and ii never praflifed by a good farmer, unlels 
 <'to bring into couric" a fmall patch, wiih 
 fome adjoiiiing piece i-'— or to reguUtc his 
 iliifts, 
 
 -o. SOIL 
 
*c. NORFOLK. 137 
 
 SOIL PROCESS. 
 
 IN THIS important department ofhufoan- 
 dry the Norfolk farmers are proficients.— It is 
 cbfcrvabie, hov>-ever, that Norfolk hdno- an 
 old-culdvated country i and having been^ cen- 
 tun- after cenrjry, kept under a courfe of ara- 
 ble management ^ the difficulties of breakincr, 
 up rough wafte lands, and old le}'s, are, at pre- 
 fent, unknown ; the whole bufLnefs of the foil 
 prccefs being, nov/, the regular routine of 
 removing thofe foulnelTes, which all arable 
 lands are liable to i and in putting the foil into 
 a fit ftate for die reception of the feed. 
 
 But thefe operations, fim.ple asdieymay feem 
 to unpractical cbfer\'ers, require much flzill and 
 judgment i for on a proper conducl in this 
 department depends, confiderjbly, the profit or 
 iofs of "an amble farm. And as the Norfolk 
 hufbandmen appear to me to be maflers in this 
 art, I will endeavour to convey to my readers, 
 in an ample ir.ziin-r^ their ccndud in this parti- 
 cular; 
 
tjS S O I L P R O C E S 5. ao, 
 
 cuhr ; in doing which, it will be proper tq 
 ccmfider the following articles feparately : 
 
 1. Plowing, 4. Cleanfing, 
 
 2. Harrov\ing, 5. Laying-up, 
 
 3. Rolling, 6. Draining i 
 
 and, previoufly, to give fome account of the 
 fingular practice of this country, with icfpect 
 to the hours of work obferved in every de- 
 partment of the foil procefs. 
 
 The univerfal practice, I believe throughout 
 the county, is to go what is called " dao jour- 
 nies.'* In winter, when days are fhort, the 
 team 5 go out as foon as it is light, and return 
 home at twelve o'clock to dinner : — go out 
 ?igain at onCi and remain in the field until dark. 
 In longer days, the cuflon\ varies :— rthe mcfb 
 general pradice is to go out at fcven in the 
 morning ; — return at noon : — go out again at 
 ;;wai — and return at feven in die evening. — 
 Ten hours j namely, five hours each journey j 
 —ire the longefl hours of work ; except in 
 the hurry of barlc^y fcedtime, when thefe hours 
 may fometimcs be exceeded. 
 
 The length of day is, dierefore, not exccf- 
 five ; but the work performed m fo (hort a 
 timt is cxtraordinarv. The Norfolk plow- 
 men 
 
^0. N O R F O L K. 139 
 
 men always do as much — in general, a great 
 deal more — in one journey, that is in five 
 hours, — than plowmen in general do in eight 
 hours ; which, in moft parts of the kingdom, 
 is the length of the plowman's day. 
 
 This fasfb, however, is no longer extraordi- 
 nary, when we obfer\'e their paces, reipec- 
 tively. Plowteams, in general, travel at the 
 rate of one to two miles an hour ; whereas, in 
 Norfolk, they ftep out at not lefb than three to 
 four miles an hour ; and the fame, or a greater 
 agility, is preferved in the other departments. 
 
 I. Plowing. — Every thing is plowed with 
 t^vo horfes, abreaft, driven and guided by the 
 plowman (fee Implements) j and the common 
 day's work, except in wheat feedume is two 
 acres ! a fact, this, which nodiing but afhial 
 obfervation could have taught me to believe. 
 
 The Norfolk hufbandmen pay due attention 
 to the Jlate of tbejoil to be plowed, being care- 
 ful not to plow it too wet *, nor too dry ; the 
 
 * The Norfolk plowmen have a fingular cxpedienc to 
 prevent the foil when moiil irom turning up in whole 
 glofiy furrows, which they term " fcoring ;" to prevent 
 which they tie a piece of ilrong rope-yam round the plate 
 or mooldboard ; which, by this means, is prevented from 
 acUng as a trowel upon the foil. 
 
 latter 
 
1x3 S OIL PROCE S 5. aa 
 
 latter mod cipecirdly : not only bccrmfc their 
 ploTfc' and team are ill calculated for ftubbora 
 work i but left, in breaking up the foil at a 
 tkae when it is too dry to be cut clean v,{ih die 
 flizre, it Ihouid rife in clods, and thereby dif- 
 turb the " pan ;" which, upon every occafion, 
 is held facred (iee Soil). 
 
 luitances of tiie mifchiefe of deeppIo'Vuing are 
 ithted : one of them by an old, and moil ju- 
 dicious iiuftxmdman, to whcfe opinion the 
 grcareft deference and attention is due *. His 
 men having, in his abfence, plowed part of a 
 cicfe when it was too dry, it broke up in large 
 thick clods -, the pan, which adhered to the 
 foil, being of courie brouglit up to the fiirface. 
 Ke immediately forclaw the effcd which, I 
 have not a doubt, followed. This patch, from 
 no otlier apparent circumftance whatever, 
 could not, with all his fkiil and induftry, be 
 brought to bear a crop of any kind equal to 
 th:;t of the reft of the clofe, for fix or fcven 
 years afterward. The crops on das part were 
 ufiiformly, and ob\ioufly, not only foul, but 
 badi and this, notv.ithftanding an extraorii- 
 
 rary 
 
«6. NORFOLK. 141 
 
 riary allowance of manure and tillage were, 
 from time to time, beftowed upon it. 
 
 From this and other inltances of a fimilar 
 kind, as well as from general obferv^ation, I ara 
 convinced that to plow beneath the wonted 
 depth, woul^, under the fmgular circumftances 
 of tlie Norfolk foil, be injudicious manage- 
 ment ; — unlefs feme ready method could be 
 hit upon of forming, at a greater depth, a frelh 
 pan. 
 
 The methods' of plozving are various. — In 
 making fallows, the prevailing prafbice of 
 plowing fleet and "full pitch," alternately, is 
 very judicious ; it not only breaks and mixes 
 the foil more readily than the common prac- 
 tice of plov/ing always the fame, or nearly the 
 fame depth,- but, in the firft two plowings, it 
 renders the operations more eafy : the firft, be- 
 ing thin, goes lighter oiF the iliare -, and the 
 fccond being alv.ays (except for turneps) a 
 crols-plowing, the fhare has frelh firm gi ound 
 to lay hold of, by which means the plow is 
 kept fteady to its work. 
 
 To increafe this advantage it is common, on 
 very thin foils, to break up fallows by " rice- 
 balking,'" or by " flob-furrowing;" which are 
 
 nearly 
 
i4i S O I L P R O C E S S. 20. 
 
 nearly the fame operation performed in diffe- 
 rent \\ays. 
 
 In rice-balking, the " fl^g"* is always turn- 
 ed toward the unplowed ground, the cdg^ of 
 the coulter pafTing dofe to the edge of the flag 
 laft turned : whereas, in flob-furro"w ing, the flag 
 is turned toward the plowed ground, the coul- 
 ter pafiir.g fifteen or fixteen inches from the lail 
 plow-furrow ; — into which, in this cafe, the 
 edge of the flag hangs ; — and, in both cafes, a 
 flip of unplowed foil, of a width nearly equal 
 to that of the flag, is buried. 
 
 Thefe nlethods of plowing are not peculiar 
 to Norfolk i but I know no Diftrid in which 
 they are fo commonly praclifcd by farmers in 
 general as they are in this county. The nrll 
 is moft in ufe: it is the neater, and, perhaps for 
 the Norfolk foil, the more eligible operation. 
 
 Another method of plowing praclifed in 
 Norfolk, but not peculiar to ir, is " two-fur- 
 rowing:'" — trench plovking — double plowing. 
 This is done with two plows, one following die 
 other in the fame place : it is, in the fhallow 
 foil of diis Diftrict, a difficult operarion; but 
 the wheels and the broad Ihare of the Norfolk 
 plow render it Angularly well adapted to this 
 
 ♦ The provincial term for the furrow turned. 
 
 bufinefi. 
 
ia NORFOLK. 1^3 
 
 bufinefs. The foil, perhaps not more than four 
 or five inches deep, is to be divided into tu'o 
 thin dices, the under one being to be taken up 
 thick enough to bur\' the firfl, \s-iLhout bringing 
 up at the fame time anv part of the fubftratura 
 or pan : and this 1 have ken done with great 
 c'xaclnefs. 
 
 The price of plowing, with a plain, clean fur- 
 row, is uvo (hillings and fixpence an acre ! whicK 
 ■ is the current price of the country, and the rate 
 which is, I believe, almoft invariably adopted 
 by referees bet^-een out-goin^ and in-comino- 
 tenants. This intereftmg fact alone, accounts 
 for the comparative high price of land in Nor- 
 folk. In many parrs of the kingdom, ten fhil- 
 Ilngs an acre is a price of plowing, equally 
 current. How m.uch, then, it behoves o-entle« 
 men of landed property to introduce upon 
 their eflates the practice of plowixg with 
 
 two KORSZS, AN'D 001X0 TWO JOURXIES A 
 
 DAY, — where it is pradicable ; and where it Is 
 not, to endeavour, by other means, to lower 
 THE EXPExci OF PLOWING ; and thus by intro- 
 ducing a real improvement, add a permanent 
 hicreafe to their rent-rolls. 
 
 II. Harrowin-o.— In making fallows. It Is 
 cuftomary to harrowprefently before eachplow- 
 
144 S O I L ? R O C E S S. 23. 
 
 ing ; the operation being too frequently defer- 
 red To long, that the feeds of w^eds, fet atliberty 
 by the harrows, have not time to vegetate, 
 before thty are agr.in turned luider the foil, and 
 placed out of the iphere of vegetation. 
 
 This injudicious ninagement is nothov-tver 
 iiniverfal; ffood fanT::fn; making a point of let- 
 ting their fallov^ He a fafficient length of time 
 between the harrowing and the fucceeding flir- 
 ring. 
 
 One admirable pracftice peculiar, ! believe, 
 to Norfolk, is that of making the horfes trot at 
 harrow : it being a cuflom which is prevalent 
 throughout almoO: every department of this 
 operation, to v.'alk the hcrfcs ag-infl: the rile, if 
 any, and trot tliem back ag.:in in Lhe fame 
 place. This excellent pracflice not only rids 
 work and difengages the root weeds from the 
 harrow rines, as well as from the foil, leaving 
 them loofe on the furface j but levels the land, 
 m a manner which would be diflicuk to dc- 
 fcribe, and which obfer\^tion, alone, can render 
 evident. 
 
 The day's work of a pair of hories, walking 
 one way and trotting the other, the harrows 
 overlapping lb as to give the ground a full 
 double tine, is laid at about Ccv^n acres. 
 
 HI. Rolling. 
 
*«. , N O R F O L K. ,4^ 
 
 HI. Roll IX G. — Very lirde general matter 
 fells under this head. One circumflance, 
 however, Requires to be mentioned. 
 
 The roller, not^v^thftanding the lightnefs 
 of the foil, and its proncnefs to be injured by- 
 dry weather, is never ufed in Norfolk for the 
 purpofe of comprefTion. I never fiw one ufed 
 by a fanner either upon fillow or upon a la^^ ; 
 not even upon the firfl year of a clover lay to 
 fmooth the furface for the fithe. 
 
 The only ufes to which I have feen a roller 
 put, in this Diftri-fl, are tliat of fmoothing the 
 furface before fo\nng, to prevent the feed from 
 running down too low, and that of fmoothincr 
 it aiterwai-ds as a preparation for the fithe * : 
 and even ibis operation is performed with a 
 roller not more perhaps than feven or eio-ht 
 inches in diameter ! a circumftance which I 
 confcf, I am no way able to account for : ne- 
 verthelefs, it would be rafhnefs to condemn an 
 eftablinied practice, unlefs I could, from my 
 own experience, or from adequate obfer\'ation 
 on the experience of odiers, prove it to be in- 
 eligible. 
 
 ♦AndfomeumeswLeatisrolledinaatunin. See Wheat. 
 ^'°^- I- L I can- 
 
145 S O I L P R O C E S S. Id. 
 
 I cannot, however, refrain in this inftance 
 from recommending to the Norfolk hufband- 
 men to try, by accurate and repeated experi- 
 ments, whether the rolling of fallows, lays, 
 corn-crops, and meadows, with a heavy roller, 
 would, or would not, be eligible management, 
 on the Norfolk foil. 
 
 rv. Cleansing plowland. — The Nor- 
 folk method of cleaning fallows from "quicks" 
 and other root weeds, is, when they are dif- 
 engaged from the foil, to draw them inio " rln- 
 ges" — rows— ^nth the fame harrows with which 
 they were difengagcd (neither horfe nor hand- 
 rakes being ever ufcd in the operation). In this 
 cafe, the horles, walking flowly, are driven 
 with reins, the driver following the harrows, 
 and lifting them up, at dated diftances. The 
 " quicks" are then fhook into heaps with forks, 
 and either burnt in the dole, or carried off to 
 digeft in large heaps, as the weather fuits, or 
 the judgment of the farmer may determine. 
 
 If it be right, in making a fallow, to bum or 
 carry off the roots of couch or other grafles, 
 this is perhaps as fimplc a procels as can be 
 ufed for the purpofc. 
 
 ft: 
 
fto. NORFOLK. 147 
 
 I: is a general idea tha: marl helps to cleanfe 
 the foil from quicks, 
 
 V. Layixg-up PL owl and. —For wheat, 
 the foil is ufualiy gathered up into ver\'' narrow 
 ridges : but for every other crop it is laid into 
 wide flat " warps," or beds of about ten paces 
 wide ; ^\^thout any regard being had to the na- 
 ture of me fubfoil : which, notwithftanding it 
 is, in general, fufficiently abforbenr to admit of 
 this praflice, is fometimes too retentive, and 
 cold, to admit of it with propriet}'. 
 
 This kind of land, however, feldom occurs 
 in Norfolk j and this circumftance may be a 
 good reafon why a Norfolk farmer is fo truly 
 helplefs on a wet cold-bottomed foil * j anc^ 
 may account, in fome meafijre, for his generally 
 failing in his attempts to farm on any other foil 
 th.an that of hi: own countr)'. 
 
 The idea of gathering the foil into ridges, 
 and fmking crofs furrows for the purpofe of 
 getting rid of the f jrface water, is unknown to 
 him : if the fubfoil is not thirft)' enough to 
 drink up the rain water as fafb as it falls, it lies 
 upon the warps, or makes its -vs^ay acrofs them 
 in a channel of its ov/n. 
 
 • For a ftriking inftance, fee Min. 114. 
 
 L 2 This, 
 
148 S O 1 L h A u l; i:. b S. 2a 
 
 This, however, even luppofing the practice 
 to be without exceptions, is no heavy charge 
 againft the Norfolk hufbandmen, eohfidcred 
 merely as luch -, for the Norfolk foil in gene- 
 ral is fuiBcicntly abforbent to require neither 
 ridge nor furrow. 
 
 But there are patches, efpecially on the fides 
 of the fwells, and on the margins of the mea- 
 dows, which*are too retentive to admit of fuch 
 management ; and there zrc/om.efezv hufband- 
 men, who are fufficiently attentive to furface- 
 drains for carrying off the fuperfluous rain 
 water ; or, if that be found infufTicient, have 
 recourfe to 
 
 VI. Under DRAINING. — This, however, is 
 a practice which is not of long (landing in the 
 Diftrict ; but may, I make no doubt, be found 
 highly ufeful to many parts of it. 
 
 Underdraining has, hitherto, been chiefly, I 
 believe, done with wood j 'there being no ftones 
 in the Diftricl j except a few fmall flints ga- 
 thered off the land ; and except ka floncs up- 
 on the coaft -, — either of which would, if pro- 
 perly uied, be preferable to wood. 
 
 For 
 
SQ, NORFOLK. 149 
 
 For an inftance, and the method, of under- 
 draining with wood, lee Mix. 2. 
 
 For a particular foil procefs for barley and 
 rarneps, on a ver>- thin light foil, fee Min'. 57. 
 
 For an evidence of the excellency of the 
 Norfolk foil procefs, fee Mix. 98. 
 
 For an inilance of Lnjudicious management 
 of a wet foil, fee Mix. 114. 
 
 For further obfervations on fallows, .fee 
 the heads buck, turneps, barley, wheat. 
 
 L 3 21. 
 
^SCf MANURE PROCESS. 2M 
 
 MANURE PROCESS. 
 
 THE PRINXIPAL MANURES fet on 
 upon the lands of this Diftri*5t appear, in page 
 15, to be, 
 
 1. Marl, clays, and other earths. 
 
 2. Dung, and compofts formed widi it, 
 
 3. Lime. 
 
 4. Soot. 
 
 5. Rapecake. 
 
 6. Malt dull. 
 
 I. Marlikg. Marl has beenfo Ions, in ufe 
 in this Diftricl, that there are few farms with- 
 out marl pits upon, or near them ; fo that 
 Jearching fcr marl is at prefent feldom requifite, 
 and the art of difcovering it not much ftudied. 
 The herb coltsfoot (tujfilago farfara) abound- 
 ing on the foil, is confidered as an indication 
 of a jam of marl being fituated near the fur- 
 face. But, whether tliis is, or is not, an in- 
 fallible guide, — time and accidents or inten- 
 tional rcfearchcs have not failed to difcover 
 
 beds 
 
II. K O R F O L K. 
 
 ta 
 
 beds of marl b aknofl every e{htc,„and, ia 
 fomc pkces, on almoft even- farm, firoated 
 fuiEciently near the fuiiace to be v.orked with 
 advantage. 
 
 Of the quality cf marhy as has been already 
 obferved, the Norfolk farmers ai-e, in a great 
 meafure, uninformed. That which falls moft 
 readily, and " geti to work" the fooneft, is 
 in the beft efteem j but, m general, the quan- 
 tit)- of " uncallow" (namely, Lhe coping, or 
 covering of earth, v.hi:h lies upon Lhe head, 
 or jam) is more attended to than the intrinfic 
 quality of the marl. 
 
 The depth cf uncaikoj is generally verv un- 
 equal : perhaps, on the fame jam of marl it 
 wiU vary from one or two, to fix or eight, fee: 
 deep, Lhe furface of the jam iifually ri.ong mto 
 inequalities, termed heads. 
 
 The d^tb cftbej.iTr. is equally uncertaLn : I 
 have feen one worked twenty (ctt deep ; but 
 in general, I b^heve, ten or t\velve feet may 
 be rccko.-icd a raiddimg depih. 
 
 The kiicm cf the jan:, being generally a 
 
 v.-hite abforbent fand, no pump or artificial 
 
 drain is requifite to free a Norfolk marl pit 
 
 ^"cm water, which no fooner touches Lhe fand 
 
 L 4 th^n 
 
IJ2 MANCRE PROCESS. 21. 
 
 than it ^anifhes, as tlircugh the grate of an 
 open drain. 
 
 In working a marl pit ^ the top foil is thrown 
 back for manure — the remainder of the un- 
 callow thrown to the bottom of the pit, and 
 levelled for the carts to ftand upon. When 
 the jam is lov,-, the marl is thrown immediately 
 from it into the carts ; but if it be too high for 
 this operation, piles are driven in a row a few 
 feci from the face of the jam ; and, as foon as 
 a crack is formed, w^er is poured inro ir, 
 more efpecially when the marl is dry and ftub- 
 born J and by this means many loads are thrown 
 down at once ; either to the bottom of the pit, 
 or to a pbtform, level \s ith the body of the 
 cart ; into which die marl, in this cafe, is 
 thrown v^ith great eale. Taking up the bot- 
 tom of the jam is the mofl: difBcult part of the 
 operarion ; the marl being firfl to be caft up- 
 ward to the bafe of the pit, and after^vards to 
 be thrown into the carrs. But by thus bring- 
 ing up the bottom, two valuable things arc 
 obtained ; — a drain for the water, and a moft 
 convenient receptacle for the next line of un- 
 Callow. 
 
 The 
 
21. NORFOLK. 153 
 
 The lalour bedowed on marl previous x.^ ins 
 being put into the cart, whether it be incurred 
 by throwing down, loofening by pecks, crows, 
 Sec. or fetching up the bottom, is termed 
 " calling" — the a(5l of throwing it into the cart 
 being called " filling." — The price of caftino- 
 is threepence to fixpence a load, according to 
 the circumftances of the pit (the imcallow- 
 ing being generally done by the day) ; and the 
 price for filling twopence to twopence half- 
 penny, according to the fize of the loads car- 
 ried. I have known threepence a load given 
 for filling and fpreading large loads : the price 
 of fpreading, alone, is about one fhilling an 
 acre. The number of loads carried out in a 
 day by one team, varies, of courfe, wnth the 
 diftance to be carried : when the pit happens to 
 lie in or contiguous to the ground to be marled, 
 thirty loads have been carried ; — but five- 
 and-twenty is, I believe, confidered as a good 
 day's work. 
 
 The quantity fet upon an acre is equally va- 
 rious j depending upon two things: — upon 
 the judgement of the perfon who marls j and 
 upon whether the land has, or has not, been 
 marled heretofore. 
 
 It 
 
J54 MANURE PROCESS. ^u 
 
 Ic is known, from ccmmon experience, that 
 yind which has been recenrly marled receives 
 no apparent benefit from a fecond drefiing of 
 the lame manure : but it is equally well knnwa 
 that, after ibmc length of time has elapled, a 
 repetition of marling will generally anfwer. 
 
 It b a notion, prett)- generally adopted, that, 
 in this cafe, the quantiry ought to be greater 
 tiian it ^^'as C.\c firft or preceding time : and ic 
 being formerly die practice to fet on a great 
 quantity at once, — feldom, perhaps, lefs than 
 forty loads an acre, — this nouon has, probably, 
 deterred many perfons from doing that which 
 vould have been fcrviceabie to themfelve^ 
 and dieir country. 
 
 But there is not, I believe, any general rule 
 known, refpccbing eidier time or quantity : I 
 IvlVC had freqiient opportunities of making 
 obfcrvations on a farm which affords a llriking 
 Liflance on thjs fubject. Two or three different 
 tenants had failed fuccefTively on this farm j 
 though by no means high rented. The greatelt 
 pai't of it had, within the memory of man, 
 been marled with not lefs, in all human pro- 
 bability, than forty loads an acre ; and the 
 tenants who failed dcfpaired of reaping any 
 benefit from a fecond marling after i'o Ihort 
 
 an 
 
ar, NORFOLK. 15$ 
 
 an Interval of time ,- but this farm fiilling into 
 the liands of a more judicious tenant, he has, by 
 marling, (and by other acls of good manage- 
 ment) accumulated, in little more than twenty 
 years, a farmer's fortune ; during which time 
 he has marled upwards of one hundred acres; 
 and has found, from^long experience, that 
 twenty-five loads an acre is, not\nthlt:andmg 
 the recent marling, a fufEcient quantit)'. 
 
 I do not mean to intimate that the fame ma- 
 nagement would every whei-e produce the fame 
 effect J but I will venture to fay, that no man 
 having marl upon his premifes, ought to ne- 
 gleft to try its effedt, by accurate and repeated 
 experiments, upon every piece of land in his 
 poffeffion, — without being led away by any 
 received notion, — or general rule. 
 
 The quantit}' fet on, upon land which is not 
 knov.-n to have been marled, or out of which 
 the marl is v>orn, is, at prefcnt, lefs than for- 
 merly. 
 
 In the fouthern Hundreds, to which marl is 
 obliged to be fetched a great diftance, ten or 
 twelve loads are confidered as a drefTing ; fix 
 or eight are frequently fet on. 
 
 In the more central and northern parts of 
 ^e Diilriclj where marl is common on almoft 
 
 every 
 
156 MANURE PROCESS. lu 
 
 cycry farm, twenty to thirty loads an acre arc 
 generally allowed^, — and fometimcs forty loads. 
 
 When it is known, from experience, or 
 oken for granted without proof, that land, ei- 
 ther through a recent marling or other caufe, is 
 not improveable by marl alone, a fmall quan- 
 tity is frequently mixed up with dung ; either 
 by bottoming the farm yard, or the muck- 
 heaps, with it ; or by mixing it layer for layer 
 with the dung in the heaps. In either cafe, 
 they are afterward turned up, and thereby 
 mixed more indmately together. — With this 
 preparation, marl has been found to anfvver, 
 where, in its natural Hate, it had no effect. 
 
 The fymptom, or indication, of a piece of 
 land requiring to be marled, is taken from the 
 plants which prevail upon it.-r-" Buddie** 
 (^chryjanthemura Jegetum — corn marigold) is 
 cor.fidcred as a certain intimation that the land 
 it abounds upon requires to be marled. — 
 " Smartweed'" (-polygonum Pennfyhanicum — 
 pale-flowered perficaria) is likewife an obferv- 
 able fymptom. It is, I bjeheve, an undoubted 
 fa(5V, that marl, in a manner, extirpates thefe 
 plants from the foili — and that "quicks'* 
 (triticum refcns) are confiderably checked by 
 it. 
 
 With 
 
«i. N O R F O L iC. X5^ 
 
 With refpecl to the crop, for which marl is 
 fet on, there is no general rule : it is fometimes 
 {tt on for turneps, fometimes for barley, and 
 frequently upon the fecond year's lay for 
 wheat ; which laft is, perhaps, the bed manage- 
 ment. 
 
 The expence of mari'ing varies with the quan- 
 tit}' fet on, the diftance to be carried, and the 
 ftate of the pit. — Suppofe twenty-five loads an 
 acre to be fet on, the diftance from a quarter to 
 half a mile, and the expence of cafting three- 
 pence a load y and that a team draws out and 
 fets on the twenty-five loads in two days : 
 
 25 loads, at 6^. for cafting, filling, {^, s. d. 
 and fpreading - -0126 
 
 Two days work of a team, at loj. i 00 
 
 Uncallowing, and extra wear and 
 
 tear of implements and tools 076 
 
 II. Dunging. The method of raifing duno^ 
 upon the premifes will appear under farm- 
 yard MANAGEMENT. 
 
 The application of dung is, in the ordinary 
 pra<51:ice of the Diftricl, to the turnep andthd 
 WHEAT crops. 
 
 For 
 
tsi MANURE PROCESS. it. 
 
 For TURNERS, the " ftable muck" is ufually 
 carried out, from time to time, as it accumi:- 
 lates, or as the weather anlwers, in winter ; and 
 the " par muck," wanted for this crop, early m 
 the fpring ; and piled up in heaps in or nesr 
 the intended tiirnep clofes j a bottom being 
 previoufly formed of marl, or " manner," 
 about a foot thick, and ncated up into a long- 
 fquare bed to fet the pile upon. 
 
 The meibod of carrying out ferm-yard dung, 
 " when a fermer wants to get bufinefs forward," 
 is generally this : Two fillers, a driver, and an 
 ailoader, with fix horfes and three carts, are a 
 fet, for a fhort diftance : one of the carts being 
 alwuvs in the vard— one on the road — and one 
 at the dung-heap ; it being a univerfal prac- 
 tice, which prevails throughout the Diftricl:, to 
 (et the carts by the fide of the heap and un- 
 load them v.ith forks. 
 
 The crime of drawing the load upon the 
 heap is rarely commin:ed in Norfolk. On the 
 contrar}-, every lump is carefully broken, and 
 the whole piled up light and even, with almofl: 
 as much care and attention as farmers, in fome 
 places, bcilow upon their liayricks. 
 
 T.hc 
 
-ftt. NORFOLK. t5^ 
 
 The ordinary day's work of the fet above- 
 mentioned is twenty-five loads; if the diftance 
 be very fhort, thirt)^ loads are frequently car- 
 ried out : in this cafe, however, an additional 
 boy is required to aiTifl in levelling and form- 
 ing the heap. 
 
 The filling is generally dene by the load ; 
 
 another admirable practice: the price one 
 penny a load ; a flriking inftance of the low 
 wages and hard work of this country. 
 
 This pra(5lice ought to be copied in every 
 countr>'i for it would, in moft places, be 
 cheaper to pay even thi-eepence a load, than to 
 ' have the dung cart filled by the day ; in which 
 cafe, the team is ever (landing idle until the 
 load be made up : w^hereas, when the fiUing is 
 done by the load, that feldom happens. This 
 accounts fufficiently for the extraordinary 
 number of loads carried in a day, in Norfolk. 
 For WHEAT, the remainder of the par-yard 
 muck is generaUy, in the fpring, after the 
 cattle are turned out to grafs, turned up into 
 piles in the yards, where it remains until the 
 foil be prepared to receive it;— the piles be- 
 ing, by good farmers, re-turned in the fum- 
 
 mer: 
 
t6o MANURE PROCESS. xu 
 
 mer ; an operation, however, which is too fre- 
 quently ncgle(5ted. 
 
 Or, inftcad of turning the piles in the yard, 
 they are fometimes carried, at leifure times in 
 fummer, on to the land, and there piled afrefh : 
 ■ in either cafe, tJie compoft, by tlie time it be 
 wanted to be fet on, is thoroughly mixed and 
 digcfted. 
 
 The msthod cf Jetting on dung is fimilar to that 
 of carrying it out : and from tvventy-five to 
 thirty loads are confidered as a day's work for 
 one team and two fillers : all fet on in hillocks. 
 
 The quantity fet upon an acre is, of courfe, 
 proportioned to the quantity of land to be ma- 
 nured, and tiie quantity of dung to be fet on: 
 ten loads of goodfpit dung, or twelve to fifteen 
 loads of compoft, is, perhaps, the meMal quan- 
 tity let upon an acre, for turneps : — for wheat 
 a fmaller quantity, and generally of a worfe 
 quality, is ufualJy allowed. 
 
 Some few farmers manure their clover laysy 
 but this is by no means common ; the applica- 
 tion of dung being, as has been faid, in a man- 
 ner wholly to the turnep and wheat crops. 
 
 It may alfo be faid, in general terms, that all 
 the dung fpread upon tliis Diftricl is flowed 
 
 in I 
 
2i; NORFOLK. i6i 
 
 ^n : WH'E AT is {bmctimesf op -drejfe^mthki but 
 I have met with few inftances of that fpecies of 
 inanagement. 
 
 III. Liming. It has already beenobferved 
 under BUILDINGS ANb repair.^, page oi.that 
 the lime of this Diftrift is burnt entirely from 
 marl, with fea coal, in drawing kilns : at leaft 
 I never obferved a (landing kiln *. 
 
 The price varies, in a fmall degree, in dif- 
 ferent parts of the Diflrid : nine Hiillings a 
 chaldron of thirty-two bufliels is a medium 
 price. See note, page 91. 
 
 Lime, however, cannot, as has been before 
 obferved, be confidered as a common manure 
 in this Diftri(5l ; and while men will continue 
 to draw general conclufions, from particular 
 incidents or experiments, in matters of agri- 
 culture, more efpecially on the effe6ls of this 
 myfterious jnanure, they will ever be of dif- 
 ferent opinions. Undl the operadon of lime 
 upon foils, and vegetables, be better known 
 than it is at prefent, it is in vain to reafon 
 about it. 
 
 * Namely, a kiln which is filled, and burnt out, 
 without drawing oft any of the lime \fhilt burning. 
 Vol. I. M If^ 
 
i62 MANURE PROCESS. ii. 
 
 If, by accurate and repeated cxpenmeats, 2 
 g^ven lime be found to have no profitable ci- 
 icct upon a given icnl, k would be abfurd to 
 continue to lay that paitiailar firoe i^n that 
 particular foil. On the contrary, if, by a funi- 
 lar courie of experiments, a given lime be 
 found to ad profitably upon a given foil, it 
 wodd be equally abfurd to let any grjamcMt, 
 hou-focvcrplauiible, prevent a man from reap- 
 lag the advantage which fo fortunate a circurr.- 
 ftance has duowB in his way. 
 
 There ciay be foils in Norfolk upon which 
 ihe Norfolk lime would have no bcocfidal cA 
 feci: ; but that there are fome upcMi which k has 
 a beneiki^l tScd:, lamcertami hoc only finom 
 my own experience, but from the pndice of 
 ibmc of the beil fanners in the Difbi^ ; and 
 this, too, upon lands which have been hereto- • 
 fore marled, 
 
 if by lime, or any other fofiil or extraneous 
 manure, a Nofli^ 6jrmer could focure a crop 
 of wheat vkhoer dung, th« advantage would 
 bcverygrcat. The whole A'ftem of the Norfolk 
 miuiagement hinges on the tumep crop i and 
 this depends, in a great mcafure, on the quan- 
 tity <^ dung. No duag, — no tumq», — no 
 
 b^^ocks, — 
 
it. NORFOLK. 163 
 
 bullocks,— no barley, — no clover, — nor teathe 
 Upon the fecond year's lay for wheat. 
 
 How much then it behoves the Norfolk 
 hufbandmen, and turnep farmers in general, 
 to treafure up dung for tiie turnep crop. The 
 lofs of a crop of wheat is only a fmgle lofs, and 
 its efFe6ls momentary and cert-iin ; v/hereas the 
 lofs of the turnep crop deranges the whole farm^ 
 and its effedts may be felt to the end of a leafc. 
 
 If it be found from adeqiTate experience; 
 that lime is infufEcient to anlwer the defired 
 purpofe J and if it be found neceffary to right 
 management that a certain quantity of wheat 
 fhould be every year grown j other factitious 
 or extraneous manures might, by a continued 
 iearch and a proper fpirit of induftry, be obr 
 rained. 
 
 The general method cf applying lime is to 
 let it fall in large heaps, and to fpread it out of 
 carts upon fallowed ground, either for wheat or 
 for barley. 
 
 The quantity ufually fee on — about three 
 chaldrons an acre. 
 
 IV. Sowing soot. Near towns foot is ufed 
 as a topdre fling for wheat, in February or 
 March. 
 
 M 2 The 
 
i64 MANURE PROCESS. it, 
 
 The time offcwing is confidered as ver)'' ma-' 
 terial. If "rt be fown e^rly, and the froft catch 
 it, its ftrength is thereby lowered : if late, and 
 no rain falls to wafh it in, it is thought to be 
 rather injurious than beneficial to the crop of 
 wheat. And it is not, in any cafe, found of 
 much, if any, fervice to the fucceeding crop of 
 barley. 
 
 The method of foiving it is extremely fimple j 
 and, in the only inftance I faw the lowing of 
 foot pra(ftiftrd, here, was very complete. 
 
 A favourable opportunity being embraced, 
 when the wind blew gently, and in the fame 
 direfllon, or nearly in the fame dire(5lion, as 
 the lands or ridges lie, — the waggon which 
 brought it from Norwich, and which, until 
 the oppoitunity offered, had (lood fafc under 
 rover, was drawn, in a furrow, againfl the 
 wind J while a man, (landing on the outfide of 
 the waggon, fprcad the foot, with a fhovel, 
 feveral yards wide, on either fide of him ; the 
 height of his fituation at once enabling him 
 to fpread it wide, and even. As he reached 
 the windward end of die lands, the team 
 wheeled round under the hedges, and took a 
 frclh width. 
 
 The 
 
21. NORFOLK. 1J65 
 
 The quantity fet on was forty bufhcls an acre. 
 
 V. Manuring with rapecake. — Rape- 
 cake is not a common manure in this DiftricV : 
 but it is ufed by fome very good hulbandmen, 
 towards the north coaft : particularly by the 
 judicious manager mentioned, in this feflion, 
 under the article marling *j who has not only 
 marled one hundred acres of land, which men 
 of lefs judgment than himfelf confidered as 
 unimprovable by marl ; but has, in the courfe 
 of about twenty years, laid out eight hundred 
 pounds in rapecake : and his fuccefs is a 
 fbriking evidence in favour of the doftrine 
 above held forth i namely, that of applying 
 the dung wholly to the turnep crop, and dref- 
 fing for wheat vnth fome other manure. 
 
 He fetches the cake itvtn or eight miles, 
 from Cromer or Blakeney j where it cofts him 
 from forty Ihillings to three pounds a ton ; 
 with which he drefies three acres. Being pre- 
 yioufly ground, or broken into fmall pieces, it 
 js fown, by hand, out of a common feedbox, 
 upon the laft plowing but one of a fummer 
 fallow, for wheat. 
 
 • Mr. Edmund Bird, of Plumllead. 
 
 •^ M3 VI. Malt- 
 
i6^ MANURE PROCESS. 21. 
 
 VI. Maltdust.— This is the moft ge- 
 neral advenririoris manure of the Diftriifl j 
 every malt-houie fiimiftiing more or Icfs of 
 it ; but the quantity, even upon the whole, 
 being fmd], it car. only be of advantage to a 
 few inci\'iduils. 
 
 For obfen'ations on marling, in Souih- 
 Waifham Hundred, fse Min. 55. 
 
 For a propoled melioration of die foil by an 
 improverr.enr in the foil procefs, fee Mi n. 77. 
 
 For obfcrvstions on '* clajing," in Fleg, fee 
 MiN. ig6. 
 
 For experiment on the time of manuring 
 grafsland, fee Mik. 127. 
 
 For the expence of marling by means of 
 vatcr carriage, fee Min. 136. 
 
 12. 
 
22* NORFOLK. 167 
 
 22. 
 THE SEED PROCESS. 
 
 I. BROADCAST may be faid to be the 
 
 only method of fowlng in this Diftricc : — and 
 the plow (with fome few^ exceptions) the only 
 Implement ufed m co^-ering the feed. 
 
 II. Drilling, notwithftanding the foil is 
 fo peculiarly adapted to this operation, is en- 
 tirely unpracHfed. The only exception to 
 random-fowing is, 
 
 m. Dibbling — provincially," dabbing." — 
 It is performed in two wa)-s i namely, by 
 hand dibbles, and by dibbling rollers : the lat- 
 ter however, being in the hands of \trf few, 
 and being, I believe, ufed for wheat only, 
 they will be mentioned more particularly 
 under that article. But hand dibbles are ufed 
 for peas as well as for wheat. Indeed, in this 
 Diftri(fl, they are more in ufe for the former 
 M 4 than 
 
i68 SEED PROCE S S. aa. 
 
 than for the latter ; the dibbling of which 
 cannot be faid to liave yet gained a footing in 
 it: nor, perhaps, are the fiiallovv foils of this 
 part of the Diftrict adapted to the praftice, 
 how excellent foevcr it may be upon deeper 
 richer foils. Neverthelefs, the pradice being 
 peculiar to Norfolk, (and the part of Suffolk 
 adjoining to Norfolk) I embraced every op- 
 portunity of gaining what information I could 
 fefpefling it, and was fingularly fuccefsful in 
 my enquiries j the refults of which appearing 
 fuljy in Minutes made at the time of enquiry, 
 1 forbear faying any thing further upon the 
 fubjecl in this place. 
 
 rV. State OF THL soil. — The hufbandmen 
 of Norfolk, notwithftanding the natural dry- 
 nefs and lightnefs of their foil, are particularly 
 careful not to fow fpring crops when the foil is 
 what they call " cold and heavy." — When 
 they are under the necefiity of fowing under 
 this predicam.ent, they endeavour to fow above 
 and harrow in the feeds j — whereas, if the 
 feafon be tolerable, it is a prevailing practice 
 to plow-in almofi: all kinds of grain. When 
 the foil is ktn to fmoke after a fhower at fun- 
 rife, 
 
22. NORFOLK. 169 
 
 rife, it is confidered to be in a defirable ftate 
 for fcrmination. 
 
 For tlie refiilt of experiments with Mr, 
 Duckett's Drill, fee Mir^. 19. 
 
 For obfervations on dibbling, fee Min. 23, 
 a6, 28. 
 
 For refleflions on regulating the time of 
 fowing by xhtfeajcn rather than by thc/uny fee 
 MiN. 125. 
 
 23. VEGE* 
 
i-o VEGETATING PROCTSS. 23. 
 
 
 VEGETATING PROCESS. 
 
 I. IT tlAS already been obferved, that 
 ROLLING crops is fcldom pracdfed in this 
 country s nnlcls to rmooth the furface, in a 
 flight degree, as a preparation for the fithe. 
 
 II. HoiNG is flill lefs in practice j except 
 for TURNIPS, and fomedmes for the furrows of 
 
 WHEAT. 
 
 III. Havdwi£dikc is, however, carefully 
 attended to by farmers in general ; and is, 
 generally, performed by the acre : — a prac- 
 tice I have not met with elfewhere j though 
 moft eligible to be adopted in ever\' Diftrifl : 
 a farmer has not a more difagreeable talk than 
 that of attending to weeders by the day. The 
 price is, of courfc, proportioned to the foiiLnefs 
 of the crop to be weeded: — from fLxpence to 
 nye fhillings an ac«e is given. 
 
 IV. Stoke- 
 
23- ^ N O R F O L K. 171 
 
 IV. STQNEPiciiiNC clover-lay is alfo gene- 
 rally done by the acre; — the price twopence to 
 threepence an acre ; the quantity of flones be- 
 ing in general fmall. 
 
 V. The method of frightening rooks, in 
 pracflice here, efpecially when they take to 
 patches of corn which are lodged before har- 
 veft, is fimply to ftick up a tall bough in the 
 par: infefted : if a gun be fired near the place, 
 before the bough be fet up, this fimple expe- 
 dient kldom fails of being efteclual. 
 
 If rooks make an attack after feedtime, or 
 when diey take, generally, to the crop before 
 harveft, a boy is fet to fcare them ; they being 
 feldom attempted to be fhot at in Norfolk ; 
 where a notion prevails, and is perhaps well 
 founded, that rooks are elTentially ufeful to the 
 farmer, in picking up worms and grubs •, efpe- 
 cially the grub of the cock-chaffer, which, it 
 is believed, is frequently injurious to the mea- 
 dows and marfhe3 of this country. 
 
 VI. But whetlier rooks are, or are not, upon 
 ;he v/hole, hurtful to the farmer, there arc, in 
 Norfolk, three Ipecies of animals, which, on a 
 
 certainty, 
 
1/1 VEGETATING PROC15S. 27. 
 
 certaint)', are iniurious to him : thefe are 
 Hares, Pheasants, and Sparrows : the laft 
 of which are not lefs difgracefijl to the farmers 
 themlelves, than the r.vo former are to their 
 landlords ; and it would be ver}'' difficult to fay, 
 which of the three would, to a well wifher to 
 hufbandrj", and a ftranger in the country, ap- 
 pear the mod difgufling fight. I confcfs, that 
 having preconceived fome idea of die mifchiefs 
 that mull nccefTarily arile from an inordinate 
 quandty of game, the clouds of fparrows which 
 are fuffered to prey upon the produce of this 
 country, were to me the greater caufe of fur- 
 prife. 
 
 But fhameful as is the wafte arifing from 
 fparrov.'s, it is inconfiderable, when compared 
 with the devaftation which is caufed by hares 
 and pheafants, /> the neighbourbocds of kept 
 
 The turxep crop, the main ftem of the 
 Xorfolic hufbandn', falls a facrifice to barei. — 
 The quanrit}'- they eat is confiderable, but fmall 
 in companfon ^ith the waj^e they create. — 
 •Before a hare will make her meal off turneps, 
 ihc will taftc, perhaps, ten, withoiit meeting 
 jvitfi one to h?r tooth. Her method of tafUng 
 
23. NORFOLK. ijj 
 
 is to peel off a piece of rind, about the fize of 
 a fhilling, upon the top of the turnep i in or- 
 der that Ihe may, with nicer judgmem, make 
 her eflay upon the pulp : in doing this, a re- 
 ceptacle is formed for the rain, and a wound of 
 courfe made for the froft to operate upon : the 
 part prefently becomes putrid -, in a few vreeks 
 a general mortification takes place ; and ths 
 turnep thus partially bitten, is, as zfood, en- 
 tirely loft to the farmer, and to the commu- 
 nity. 
 
 The wheat crop fufFers principally fk)m 
 fheafants : they begui %\'ith it the moment it is 
 Ibwn, and prey upon it lb long as it remains in 
 the field j frequently follow it into the rick- 
 yard J and, in fevere weather, into the barn- 
 yard : nay, I have often known them, not fi- 
 tisfied with robbing Lhe pigs and poultry, 
 make their entry into the barn itfelf j where 
 they have been found, by the farmer or his la- 
 bourers, feeding in numbers upon the barn floor. 
 Thefe depredations are not confined to wheat j 
 but are of courfe extended to other crops. 
 
 The barley crop fuffers principally from 
 hares ; but upon this their mifchiefs are not fo 
 general as upon the turnep crop. So long as 
 
 the 
 
174 VKGETATING PROCLb^'. 2j. 
 
 tht barley keeps young and fucculent, they 
 feed promifcuoufly ; but when it begins to run 
 up to ftem, they confine themfelves (if tl^.e 
 piece be too large to keep the v/hole of it un- 
 der) to particular parts ; which, by being kept 
 continually cropt as it fhootSj affjrds them a 
 frelh bite through the fumn:icri fo that towards 
 the time of harvefl, v/!ien the crop begins to 
 change, patches of half an acre or an acre, dill 
 in a gvalTy ftate, become confpicuoufly feat- 
 tered over the piece. 
 
 Whether the crop be of barley or of wheat, 
 It receives, tliroughout, material injury by the 
 tracks made acrofs it. 
 
 Clover, alfo, receives injury from harcs^ by 
 the young heads being eaten down to the 
 crown in winter, and by the crop being check- 
 ed in the fpring -, thereby fuffering the drouglic 
 to gei^^oflefilon of the foil. But the clover 
 crop receives ftill greater injury from pheafams ; 
 which are not content with the foliage, bur 
 feed on the vitals of the plant j pecking out its 
 " heart," as it is emphatically called : namely, 
 the center of the crown of the root. 
 
 It is, indeed, an opinion among farmers, who 
 arc unfortunately fixed near kept covers, that 
 
 tlic 
 
23- NORFOLK. i^- 
 
 the pheafants do more injury to their clovers, 
 than they do eidier to their tiirneps or their 
 barley i or, fome are of opinion, even to the 
 wheat crops for the lofs of the clover by 
 pheafants, deranges their farm in a fimilar, 
 though not in fo fenfible a manner, as the lofs 
 of their turneps by hares ; whereas the lofs of 
 the wheat, though great in the firft inftance, is 
 lefs injurious in its confequences. 
 
 To a perfon who has not been eyewitnefs to 
 the de{lrU(5lion which accompanies an inordi- 
 nate quantity of game, the quantity of damage 
 is in a manner inconceivable. 
 
 Let us fuppofe that a faite of kept covers 
 give protedion to five hundred brace of hares; 
 one hundred and fifty brace, it is confidendy 
 aflerted, have been counted, at one time, on 
 one fide of a fingle cover. I have mylelf fcen 
 from fifty to an hundred brace under the eye 
 at once. 
 
 Let us further fuppofe that five hares de- 
 vour, or deftroy, as much food as one of Lhe 
 Imall heath Iheep of this country : this, if we 
 may depend on an accurate experiment made 
 on the quantity of turnep eaten by one of thefe 
 
 e-Iuttonous 
 
J76 VEGETATING PROCESS. 2:3. 
 
 gluttonous animals in a ftate of confinement, 
 is, as the former, a reafonable fuppofition. 
 
 Any man, converfant in rural affairs, can 
 form fome idea of the havock which two hun- 
 dred wild heath fheep, turned loofe into a 
 fencelefs corn country, mud neceflarily make 
 among the crops. But if, in addition to thefc, 
 a thoufand head of poultry were at t]\e fame^ 
 time let loofe, it would be no difficult matter 
 for any man to conceive a pretty ftrong idea 
 of the corifequences. 
 
 From what I have myfelf feeri, and from 
 what I learnt from thofe whom woful expe- 
 rience has taught; I am led to believe, than 
 there are not lefs than one thoufand acres of 
 turneps, one thoufand acres of clover, one 
 thoufand acres of barley, and one thoufand 
 acres of wheat, annually deftroyed, or mate- 
 rially injured, in this coUnty, by hares and 
 pheafants. 
 
 My calculation is this : — Norfolk contains, 
 as nearly as this calculation requires, one mil- 
 lion acres of land. Suppofe that half the coun- 
 ty confifts of marfhes, meadows, flieep walks, 
 and other graislands, heaths, commons, wood- 
 
 lands< 
 
2> N O R F O L K, lyy 
 
 lands, roads, and hedgerows, there remains five 
 hundred thoufand acres of arable land. 
 
 This hov/ever is, I believe, too fmall a pro- 
 portion ; vvc will therefore, to eafe the calcula- 
 tion, and to render ir, perliaps, more accurate, 
 eftimate the quantity of arable land at fixhuii- 
 dred thoufand acres; which being divided 
 agreeably to the courfe of hufbandry mod pre- 
 valent throughout the county, affords, annually, 
 one hundred thoufand acres of wheat, two 
 hundred thoufand acres of barley, one hundred 
 thoufand acres of clover, and from fifty to one 
 hundred thoufand acres of turneps. 
 
 I am clearly of opinion, that a quantity equal 
 to one acre in a lumdred acres of wheat, to one 
 acre in two hundred of barley, to one acre ia 
 a hundred acres of clover, and to more than 
 one acre in a hundred acres of turneps, is 
 wholly deftroyed or irreparably injured by hares 
 and pheafants. 
 
 I do not mean that a thoufand diftind acres 
 of any of thefe crops can be picked out; but 
 that there is, upon the whole, a deflrudlion 
 adequate to the produce, on a par, of a thou- 
 iknd acres. 
 
 Vol. I. N 
 
 lOCO 
 
178 VEGETATING PROCESS. 23. 
 
 1000 acres of wheat, worth on £. s^ d. 
 
 a par of crops, in a par of years, 
 
 61. 6,000 o o 
 
 1000 acres of barley, at4l. los. 4,500 o o 
 1000 acres of clover, and the 
 
 confequentlal damages 5,000 o o 
 
 750 acres of turneps, and the 
 
 confequentialdamages, at lol. 7,500 o o 
 
 I. 23,000 o o 
 
 If \vc view this inordinate quantity of game 
 in a moral light, ics evil confequences, whe- 
 ther we conftder them in a private or a public 
 view, arc ftill greater. 
 
 There are an hundred, perhaps five hundred, 
 men in this county whole principal dependence, 
 for their own and their family's fupport, is on 
 poaching. The coaltrade and filheries are not 
 more certain nurferies of fcamen than kept 
 covers are of poachers. An exceffive quan- 
 tity of game is not more certainly deftrudive 
 of the crops they have accefs to, than it is in- 
 evitably productive of idlenefs and difhonefty 
 among the laborers of the neighbourhood. 
 Two or three {hillings for a pheafant, the ufual 
 price, I undcrfband, given by die wholefale 
 
 dealers 
 
53- NORFOLK. 179 
 
 dealers in Nonvich, is a temptation, to a man 
 who is not fhricbly honeft and induftrious, too 
 powerful to be withftood. 
 
 For awhile he goes on in fecurity: but his 
 Ways and his haunts being at length difcover- 
 ed, he is taken ; and, if not knocked on the 
 head in his fcuffle with the keepers, fent to gaol. 
 
 Having lain here his v/onted time, he Tallies 
 forth again, not only a more delperate poach- 
 er, but an incorrigible rogue, fit for any thing. 
 
 Having been two or three times taken, and 
 having lain upon the whole, perhaps, twelve 
 months in gaol ; having learnt to live by night, 
 and to idle and fleep away the day 3 he cannot 
 reverfe his way of life ; and he is become too 
 notorious to carry on, any longer, his trade of 
 poaching. 
 
 His cafe now becomes defperate ; and if he 
 is not fortunate enough to get into a gano- of 
 fmugglers, he takes, of courfe, to houfe- 
 breaking, or fome other highway to the era]- 
 lows. 
 
 Nor is this the fum of mifchief: — A gentle- 
 man who preferves an inordinate quantit}'- of 
 game upon his eftate, is, in the nature of things, 
 perpetually in hot water, with the yeorfianry- and 
 N 2 mir:or 
 
i?o VEGETATING PROCESS. 23. 
 
 minor gentlemen of his neighbourhood. And 
 for what advantage ? A mere childilh grati- 
 fication — a toy. — The child has its bird of 
 pith, the fchoolboy his daws and magpies, la- 
 dies their aviaries, and gendemen their kept 
 covers : — merelv for the fake of fhewinir oir 
 the pretty creatures ; or of faying that they 
 have got them in their poiTefiioni 
 
 In point of real diverfion, kept covers are 
 utter enemies. What hciLids can hunt in co- 
 vers ^ith a thoufand hares in them ? And the 
 diverfion of (hooting pheafants in a kept cover, 
 is juft equivalent to that of (hooting fmaU- 
 birtls in a rickyard, or poultry at a barndoor. 
 
 Theie obfcrvations do not arik from an anti- 
 pathy to rural diverfior;S, nor, I flatter mylclf, 
 from an overv.-etning fondnefs for rural ecoj^.o- 
 my. I have profelTed myfclf upon a former 
 occafion, and ftill profcis m>iclfj a friend to 
 both ; and as fuch I beg lea\'e to intimate to 
 »^ntlemen of large eilates, that if, inflead of 
 laving wafte the lands immediately round their 
 rcfidences, they would fcatter (mail covers over 
 different parts of their e(fcites ; more efpecially 
 by die fides of rivulets in which water-creffcs 
 abound ; and if, iriflead of employing in the 
 
 frjootir.g- 
 
23- NORFOLK. i8r 
 
 fliooting-feaibn half-a-dozen keepers night and 
 day, at a great expcnce to themfehTS, and to 
 the certain injury of the health of thofe whom 
 they employ, in this hazardous and difgraceful 
 bufmefs, they would permit fuch of their te- 
 nants, as chofc to take out licences, to Iport 
 upon their refpeclive farms, and the unprotect- 
 ed firms in their neighbourhoods ; I am clearly 
 of opinion, I am pofitive, they would have a 
 fufficiency of game, an increale of diverfion, an 
 increafe of income, and, what is of much more 
 value to a man whom fortune has placed above 
 dependency, an increafe of refpectability and 
 perlbnal happinefs. 
 
 To fay that the game lav>'s are difgraceful to 
 the laws of this country, would only be repeat- 
 mg what has been laid a hundred dmes, and by 
 the firfl charadbers in it ; neverthelefs, they dill 
 remain an abfurdity in Engliili jurifprudence*. 
 
 • At p^efent, a merchant or monieJ man, let him be 
 worth an hundred thoufand pounds, and let him have an 
 hundred men of knded property ready to give him per- 
 milTion to fpori over their ellate? and manor?, he cannot do 
 it without being guilty of a breach of the laws of hi> 
 country. Nay, this man, nor any man, though he be 
 polIclTed ot the clear fee-fimple of a landed ellate of 99!. 
 « year, remain? in the fame predicament, Whilft another 
 N X man. 
 
iS2 VEGETATING PROCESS. 23. 
 
 The legiflanire having lately thought fit to 
 make rural diverfions an object of taxation, it 
 might now be impolitic to make game akoge- 
 tiier v.'hat it ought to be — private property. 
 Neverthelefs it ftill llrikes me, as it did long 
 before the licences for fporting were inflinited, 
 that game might be rendered a public and pri- 
 vate good. 
 
 Wherever perfonal propern' is alcertained, 
 there, ahb, let a private property in game take 
 place i die property being invefted in the pro- 
 prietor of the land, not in die occupier of i:; 
 and let every proprietor, great or fmall, have 
 a full and unconrroulable right to the game he 
 can find upon his eflate. 
 
 Bur the moment he fteps off his own land, 
 whether onto the private property of another, 
 or Into a forefl or mixed proper t}', though full 
 psrm.ifTion be firft had from the proprietor or 
 keeper, let him bccom.e liable to fine or im- 
 prifonmentj provided he do not annually pay, 
 towards the fupport cf the flate, five guineas, 
 or fomc greater fum. 
 
 man, perhaps not worth a fhiliing, bat beciufe he has in 
 his poffcfiion an eflate of one hundred a year, though mort- 
 g-igcd for twice its vaJue, is eniiJed to the privilege of 
 r27.ging 'vith impurity. 
 
 Let 
 
23- NORFOLK. i«3 
 
 Let this five guineas, or greater fum, qualify 
 
 him fully to fport on forefts, wafles, and all 
 
 undivided property, without leave from any per- 
 
 fon whatever j as v/ell as to fport, with permif- 
 
 ficn, over any man's private eftate. 
 
 But, notwithftandiag his qualification, let 
 him, for ftarcing game, v.-ichout permifnon, 
 upon private property, ivitb intent to kill, be 
 guilty of an adl of larceny or felony, and, as a 
 larcenor or felon, let him be punilhed by the 
 ordinary laws of his country. 
 
 Objeflions might be raifedto this phnj but 
 not one, I will venture to fay, which might not 
 readily be obviated. 
 
 N 4 24. HAR. 
 
184 HARVEST PROCESS. 54. 
 
 24. 
 
 HARVEST PROCESS. 
 
 THE WHOLE bufinefs of harveft is don- 
 by harveftmcn ; no part of it, generally fpeak- 
 iiig, being done by the acre. 
 
 The price of a harveftinan is tliirrv five to 
 forty fhiliings for the han^eftj be it long or 
 ihort, Vv'ith his full board fo long as harveft 
 work continues. 
 
 This is, in any year, a difagreeable circun:!- 
 flance ; and, in a long harveft, extremely te- 
 dious : in the backward harveft of 1782 Ibme 
 farmers boarded their harveftmen feven v-'eeks, 
 two or three of which, perhaps, they lay in a 
 great meafure idle. 
 
 What renders tlie expence excefliv:e, is not 
 altogether the number of appetites to be palled, 
 but the extravagant manner in v.hicli they arc, 
 by cuftom, expected to be gratified. In li- 
 quor, however, the Norfolk labourers are Icls 
 wafteful than are the labourers of fome other 
 places. 
 
 The 
 
24. NORFOLK. 185 
 
 The difagreeablcnefs of boarding apart (and 
 this might no doubt be avoided), the bufi- 
 nefs of hai-veft goes off with fmgular alacrity 
 in Norfolk. Every man turns his hand to 
 anv work which is s-oino; fbrv.-ard. To what- 
 ever requires the quickeft difpatch, whether it 
 be reaping, mowing, cocking or carrying, 
 a farmer can diredl his whole force -, or luch 
 part of it as he may judge necefiary : an ad- 
 vantage which cannot be had when reaping 
 and mowing are done by the acre ; the reap- 
 ers, more efpecially, being as ufelels to a far- 
 mer in this refpeft, as if they were not em- 
 ployed upon his farm. 
 
 What adds elTcntially to the difpatch, and 
 conlequendy to the pleafure, of harveft, is the 
 comparative alertnefs and adivity of the Nor- 
 folk harveftmen -, wlio, from four in the morn- 
 ing until dark, their mealtimes excepted, 
 work, not as for their mafters, but as for them- 
 felves. 
 
 While, however, I thus pay due praife to 
 the laborioulhefs of the Norfolk workmen 
 truth obliges me to fay, that in many inftances 
 their work is done in a loofe, and, what in fome 
 places would be called^ a flovenly manner. 
 
 But 
 
iSe HARVEST PROCESS. 24. 
 
 But this is a natural, or at leaft a iifual, con- 
 fequenccof difpatch. A man who reaps, for 
 mftance, from half to three quarters of an acre 
 a day, cannot be expeifbed to do his work fo 
 neatly, to lay his corn fo ftraight, and bind his 
 flieaves fo tightly, as he who only reaps one 
 third of an acre. 
 
 Were it not for diis extraordinary difpatch, 
 I do not fee how the crops of the Diflricl could 
 be harvefted. There are, it is true, a few 
 men, from Suirbik, Cambridgefhire, &:c. 
 hired aimuaUy at Norwich, and retained 
 for the Iiarveft ; but their number is incon- 
 liderable, compared with the numbers which 
 are employed in other arable countries i where 
 lliey pafs from place to place, as the harveft 
 ripens : whereas here they are at the end of 
 their journey : an extenfive tracl of arable 
 country on one fide, and the fea on the other. 
 The beft refource v.-hich this country- has is in 
 its numerous manufavfturers, fome few of whom 
 can, in neccfTit)', turn their hands to harveil- 
 work. 
 
 One cuftom of this country refpefling har- 
 veftmen is very reprehenfible. Their work i^ 
 confidcrcd to be merely that of ka-^jejiiug ; 
 
 and. 
 
24. NORFOLK. 187 
 
 and, if the weather be fuch that this does not 
 afford them full employment, they confider 
 themfclves as having, from ancient cudom, a 
 right to refufe to do every other kind of work. 
 It is (I am forry that truth obliges me to 
 relate it) no iinufual thing for parties of them 
 to be playing at cards in a barn, while the 
 turnep-crop is receiving irreparable injury 
 for want of their affiftance : a crime, in this 
 country, which both mafler and men ought to 
 be equally afhamed of: and it certainly would 
 be Vv'orth the farmers' while to give their men 
 an advance of harveft wages, rather than to 
 fuffer fo difgracefui a cufrom. Were it not 
 for the manufa(5h]rers and other handicraftmen, 
 the later-fown crops of turneps v/ould fuffer 
 greatly during harveft. Some years, it is true, 
 harveft-men have little leifure for turnep- 
 hoeing ; but, in others, tliey have a great 
 deal; and, in every year, a ftrong morning dew, 
 or a flying fliower at the time of carrying, afford 
 apt opportunities for this neceffary operation. 
 
 The practice of trotting with empty carri- 
 ages has already been noticed : it is on no cc- 
 cafion more valuable than in harveft j a cuf- 
 tom among farmers of driving their own har- 
 veft carriages is rjot lefs exceller.t. 
 
 Loofe 
 
i63 HARVEST PROCESS. a^ 
 
 Loofe com of even' kind is iiniverfally trod- 
 den in the barn with horfes ; and, what is per- 
 hips fingi'.Iar to Norfolk, horles are fometimes 
 employed in treading large ricks. 
 
 Ricks, in general, however, are carried up 
 too narrow and too high to be trodden with 
 horfes j their roofs, more particularly, being 
 frequendy drawn up to an unnecefiar)* and, in- 
 deed, ridiculous height j thereby incurring un- 
 neceffary labour in topping-up, and an unne- 
 ceiTary quantirv' of thatch and diarching. 
 
 The price of the lafl, however, being in a 
 nianner fixed at fix pence a yard in length, be 
 the roof high or low, deep or fhallow. the lofs 
 in t'us falls rather upon the thatcher dian the 
 farmer. 
 
 For the minuti:e of the harvefl procefs, lee 
 tht fcveral crops : — namely, wh cat, earleVj 
 
 &C.&C. 
 
 O- 
 
'2,v NORFOLK. 189 
 
 FARMYARD MANAGEMENT. 
 
 THIS HEAD may be divided into, 
 
 1. Bam management ; and 
 
 2. Straw-yard management. 
 
 I. Barn- management. — Every thing is 
 thraflied by the coomb of four buihels ; little 
 or no thrafliing being done by the day *. 
 
 Ttis oblervabie,thatnotwidiftanding the fpa- 
 cioufnefs of the Norfolk barn-floor, the labour- 
 ers in general object to their thrafliing two in a 
 barn ; rather choofmg to vv'ork fmgly : — this, 
 perhaps, is principally owing to the particular 
 m.cthod of thrafliing with tv/o on a floor; which 
 is to turn their backs on each other i working 
 as feparately as if they thralli ed on feparate floors ; 
 the method of fl-anding face to face, and giving 
 ftroke for ftroke, being fcldom, if ever ufed. 
 
 Every thing is thralhed rough ; no ftraw 
 bound ; even wheat flrav/ is ufually fhook off 
 the floor, loofe, with a common pitching fork, 
 
 • For the prices, fee List of Rates. 
 
 The 
 
1^3 FARMYARD MANAGEMENT. 25. 
 
 The method of drefTing corn, here, is fingu- 
 Lir, and, as an eftablifhed and invariable prac- 
 tice, is, I believe, peculiar to this country ; 
 in which there is not, perhaps, a fingle "j.-ind 
 fan of any conftioicHon ; and I never faw the 
 natural wind made ufe of in the dit^ing of 
 corn. 
 
 In Wefl: Norfolk, there are fome fail fans ; 
 but, in this Diflri<ft, the invari.ible practice is 
 tofeparate the corn from the chafr, by throw- 
 ing it from one end of the floor toward the 
 other v/ith a fhovel. 
 
 In this operation, the prime grain, being 
 heavieft, fiies farthcfl ; the light corn and 
 " cofhes" next : to thefe fucceed the broken 
 cars and prime chaff; and to this the fmall 
 chatl'an:! duft; which being thrown agp.inll a 
 gentle draught of air, when it can be had, is 
 generally carried back pretty plentifully to- 
 wards the face of the thrower, who ufually 
 guards his eyes with a crape or other partial 
 covering. 
 
 To avoid the inconveniency of the duft as 
 much as may be, and to feparate as clean as 
 pofTible the corn and chaff from the " colder," 
 
 namelv. 
 
25* NORFOLK. iqi 
 
 namely, the ears, fhort flravrs, &c. — the rough 
 com, after die draw is fhook oii and raked 
 out in the ulual manner, is riddled through a 
 fine riddle upon a horfe placed near the lee- 
 \^-ard door ; by which means a principal part 
 of the dufb, and, if the draught of wind be 
 ftrong, much of the v/orfc of the chaff is got 
 rid of. This not only renders die cading more 
 agreeable, but lefTens the qiianrir)^ to bt 
 thrown. 
 
 The art of throwing is a Height which can 
 be learned from praftice only. A light, hol- 
 low wooden iliovel is the tool made ufe of in 
 this operation. This is about half fJled with 
 corn ; which, to make the caft more true and 
 certain, is fhook into the center of the mouth 
 of the iliovel. This is done by a fmgle motion, 
 %nth the arms hajigiiig {Iraight do^ni, as if 
 widi an intention to eftimate die weight cfzh^ 
 com in the fhovel. The equipoife heins: thus 
 got, the contents are delivered by a fweeping 
 motion of the arms and the body ; fcatterin^:' 
 the grain in a long, narrow heap, cf a femi- 
 lunar form. 
 
 The chaft' and die light grain being re- 
 moved, die broken ears and "colhes/'namelv, 
 
 the 
 
192 FARMYARD MANAGEMENT, sy. 
 
 the heavy grains whofe chaff fticks to thcin, 
 are feparated by a riddle and die vackcr knee- 
 fan. 
 
 If the head grain be not fiifHciently cleanlcd 
 by one cafting, it is returned in a fimilar way 
 to the other end of the floor. — Finally, the 
 weed feeds and fmall corn are feparated in the 
 ufual manner, by die flcreen j and the head 
 grain meaiured up, in a way as fingular as that 
 by which it is feparated. 
 
 In one part of the kingdom the buflicl is fil- 
 led with a fliovel — in another with a flioal — • 
 in a third with a fieve -, but here no tool what- 
 ever is made ufe of ; the bufl-:el itlelf being 
 thrufl into the heap, and then filled up and 
 levelled fit for the ftriker with the hands alone ; 
 under a thorough conviction that corn may be 
 meafured lighter in this way than in any other 
 way v/hatever. 
 
 All corn is fcnt to market in "coomb bags," 
 and generally with four bufhels in each bag. 
 
 The meajure of Norfolk is about eight gal- 
 lons and a half to tlie buihel, and twentyone 
 coombs to the lad : that is, one coomb, or one 
 bufliel, in twenty is thrown in. This cuftom 
 has probably been introduced by the corn-fac- 
 
 tors^ 
 
ajir NORFOLK. ig^ 
 
 tors, under a pretence of lofs of meafure in fend- 
 ing their corn to market. Be this as it may, 
 the allowance is made to the cornbuycrs only: 
 for in dealings between farmer and farmer for 
 feedj &c. the " bare" meafure only is given. 
 
 It is a practice among Norfolk farmers, as 
 prevalent as it is judicious, not to ftore up dref- 
 fed corn ; but either to let it remain in the ftraWj, 
 or, if this be wanted, to keep it a few weeks in 
 the chaff, till a fair market offers ; frequently 
 ftowing it away in a recefs cut out of the face 
 of the mow, for this purpofe. 
 
 n. StRAW^ARD MANAGEMENT. — TheNof- 
 
 folk hufbandmen are, in general, very attentive 
 to feparating their flock in the flrawyard. For 
 this purpofe their "paryards" zrc pa-rud into 
 fundry divifions with faggots, in the manner 
 already mentioned under the fubjed Repairs. 
 
 One divifion is {ct apart for the cows — an- 
 other for the " buds" or yearlings, — fometimes 
 a third for the two-year-olds, — and, when tur- 
 neps are brought into the yards, a fourth for 
 the bullocks. 
 
 By this judicious management the weak is 
 placed out of the power of the ftrong, and the 
 
 Vol. L Q colder 
 
194 FARMYARD MANAGEMENT. 25. 
 
 colder and beft of the draw may be given to 
 fuch as require the beft keep. 
 
 Sometimes the flraw is given to the cattle in 
 "bins;" fometimes laid in heaps; and fre- 
 quently for bullocks at turnep, it is fcattered 
 loole about the yard. 
 
 Upon the whole, the Norfolk farmers may 
 be faid to be wafteful of ftraw ; more efpecially 
 at the beginning of the winter, when it is fre- 
 quently thrown into the empty yard entirely 
 wafte as to fodder : this, however, is not look- 
 ed upon in fo improvident a hght in Norfolk as 
 in moft other places ; for here a notion of the 
 utility of having plent)' of ftraw among dung, 
 prevails fo ftrongly, that the ftraw which is eaten 
 by cattle is confidered by fome men, as being 
 in a manner walled as to manure. 
 
 For further obfervations on this fubjed, fee 
 MiN. 73. 
 
 16. MARKETS. 
 
26. 1S[ O R F O L K, 195 
 
 26. 
 
 MARKETS. 
 
 NORFOLK, taken colleftively, as a coun- 
 ty, is finguv^rly well ficuated for markets: the 
 Norwich manufa(5i:ory is prcdu6live of a regu- 
 lar internal confumption ; while Yarmouth, 
 Lynn, the fmaller ports, Smithfield and St. 
 Ives, take off the furpkis produce. 
 
 Smithfield is the grand market for cattle 
 and Iheep, and the seaports for barley. — 
 Wheat is principally bought up by the mil- 
 lers, and the furplus of what is confumed in 
 the country ient to the London market, in 
 flour. Some wheat in grain is alfo fent to Bear- 
 Key. 
 
 With refpecl to veal, pork, lamb, and fome- 
 times mutton, a fmgular practice prevails in 
 Norfolk J moft efpecially at the Norwich 
 market; which is fupplied with the above 
 articles entirely by the farmers : who, for fif- 
 teen or twenty miles round, are moil of them 
 capable of dreffing a calf, a lamb, or a Iheep j 
 O 2 which. 
 
196 MARKET S. 16. 
 
 which, with poultry made ready for the fpit, 
 are carried weekly by themfelves, their wives, 
 their daughters, or their fcrv^ants, to Norwich 
 market : which, whether for plenty or neatnefs, 
 is, I believe beyond all comparifon, the firft in 
 the kingdom. 
 
 Thefe articles are brought to market in pan- 
 niers— provincially, "peds"— either on horfe- 
 back, or in market carts (a conveniency which 
 few farmers are not poffeiTed of) and placed in 
 rows ill the " ped market i" a fpacious trian- 
 gular area in the center of the city ; the market 
 women fitting in a row on one fide of the peds, 
 while the other fide is left free for their cufto- 
 mers. 
 
 Whether viewing the neatnefs of the market 
 women themfelves, the delicacy of their wares, 
 or the clevemels which, throiE;h habit, many 
 of them are miftrefies of in the dilpofal of 
 them, the Saturday's market of Norwich ex- 
 hibits an agreeable fight. 
 
 It is not necefiaiy to add to this account of 
 the ped market, that the bufinefs of a butcher 
 in Nopivich is confined, in a great meafure, to 
 beef and a little mutton. Indeed the trade of 
 a butcher is not, in any part of the county, a 
 
 good 
 
26. NORFOLK. 197 
 
 good one; the principal farmers butchering 
 their own meat j and the fmaller ones who kill 
 for the ped markets, living chiefly on the offal 
 and the unfold joints. 
 
 The corn market of Norwich is likewife a 
 yery good one. But the bufinefs being chiefly 
 done at the Inns, is notfeen. The river Yare, 
 which is navigable from thence to Yarmoudi, 
 affords an eafy conveyance of the furplus corn 
 bought up, at Norwich, for the London mar- 
 ket. 
 
 The principal market of this Diftri£l is that 
 of North Walshamj — a very good one: 
 great quantities of barley and wheat are bought 
 up weekly, and the furplus of the home con- 
 fumption either lent down the north river na- 
 vigation to Yarmouth, and from thence Ihip.^ 
 ped off for the London or other market y or is 
 delivered by land carriage at Cromer or 
 MuNSLEY, and there fliipped off. 
 
 When the ports are open for exportation, 
 great quantities of corn are fent immediately 
 from Norfolk to Hoilland, and other fo- 
 reign MARKETS. 
 
 One general obfcrvation remains to be made 
 refpeding the markets of Norfolk ; they zro, 
 
 Q;> in 
 
198 MARKETS. 26. 
 
 in-general afterkoon'markets; no bufinefs 
 being done, in the com mirket at lead, until 
 three or four o'clock in the aftemosn. The 
 market of Norwich is, however, an exception 
 to this cullom, and there may be other fore- 
 noon markets in the county. 
 
 Mary conveniencie^ and advantages accrue 
 to the firmer from afternoon markets : he has 
 all the morning to himfclf: he dines wiA his 
 &mily; and fees his men at \vork, and his 
 teams O'Jt for their afternoon journey, before 
 he fets eft for market. His market expences 
 are curtaik"', and a habit of lounging out a 
 whole day, idly, prevented. The only incon- 
 veniency incurred by afternoon markets, to a 
 farmer, is the ne:e]Jity of returning home in the 
 dark of -winter's evenings: this, however, is 
 an inconvfniency wliich farmers in general 
 who go xs:- market at ten o'clock in the morn- 
 ing zolumariiy dilpenic wiirh. The Innkeepers 
 may be Hid to be the only fuiferers by after- 
 noor, markers. 
 
 The Fairs of Norfolk are not foconfider- 
 ablc as they are m fome-other counties ; except 
 the fiir of S^ Faith's, which is one of the 
 largcft fiiirs la the kingdom. 
 
 Buc 
 
26. NORFOLK. 199 
 
 But, as I made a point of attending fome of 
 the principal fairs, and of minuting the obfer- 
 vations which ftftick me while they were frelh 
 in the memory, I forbear faying any thing fur- 
 ther refpecting them in this place ; but refer to 
 the Minutes themfelves ; which I publilh the 
 rather, as nothing gives a more lively and juft 
 idea of what may be called the ecoxomy of 
 LIVESTOCK in a given Diftritt, than the bufi- 
 nefs -which pafles at the fairs of thaf Diftrift. 
 Befides, fairs and markets are the great itum- 
 blingblocks to gentlemen farmers ; who, 
 tlirough want of affability ^ or want of courage, 
 remain in general entirely ignorant of the biifi- 
 nefs of fairs and markets j even when diey 
 have made confiderable progrels in the buli- 
 nefs of the farm. — This is my only motive for 
 giving the minutis of the Minutes as they (land 
 in my Minute-book -, for on a fubjefl: fo to- 
 tally new as this is, I believe, to written agri- 
 culture, every incident becomes valuable ; I 
 mean to thofe, whom, in this particular, I moft 
 efpecially wifh to inform. 
 
 For obfervations on St. Faith's fair (1781), 
 fee MiN. 27, 
 
 O 4 For 
 
fOO MARKETS. 2^. 
 
 For obfervations on Holt fair, fee Min. 39. 
 
 For obfervations on Waldiam corn-market, 
 •fee Min. 80. 
 
 For obfervations on Aylefliam fair, fee 
 Min. 94. 
 
 For obfervations on Norwich clover-feed 
 market, fee Min. 10 i. 
 
 For obfervations on Walfham fair, fee 
 Min. 105. 
 
 For obfervations on Worftead fair, fee 
 Min. 107. 
 
 For obfei-vations on Ingham fair, fee 
 Min. 112. 
 
 For general obfervations on Norfolk fairs, 
 fee Min. 112. 
 
 For obfervations on Cav/fton fh^epfliow, fee 
 Min. 123. 
 
 For obfervations on St. Faith's fair (1782), 
 fee Min. 134. 
 
 For fundry obfervations on Smithfield mar- 
 ket, fee the article Bullocks. 
 
 27, WHEA-^. 
 
$7? NORFOLK, 201 
 
 WHEAT. 
 
 IN TAKING a fyftematic view of the Gulr 
 ^e of this crop, it will be proper to confider, 
 
 1. The fpecies of wheat ufually cultivated 
 
 in Norfolk, 
 
 2. The foils on which it is ufually grown*, 
 J. The fucceffion ; or the crop, &c. which 
 
 wheat ufually fucceeds, in the manao-e^ 
 ment of Eaft Norfolk. 
 
 4. The foil proceis, ^ 
 
 5. The manure procefs, I 
 
 6. The feed procefs, | "^ pr^cllce for 
 
 7. The vegetating procefs, ^ ^^^-^i^^Nor^ 
 
 8. The harveft procefs, ^^^^• 
 
 9. The farmyard procefs, 
 
 10. The markets, for wheat. 
 
 I. The species.— The long-eflablifhed 
 *' dock" of this country is the " Norfolk red," 
 ^which is faid to weigh heavier than any other 
 
 • The Manures applied for Whsat appear under 
 art. Manur£ Process. 
 
 wheat 
 
2C2 W HEAT. 27. 
 
 wheat which has yet been introduced into the 
 counn\ Its appearance, however, is very 
 much againil this aflertion : it is a very long 
 bodied, thin grain, partaking more of the 
 ihape of rye, than of well bodied wheat. 
 
 A favorite new ipeeies has lately been intro- 
 duced, under the name of the " Kentifli white 
 co(h." The grain is plump and red ; but the 
 " cofb," or hufk, white j refembling very 
 much the velvet wheat of Surrey and Kent. 
 The " call," or yield of this is allowed to be 
 greater than that of die " old red," — and the 
 millers begin to like it nearly as wellj — 
 though, on its firft introduction, ibme fifteen or 
 twenty years ago, they were, or affected to be, 
 prejudiced againft it. 
 
 A remarkable circumftancc is faid to take 
 place, refpefting this fpecies of wheat, when 
 ibwn repeatedly in Norfolk. Though the colh 
 be pcrfecdy white on its mtroduction, and 
 though it be ftudiouily kept fcparare from the 
 red cofh i yet, by being repeatedly fown, year 
 after year, it lofes the fairneis of its hufks ; 
 which firft become " pied," and, at length, 
 change entirely to a clear red, refembling thofe 
 of the old Norfolk ilock. I have feen them in 
 
 thci(> 
 
tj, NORFOLK. 203 
 
 their pied ftate, and have been afTured by men 
 of obfervation, that they acquire this Itate, 
 though kept perfetlly feparate from the red 
 colh variety. If this be really a fa6t, it is a< 
 ftriking evidence of the power of foils and 
 fituations, in eftabliOiing what the botanifts 
 call varieties J in tlie vegetable kingdom. 
 
 II. The soil. — In this, as in moll other 
 Piftridis, wheat is fown on almoft every Ipecies 
 pf foil, But the farmers here, as in other 
 places, too frequently find out, at harveft, that 
 a full crop of barley, or oats, would have paid 
 them better than half a crop of. wheat. 
 
 In the northern parts of this Didrict there 
 are many very light-land farms, — and fome in 
 the central parts of it — which pafs under the 
 denomination of barley farms : and on which 
 the occupiers -judicioufly content tliemfelvea 
 with a fmall proportion of wheat. 
 
 But die fouthern parts of the Diftrid, and 
 the fouth-eall parts of the county in general, 
 enjoy a ftronger, richer foil, well adapfed to 
 the propagation of wheat. 
 
 III. The succession. — In the regular courfe 
 pf hufbandry, rlie wiieat-crop fucceeds invaria- 
 bly 
 
204 WHEAT. fy, 
 
 bly thtfecond year's lay ; but, as has been al- 
 ready intimated, the regular fuccefTion is in a 
 greater or fmaller degree broken into by far- 
 mers in general i and it fometimes happens that 
 wheat is Town on the firfi year's lay — fome- 
 times after ^^^j, or after buck harvcfted or buck 
 plcivcd under, or turnepSy or fometimes on a 
 " right-out fummerly," or, Jummer fallow. 
 But it may be faid, without hazard, that three 
 fourths, perhaps nine tenths, of the wheat fown 
 in this part of the Didrid, is fown on thejeccnd 
 year's lay, 
 
 IV. Soil process. — This varies with the 
 nature and ftate of the foil, — the nature of the 
 preceding crop, — the circumftance of the farm, 
 and the fkill and judgment of the farmer. 
 
 1. TI^.c prevailing praflice is to make a 
 ^* backv;ard fummerly" — a fort of autumnal 
 piloi;; — of the SECOND year's lay. 
 
 When pafturage is fcarce, the fecond year's 
 lay is fometimes fown on the '< flag;" that is, 
 upon the unbroken furrow of ciie -plowing, 
 ffpccially if the feed he intended to be dibbled 
 in. But, for broadcaft lowing, neither the 
 4cpth of the Norfolk foil (except in fome few 
 
 places) 
 
ft;. N O R F O L IC. 205 
 
 places) nor the conflru6lion of the Norfolk 
 plow, will admit, with any degree of proprie- 
 ty, of this (in many parts of the kingdom) 
 moft excellent pra6lice. 
 
 The backward summerlv of the second 
 year's lay, is made in difterent ways. 
 
 Some farmers plow only twice j rice -balk- 
 ing the firft time very fleet. When the flag is 
 rotten, they harrow acrofs and let on the 
 muck ; and, the lafl; plowing, go a full depth ; 
 laying the foil in " warps," or wide flat beds, 
 on which they fow the feed abovefurrow. — ' 
 This, however, is confidered, as it really is fjr 
 wheat, a flovenly pradice. 
 
 Others plow three times : the firfl fleet ; the 
 fecond a full pitch ; the lafl: of a mean depth ; 
 with which lafl: plowing the feed is plowed in 
 underfurrow. The foil is harrowed between 
 the plowings, and the dung in this cafe fee 
 upon the fecond harrowing, and plowed in 
 ivith the feed. 
 
 But the praftice of thofe who excel in their 
 profeflion, and who are, in their neighbour- 
 hood, looked up to as fuperior hufl:>andmen, is 
 this: 
 
 His 
 
io6 W HEAT. ip 
 
 His lecond year's lays having finilhed his 
 bullocks, and brought his (lock, cattle, and 
 horfcs, through the ""^re part of the fummer} 
 and his ftrfl year's lays having been mown, and 
 ready to receive his (lot : ; the farmer begins 
 to break up his " c-land" for wheat, by rice- 
 balking diem as fleet as pofTible, fo as to carry 
 an even regular furrow ; embracing the op- 
 portunity when the furface has been moiiren- 
 cd by a fummer (hower. 
 
 In this rice-balked (late his fummerlres re- 
 main until the w: ne of harveft ; when his corn 
 beina; chiefly in, and his horfes more at leifure, 
 he harrov.-s, and afterwards plows his fummer- 
 lies acrofs the balks of the finl plowing; 
 bringing them up, this fecond plov.ing, the 
 full depth of the Ibil. 
 
 On this plowiner he fpreads his manure, 
 harroNS's, and immediately "fcales" it in by 
 another fleet plowing. 
 
 This tiiird plowing has feveral good effefls : 
 it mixes, efte(ftually, the foil and chc manure, 
 —cuts ofi^and pulverizes the upper ibrfacesof 
 the furrows of the fccond plowing ^ and by 
 doing this, mod e.Tedually eradicates or fmo- 
 thcis luch veeis as had efca^^d the two for- 
 mer 
 
27. NORFOLK. 207 
 
 mer earths ; and, at the fame time, by ex- 
 cluding the air from the under parts of thofe 
 furrows, renders the whole as mellow and fri- 
 able as a fummer fallow. 
 
 In this ftate it lies until feed-time j when it 
 is harrowed, rolled, fown, and gathered up 
 into ridges of fuch width as is agreeable to the 
 nature of the foil, or the fis.iil or fancy of the 
 farmer. 
 
 Thole of fix fjrrows are the molt prevalent; 
 but there are very good farmers who lay their 
 wheat land into four-furrow, and others into 
 ten-furrow, ridges j which laft they execute in 
 a ftyle much fuperior to what might be ex- 
 pefted from wheel plows. 
 
 But the fix-furrow work is that in which the 
 Norfolk plowm.en txctl. It is generally per- 
 formed with three plows in this manner : the 
 firfl: lets out the ridge, the fecond takes the 
 middle bout, and the laiT: makes up the fur- 
 rows. The bell plowman is of courfe put 
 laft, the fecond firft, and the word takes the 
 middle bout. The ftrll plit is fometimes turn- 
 ed partially back by the fecond, by letting the 
 off-horfe go back in the firft-made furrow; and 
 ibmetimes the firll furrow is left entirely open, 
 
 bv 
 
2o8 WHEAT. ar* 
 
 by letting the oft horfe go back cut of the firll 
 furrow. The lail way makes the ridges widcri 
 and rids more ground j but die firft ftirs die 
 ground better, and is thought to diftribute the 
 feed more evenly. The plowman who goes lafl 
 and makes up the furrows, divides his horfcs 
 by means of a long "horfetree," or middle 
 whipping ; fb that each of them takes an out- 
 fide furrow, while he and his plow alone occu- 
 py the furrow he is making up. This anlwcra 
 two good purpofes : — it gives the plowman a 
 free fight, and prevents the horfcs from treading 
 the ridges. If die foil be wet and poachy, 
 fome judicious farmers divide the middle- 
 bout nodes in the fame manner. The hories 
 are of courfe rather aukward at the firll fetting- 
 ofFj but they foon become tractable, and much 
 more fteady than wiien tliey dagger about, and 
 jofUe each other, in the fame furrow. The 
 four-furrow ridges arc plowed in afmiiiar man^ 
 ner by nvo plows. 
 
 There are feveral advantages arife from this 
 method of hying-up narrow ridges. The 
 whole bufinefs is carried on in regular progref- 
 fion. The fcedfman begins on one fide of 
 ihe clofe, and fows towards the oiher with 
 
 as 
 
?;. NORFOLK. 209 
 
 CIS little interruption as he could do for one plow. 
 l»"or although two or three plows are employed 
 in the llime'piece, there are no freih fettings-out, 
 ncr any uneven woik at lalt; fave fuch as is 
 necellarily given by the figure of the field. — 
 There is much time faved- (more efpecially 
 when wheel plows arc ufcd) in altering the 
 plows ', and tlic whole piece is equally well 
 executed -, each ridge being fct out, and eadi 
 furrow made up, by the fame men. 
 
 The Norfolk ploAvmen, v/hen plowing in' 
 wheat, carry very narrow furrows; fo. that a 
 fix-furrow ridge, fet but by lettiiig the o-i-horfe 
 return /« the firft-made furrow, does not mea- 
 fure more than three feet eight or nine inches. 
 
 2. After the first year's lay, the feed 
 is generally fown on the flag. 
 
 3. After peas, the" farmer gives one two 
 three or four plowings, and manages in every 
 other refpcct the fame as he does after the fe- 
 cond year's lay. ''^^' <^^-' 
 
 4. After buck harvested, helsmore con- 
 fined in refpedl of time, and feldom gives more 
 than two, fometimcs but one, plowing. If he 
 plow twice, he fpreads his manure on the ftub- 
 ble, fcalei it in fleet, harrows, rcHs, fows and 
 gathers up the foil a mean depth into narrow 
 
 Vol. I. P work. 
 
2i» WHEAT. 17. 
 
 work, ir he plow but once, he, in like man- 
 ner, fpreads his manure on the ftubble ; and, 
 what feems very extraordinary to a ftranger, 
 fows his feed among his manure 3 plowing die 
 whole in together, and gathering his Toil up 
 into narrow ridges j as if it had undergone die 
 operations of a fallow. 
 
 There is, however, one very great evil at- 
 tends this method of fowing wheat after buck 1 
 efpecially where rooks are numerous* The 
 buck which is neceflarily (hed in harvefting the 
 crop, and which is, of courfe, plowed under 
 with the manure and feed-wheat, vegetates the 
 Gicceeding fpring, and becomes a weed to the 
 wheat y and, what is of flill worfe confequence, 
 Ihould rooks get a haunt of it, they will not 
 only pull the buck up by the roots, but the 
 wheat plants with it; fo as to leave large 
 patches almoft deftitute of plants. But, by 
 tirft fcaling in the manure and ftlf-lbwn buck 
 very fleet, and harrowing the furface fine, die 
 buck vegetates, and the evil confequence is 
 thereby, in a great meafure, prevented. 
 
 5. After buck plowed under. — This, as 
 well as the preceding, is a favorite pradice 
 among good farmers ; and the Norfolk plow- 
 men perform.the operatwn of plowing the crop 
 
 under, 
 
27'. k 6 R F O L K. iii 
 
 under, in a rriafterly ftyle. They Tweep it 
 down by the means of a brufh or broom, made 
 of rough bufhes fixed to the front of the 
 *' fickle-tow j" or fore tackle of the plow, be- 
 tween the wh(?els -, (6 as to bear down the buck 
 without lifting the wheels of the plow from the 
 ground. To prevent this, when the buck is 
 flout, it is firft broken down by a roller, going 
 the fame way as the plow is intended to go; 
 This operation is performed when the plants 
 are in their fulleft blootn. 
 
 The iiirface is, fometimeSi harrowed and 
 rolled after plowing : fometimes left rough : 
 the former is perhaps the mofl eligible ma- 
 nagement. 
 
 In either cafe, the foil t-ernains in that flate 
 until after harveft, when it is harrov/ed and 
 taken up a full pitchi acrofs the warps. 
 
 At fecdtime, it is harrowed, — rolled,— fow- 
 cd,- — and ufually gathered up into ** narrow 
 work," in the manner above defcribed. 
 
 6. After summer fallow. — Thepraftice 
 of fummer fallowing feldom occurs in this 
 DifcHdt; — turnepsor buck being generally in- 
 troduced as a fiibftitute for it. However, when 
 l?nd has been worn down by cropping, and is 
 much run to " beggary" and weeds, a " right- 
 P 2 out 
 
212 
 
 W H E A T. 27. 
 
 out lummerly" is efteemed by many judicious 
 huPjandmen as good management , 2nd is, i: 
 k-rms, fmce the late failure of the turnep crops, 
 tcainino; ero'jnd every year. 
 
 The clofe of a iiimmer fallow is the fame as 
 that of a backward fummerly:" the manure is 
 Icaled in with the lafl plowing but one, the feed 
 plowed in moderately deep, and the foil ga- 
 thered into narrow ridges by the lafl plowing. 
 7. i\?TER TURNEPS. — In general, die foil is 
 plowed a mean deprii, and the -feed fown over 
 the firft plowing : if, however, the turneps be 
 get off early, the weeds are fometimes firft fcaled 
 in, and the feed plow'!d under with a fecond 
 piowin-^ ; patherins: the foil into narrow ridges. 
 General OBSERVATION. — Excellent as the 
 Norfolk practice of hufbandry may be, taken 
 all in all, it feems in this place necefTaiy to 
 obfcrve, that akiiough there are fbme fupcrior 
 huibandmen who put in their wheat crops in a 
 mefterly ftyle, a very confiderable part of die 
 land fowa with wheat in Norfolk, is flovened 
 over in a mofl unfarmerlike manner. 
 
 The fecond year's lays in general are broken 
 up too late, and receive too inccnfiderable a 
 portion of tillage to bring them in:o a hufoand- 
 
 like Hare* • 
 
 Wcrs 
 
27- 
 
 K O R F O L K. 21 
 
 Were a KentiHi, or any other good wheat, 
 farmer, who h?.d heard much of the fuperiority 
 of the Norfolk hufbandr)-, to ride througli Eaft 
 Norfolk iii the month of November, he would 
 experience fome difnculty in conceiving him- 
 felf travelling in a country of which fame has 
 fo long fooken loudly, li is true, he would 
 not unfrequently be llruck with a beautitui 
 object ; — a kind of fi'ited frize-work, or any 
 other ornament to the face of the country hi^ 
 fancy might piflure to him ; bu: he would not 
 lefs frequently be difgufied with the fight Oi 
 fields which he would iitde fufpefl, on a cur- 
 fory view, to be fown with wheat. He would 
 rather, at firft Hglit, take them for rough fal- 
 lows, on which iheep had been foddered with 
 hay they could not eat ; the whole furface be- 
 ing flrewed with tufts of roots and items of 
 withered gralTes, and with grafly clods of every 
 fhape and dimenfion *. 
 
 * There are, nevertlielefs, mea who argue in favor of 
 this management; and, were it prudent to fow wheat on 
 very light " running fands," it might be proper to prc- 
 ferve part of the " wreck," as it is well termed, lo pre- 
 vent the fand from being run together by heavy rains; 
 but foils cf this nature are, as has been already obfcrvjd, 
 generally i:nproper for wheat. 
 
 P 3 In 
 
214^ W H L A T. zj. 
 
 In their culture of barley and of tumeps^ the 
 Norfolk hulbandmen, no doubt, excel -, but, 
 taken collefHvely as a body of profefTion^l 
 men, they cannot, defcrvediy, be ranked 
 among v.-h?at farmers. 
 
 Neverthelefs, there are, as I flatter myfelf 
 fully appears by the Fjregoing detail, forp,e 
 huflrandmen in Norfolk who merit no part of 
 this cenfurc; their management being, per- 
 haps, the bell that art can devife for the foil 
 they afl upon : while, therefore, I condemn 
 them as a body (for reafons which I flatter 
 myfelf are obvious), I mean to except, with all 
 due refpefl, a number of individuals. 
 
 V. The manure process. — Land which 
 has been recently marled or clayed, requires no 
 further addition; — nor has land which has re- 
 ceived fifteen or twenty loads of duns: and 
 mould for tumeps, — the firll year's lay having 
 been teathed in autumn, and the fecond fed 
 off, — any need of another drefling for wheat. 
 
 Where the foil is good, and the wheat apt to 
 run too much to draw, fome few judicious 
 farmers fet their manure upon the young 
 clover, thereby checking the effed of rank- 
 jiefs to the wheat. 
 
 But 
 
27. NORFOLK. 115 
 
 But the moft general praftice is to fpread 
 the manure upon the broken ground, in the 
 manner defcribed in the laftfeftion ; or, if the 
 feed be fown upon the flag, to fpread it on the 
 turf and plow it under j or to fpread it on the 
 plowed furface, and harrow it in with the feed, 
 as a topdreflliig. 
 
 The laft I have feen done in the following 
 judicious manner. Three or four bouts are 
 firil plowed in the middle of each warp, form- 
 ing a narrow bed of plowed ground wide 
 enough to fct the manure upon, but not too 
 wide to be received between the wheels of the 
 cart; which, in fetting on the muck, run ir\ 
 the plow-furrows on each fide the bed. The 
 manure is then fet in hillocks upon thefe plow- 
 ed flips i the warps are finiflied plowing ; the 
 manure fpread over them ; — the feed fown ;— • 
 and the whole harrowed in together. 
 
 By this roanagement the manure goes on 
 with eafe to the team, and without the newly- 
 plowed ground being cut to pieces by the 
 wheels of the cart, or torn about by the feet of 
 the horfes j for the cart being always, as it were, 
 on the nail, the horfes have no obftiacles to 
 ftniggle againft:. In a wet feafon this pradice 
 is Angularly eligible. 
 
 V^ The 
 
Ji6 W HEAT. 27. 
 
 The quantity of manure fct on for wheat is 
 generally let's than that fet on for turneps. Of 
 dungi eight to t n can-loads (as much as three 
 horfcs can conveniently draw) an acre is reck- 
 oned a tolerable drcfTing. 0{ Itmcy three to 
 four chaldrons an acre. Oi rapecahy a ton to 
 three acres. Oi Jocty about forty bufheis an 
 acre. 
 
 For obfervations on xhtj^eciei of manure for 
 wheat, (ee the article manure process. 
 
 VI. Seed process. — In defcribing this de- 
 partment of the culture of wheat, it v/iU be ne- 
 tcflary ta perfpicuiry, to confidcr, feparately, 
 
 1 . The tirhe of fov, ing ; 
 
 2. The preparation of the feed ; 
 
 3. The method of fowing -, 
 
 4. The quantity of feed j 
 
 c. The method of coverino^ ; 
 6. The adjuHment of the foil. 
 
 I. The time of sowing. — An ortiiodoj^ 
 farmer never thinks of beguining " whcnt-fcel" 
 until after St Faith's fair i which is held on the 
 17th of Oclober. So prevalent, indeed, is 
 this cuiloni, tliat, perhapSj nin& of ten of the 
 farmers in Eafl Norfolk txtgin to fov/ wheat 
 
 bcrv^eei) 
 
gy. NORFOLK. 217 
 
 between the 17th and 24th of October; — and 
 continue till the beginning of December; — 
 fometimes even until Chriftmas. If they 
 finifh in November, they confider themfelves 
 in very good time. Wheat fown in the ordi- 
 nary broadcaft manner is, however, herefpoken 
 of: for dibbhng or fetting of wheat, Michael- 
 mas is efteemed the bed: time. 
 
 The reaibn which the Norfolk hufbandmen 
 give for fowing their wheat fo late, compared 
 with the practice of other lightland counties, is, 
 that their early fown wheats are liable to be 
 winterproud, and run too much to ftraw; 
 whereas their late -fown crops afford lefs foaw, 
 but a greater " call ;" more efpecially on land 
 which has been recently marled. 
 
 This laft idea, perhaps, accounts for the 
 origin of their prefent time of fowing. The 
 prefent practice of hufbandry, in Norfolk, was 
 eftabliflied a century, perhaps two or three cen- 
 turies, ago ; and has been handed down from 
 father to fon with but very little improvement 
 or alteration. The prefent time of fowing 
 was, of courfe, fixed when the land was full of 
 marl, and was no doubt judicioufly founded on 
 experience. Marl, however, has now, in iome 
 
 meafure. 
 
iiS \V HEAT. 27. 
 
 mcafare, lofk its efficacy ; and i: fccins pjobs- 
 b'c, thit no: only the time of rovviiig wheat, 
 but the vcr; lyile.m of Norfolk hufbandry v/ill 
 require, ere long, to undergo a confiderable 
 change. Suffice it, however, in this place to 
 i.iy, that there are fome fcnfiblc, judicious 
 men, who already fee the folly of waiting for 
 St. Faith's fair, before tliey begin to fow their 
 wiicac. 
 
 1. Preparing the ^eed. — The ordinary 
 method of preparation is to fteep the feed in 
 brine, and candy it with lime, in away fimilar 
 to t!iat practifed in other counties ; and, pro- 
 bably, with the fame effecb. 
 
 There are, however, men in this county 
 who fpeak wi;h firmnefs and confidence of that 
 (liey can prevent, by a preparation of the feed, 
 the fiTiut or " brand" of wheat. They, likc- 
 v^ife, feem clearly of opiiuon, that all wheat 
 would naturally become fmurt}-, if not cl^eck- 
 cti by Jl p.rop.-r mnnagemer.t of rii? feed ; but 
 ^\^t were it become^ through neglect, as black 
 as fn^ut itfcif, t!iey would engage in three ycarS 
 time to effccl a radical cure. The firil year, it 
 ^s allowed, there will many grains efcape ; the 
 llrcond, I'^me ; but the thir.i }f .»rj there will no: 
 
 remain 
 
57. NORFOLK. 219 
 
 Fv'^main In the \«.-hole crop one " brandy" ker- 
 nel. 
 
 This is fpeaklng clofely to the point, nd 
 ileferves a hearing. The procefs, though fim- 
 ple, is truly chemical; and the idea, I believe, 
 totally new to written agriculture. 
 
 Their method is this : Inftead of diflolving 
 the Ul: in a large proportion of water, in order 
 to form a brine to deep the wheat in ^ it is 
 difiblved in a very fmall quantity of water j — 
 barely enough to bring on tiie foiurion. With 
 this liquid j'alt the lime is ilaked ; and with this 
 ikline preparation, in its hotteji ftate, the wheat 
 js candied i having previoufly been moiflened, 
 for the purpoie, with pure water. 
 
 \ ihall not, here, comment on this procefs j 
 but only obfcrve, that the wheat crops of the 
 perfons who pride themfcives 0:1 this praftice, 
 ^re, in general, freer irorn fmut, than thofe of 
 their neighbours. 
 
 J. The mode ofsowing.— Broadcaft is the 
 prevailing practice. Dibbling, or fetting, is 
 in much ufe on the Suffolk fide of the county. 
 — Dibbling a.nd fluting rollers are alfo ufed by 
 fome few individuals. But what is remarka- 
 ble, drilling is, in a great meafure, unknown ;n 
 
 Norfolk ; 
 
120 \V H E A T. 
 
 27. 
 
 Norfolk i notwithHanding the foil is fo pecu- 
 liarly adapted to that pracTtice. 
 
 It appears under the foil procefs, that plow- 
 ing in the feed underfurrow, is the favorite 
 jTiode of fowing wheat m Eaft Norfolk. It is 
 done in this manner. 
 
 The land, having been harrowed down level, 
 and the furface rendered fmooth by the roller, 
 the head plowman (if at leifure) " fees out the 
 warps ;" that is, marks out the whole piece into 
 narrow divifions, or ilripes, of about a ftatute 
 rod in width. This he dots by hanging up 
 his plow in fuch a manner, that no part of it 
 touches the ground except the heel, wliich 
 Aides upon the furface, and makes a guide- 
 mark for the feedfman. If the plows are all 
 employed, the feedlman will let out the warps 
 himfelf, by drawing a piece of wood or other 
 thing behind him, fo as to make a mark to fow 
 
 by. 
 
 This method of fetting out the feedfman's 
 work, v^ien lie has no interfurrows to fow by, 
 is veiy accurate, and much preferable to the 
 KentiHi method of fowing, by (licks let up in 
 the form of a lane ; for, there, much depends 
 upon the eye \ whereas, by the Norfolk m.ethod, 
 
 thcj 
 
27- 
 
 NORFOLK. 221 
 
 the fecdfman fees to an Inch how far he has 
 fown, and where each handful ought to fall ; he, 
 of coiirfe, leaves no flips unfown> nor gives 
 others double feed. 
 
 If the foil be intended to be gathered into 
 fix-furrow ridges, the feedfman fows, on the 
 warps, about two thirds of his feed; — if, into 
 four-furrow work, fomewhat lefs than two 
 thirds *. 
 
 The plowman then begins to fet out his 
 ridges, the fame way that the warps are drawn; 
 but without any regard either as to their 
 ftraightnefs, or their width j they being intend- 
 ed merely to direcfb the feedfman, not the 
 plowman. In fix-furrow work, the middle- 
 bout plowman follows next, and after him the 
 feedfman, {training the remainder of his feed 
 in the trenches made by the middle-bout plow ; 
 which is called '*' fovsing the farrov.-s." The 
 head plovvman follows lafl, — covers up tiie 
 feed, and finiihes the v/ork. In four-furrow 
 work, the two firlV furrov;s are fo'.vn, and the 
 1-idgets made up in a fimilar v/ay. 
 
 • See MiN". 67, on this operation. 
 
 The 
 
272 \V H E A T. 1/. 
 
 The ufe of fowing the furrows is to give the 
 outfides of the ridgets dieir due proportion of 
 Iced ; thereby preventing the iaterfurrou-s from 
 being left too v/ide and naked of plants.— 
 Some farmers fow only one of the ourfide 
 furrows ; namely, that toward the worked 
 ground; and this is undoubtedly the more 
 requifite bufinels j for the feed on this fide 
 having been all gathered up by the preceding 
 furrow, the crumb or fhovelling of the inter- 
 furrow is left naked; and there would, of 
 courfe, be no feed buried under it, if it were 
 not thus fown by hand, in tlie preceding plov/- 
 furrow. 
 
 In fix-furrow work, three plows employ a 
 fcedfman, and finifii about three acres a day. 
 In four-furrow work, two plows find employ- 
 ment for a {eedfman, — there being, in this 
 cafe, more furrows to be fown, — and nnifh 
 about two acres. 
 
 The Hibbliriy "dibbing," or fitting of wheat, 
 is confined principally to the country about 
 Wyndham, Atriebur)', Buckenham, Harling, 
 &c. In the other Diftricls of Norfolk it is 
 but litde known, and no where prj^'ifed -, 
 though fomerimes tried by way of experiment. 
 
 The 
 
2/. NORFOLK. 223 
 
 The propriety of the practice depends upon 
 circumftances -, fuch as the price of labour, the 
 price of the feed, and the quahiy of the foil. 
 There fcems, however, one thing always ef- 
 fentially needful ; that is, a good foil. And 
 this may, in fome meafure, account for the flow 
 progrefs which it has made in the more nor- 
 thern parts of Eail Norfolk ; but why it 
 ihould not gain ground in the Blowficld, 
 South-Wallhcim, and Flegg Hundreds, is a 
 matter of furprize. Perhaps, nothing but tl:e 
 lan<5tion of cuftom and fafnion is wanted to 
 render it, in this well foiled quarter of die 
 county, the univerfal practice. 
 
 For a full account of this procefs, fee t.'ie 
 MiN. 23. 26. 28. 
 
 77je DiblUng Roller is made fomev.hatfinil- 
 lar to the common fpiky roller; with, hov.-- 
 ever, thefc diftinctions : it is in itfcif fnorcci-, 
 and the fpikes, inflead of ftanding perp^^ndi- 
 cular to the circumt'crence, are bent obliquely 
 thereto, that they may leave fmooth and clean 
 indentures, without pulling up or breakinu- the 
 flags. Between each row of fpikes is a fcraper- 
 to difengage the roller from the mould, wliich 
 is apt to (lick between the fpikes, and Wi'iich 
 
 in 
 
224 '^V- HEAT. 2f4 
 
 in moift weather renders i: wholly ufciefs. — 
 The feed is fown broadcaft over the inden- 
 tures, and fwept in with a bufli-harrow. 
 
 I have Iccn wheat come up very well after 
 the fpiky roller ; but an implement which i 
 fhowerof rain renders ufciefs, feems ill-adapted 
 to die bufinefs of fowing wheat in November*. 
 
 4. Quantity of se^d. — Three biirtiels an 
 acre, broadcall, is the favorite quantity of 
 feed, wthout much regard being had to the 
 time of fowing. 
 
 This accounts in fame mcafure for the want 
 of fuccefs in the early fown wheats. Three 
 bufliels of feed fown in September is equal tp 
 four or five bufhels fown the latter end of 
 November. It is no wonder, then, • that the 
 fbraw fliould prove flender, and the grain light: 
 for the plants being too numerous, and thefoil 
 weak and fhallow, though perhaps in fufli- 
 cient heart to pufh the plants through the win- 
 ter and fpring, the vigour of the loil is fpenf 
 before harveft-, and the earsof courfe abridged 
 of half their load. Whereas, had there been 
 a due proportion of plants, the exhauftion 
 during v.'intcr and fpring would hav? becnle(s, 
 and the ftrength of the ioil referved for die 
 • The fluting roller I did not meet wiih. 
 
 more 
 
^7. NORFOLK, 22$ 
 
 hiore material pufpofe of perfecting the plants 
 at harveft. 
 
 5. CoviRixG THE SEED.— The feed fowri 
 over the rough furrows of the firft or fecond 
 plowing is covered in the ufual manner with 
 tincd harrows :^nerallv with two fmall har- 
 rows and two horfes led by a hoy, and fome- 
 times guided with a plow line j the man or 
 boy following the harrows to lift them up, and 
 difengage them from the rubbifh, which too 
 frequently incumbers them. 
 
 That ibwn after the hand dibbles or the 
 'dibbling roller is fwept in with a bulh-harrow^ 
 made of a gate, hurdle, &c. wattled with 
 thorns or other buihes. 
 
 6. Adjusting the soir. — The fubfoil of 
 Norfolk being in. general of an abibrbent 
 nature, crofs water-furrows are in many in- 
 ilances unnecejGTar)^ : however, where the fub- 
 foil is a brickearthj which is not urifrequently 
 the cafe, crofs-furrowing becomes abfolutely 
 neceflary to good management, though not 
 always put in praftice. 
 
 Some neat hufbandmen roll their ^- wheat- 
 riggs" immediately after fowing. A common 
 roller takes two ridges at once, the horfes draw- 
 
 Vol, L q, ing 
 
126 W H E A T. 27. 
 
 ing in the furrow between them. This gives 
 an immediate neatnels ; renders the crop beau- 
 tiful at firft coming up ; anticipates the labour 
 of rolling in the fpring ; and thereby precludes 
 the danr^r of unlockins: tJie weed iceds at 
 tliat vegetative feafon of the year. 
 
 Vn« The vegetating process. — Hand- 
 *ii'eeding is the principal labour beflowed upon 
 the wheat-crop between feed-time and harveil. 
 If the interfurrov.-s be wide and thin of plants, 
 or if the crop be orherwife broken, the bee is 
 fometimes, but ver)' rarely, ufed. 
 
 Pafluring zvheaf in the fpring, though it can- 
 not be called a common practice, is, never- 
 thelefs, frequently cone ; efpecially when 
 fpring food is peculiarly fcarce, as it was in the 
 fpring of 1732; when almoft all the wheats 
 in the country were fed off : not by fheep, as 
 is ufually the cafe, but by every other fpecies 
 of live ftock. See Min. 106. 
 
 If wheat abound with " red weed" — pop- 
 pies— /ic7>f are frequently turned upon it to 
 eat out this troublefome weed ; which they 
 will do, with little or no damage to the 
 wheat. 
 
 For 
 
i^ NORFOLK. 2l^ 
 
 For the method of fearing rooks \ and 
 obfcrvarions on game ; fee the general lub^ed 
 
 VEGZTATIN-G PROCESS. 
 
 Vni. The harvest process. — i. The 
 
 TIME OF WHEAT HARVEST, in Noifolk, IS 
 
 fcmewhat late. The fcafonsare later, here, than 
 they are in the more fouthern provinces, and 
 the Norfolk farmers, in general, fufier their 
 v.-heat to Hand until very ripe. Li fomt of 
 their fmall " woodbound pighdes," thev are, 
 indeed, under a degree of necefiity of letrino- 
 It ftand until it can be cut and carried imme- 
 diately ; for Ihould it, in this fituadon, re- 
 ceive much wet in the fhock, Lhey would find 
 ir difficult to get it dry again, before it re- 
 ceived confiderable dam-^o^ 
 
 2. The METHOD OF HARVESTIN-G. WhzaT, 
 
 as has been obfen-ed, is fcldom cut by die 
 acre; every farmer providing harvcilmen 
 fjfncient to get in his crops. 
 
 It is, almoft uaiverfally, « fhorn" uidi 
 fickles i either mth or without teeth, as btft 
 fuits the hand or the fancy of die " Ihearer." 
 Of narrow work each man takes his ri<^cr - a 
 method which makes the work go on rceu- 
 CL 2 larly 
 
228 W H E A T. 
 
 27. 
 
 larly and with great convenlcncy to the work- 
 men. Some thnes each man binds his own corn ; 
 but more frequently, two-and-two lay together ; 
 the firll making the band, the latter binding 
 the fheaf. If they work fingly, they drive the 
 corn before them with their feet, until having 
 collected a flieaf, they fbop and bind it up. 
 This method is more expeditious than that 
 of delivering the Jiandfuls in detached reaps 
 or fhove?, wliich, in tliis narrow work, would- 
 be tedious to gather up -, but, in appearance 
 at lead:, it is wafteful, and at the fame time 
 conveys, to a flranger, an idea of llovenli- 
 nds. The bands are, in general, knotted j 
 the Iheaves made of indeterminate fizcs ; tied 
 loofely, with the band about the middle ; let 
 up in fliocks, as clofe as they can Hand, and 
 with generally a flieaf placed at each end, as 
 if iludioufly intending to exclude the air en- 
 tirely from getting into the fliock. No caps 
 or head (heaves are ever made ufe of. If t]ie 
 crop be tall, the Hubble is left eighteen inches 
 or two feet hi2;h. 
 
 Unworkmanlike as all this would feem to rt 
 man of Kent, the Norfolk reapers have one 
 qualification whicii, in lome meafure, atones 
 
 for 
 
%f. NORFOLK. 229 
 
 for their fins of undoubted flovenllnels : a 
 common hired harveflman, who is not work- 
 ing for himlelf, but for his mafter, will clear 
 with his own fickle, one day with another, 
 from two to three roods of wheat i in pro- 
 portion to the ftoutnefs of the crop. 
 
 If die fheaves receive much rain in the 
 fhock, they are, the firlt fine day, fet out 
 fingly, in order to have the benefit of the fun 
 and air ; which, in the clofe flate in which 
 the)r are ufually huddled together, it is impoffi- 
 ble for them to receive. This is by no means 
 fo tedious an operation as theory may fuo-cyeft ; 
 bur is, vwien the fheaves are very wet, an eli- 
 gible ejs:pedient. 
 
 3. An excellent regulation is common, in 
 this Diflricl, refpecling gleaners : every 
 parLli, orpaiillies in general, referving their 
 fcattered corn for their own parilhioners. This 
 is not only equitable i but refcues the farmers 
 from thoic clouds of gleaners, vvhich, in Ibme 
 countries, flroll about from parifli to parifh. 
 But, even with this regulation, the number of 
 gleaners which are Ibmetimes fjen colledled 
 together, is fhameful ; generally including a 
 number of ftrong healthy young women, wiio 
 Q^ 3 would 
 
230 WHEAT. %p 
 
 would be much more laudably employed, as 
 they are in other Diftrids, in afllfting to reap 
 the crop. Some farmers allow the gleaners 
 to follow the fliearers -, but, in general, they 
 are not permitted to enter the clofc until the 
 fliocks are out of it. 
 
 4. Laving up the wheat crop. Formerly 
 the wheat crop was put entirely into the fpa,- 
 cious barns, with which this DiflriLl abounds ; 
 a v/heat rick being a phenomenon : of late 
 years, hovvever, pillar frames have been con- 
 ilruftcd ; and wheat ricks are no\\' no longer 
 an uncommon fight. 
 
 5. Wheat stubbles. — Nor^vitliftanding 
 the length w'lich ftubble is generally left, it is 
 fcldom mown for ftable litter : the general prac- 
 tice being to throw turneps upon it in autumn, 
 and, when the bullocks have trampled it 
 down, to pull it into " rucks'Svith a pair of har- 
 rows, and carry it home as litter for the yards. 
 
 IX. The BARN. MAN AGEMEXT. -7— After what 
 has been laid already, on this fubjetb, under 
 the general head farmyard management, 
 little remains to be added here. 
 
 Whe« 
 
27- N O R F O L k. 
 
 231 
 
 Wheat flraw, being of lefs value, in Nor- 
 folk, than in moil other places ; owing to the 
 great quantity of reed Uied in thatching ; lefs 
 care is obferved in thrafhing wheat, here, 
 than in places where it is either fold for litter, 
 as about London, or v/here it is in general ufe 
 for thatch, as in mod parts of the kingdom : 
 even wihen it is intended for thatch, ir is 
 thralhed rough, and Ihook off, heads-and- tails : 
 it being the univerfal pradice of thatchers, 
 here, to blend their flraw, and ^razv their 
 chatcn. 
 
 X. Market. — This, alfo, has been noticed 
 in the general articles : fuffice it, therefore, 
 here to add, that Norfolk abounds with corn- 
 mills ; — the fmall ftrcams which are very- 
 abundant in this countr)^ are convenient fup- 
 plies for watermiils : befides which, num- 
 bers of windmills are difperfed over the face 
 of the country ; fome of them very capital 
 and coiUy. One lately ere«flcd m this Dlftricl 
 b faid to have coil t\\ clve hundred pounds. 
 
 For obfervadons on the eftevfl of berbery on 
 •jyheat, fee Mi N. 13. 
 
 CL4 For 
 
a3« WHEAT. 2X, 
 
 For an inftance of mo'xing wheat, feq 
 MiK. 14. 
 
 For an experiment ^^^th different manures 
 for wheat, fee Min. i3. 
 
 For an experiment on the mode o^ Jc'xlng^ 
 fee MiN. 19. 
 
 For the origin and method o{ Jetting wheat^ 
 fee MiN. 23. 
 
 For further obfer\^ations oa Jetting^ fee 
 Mix. 26 and 28. 
 
 For the method of pk-wwg for wheat againf^ 
 fbeafantSy fee Min. 41. 
 . For an inftance oijoijoing wheat hetweenfurt 
 TcWy fee Mix. 43. 
 
 For an exception to the common method 
 of jVdubig wheat in four-flirrow work, fee 
 Mix. 67. 
 
 For obfen'ations on the practice oi faftur^ 
 i»f wheat, fee Mi k. ic6. 
 
 For an experiment made by planting berbery 
 asrong wheat, fee Mi n. 133. 
 
 28. BARLEY, 
 
28. J^ O R F O L K. 233 
 
 BARLEY. 
 
 THIS SUBJECT, llkexvife, requires to be 
 flivided into the following articles : 
 
 I. 
 
 SpecieSj 
 
 6. Seed procefs. 
 
 n 
 
 Soil, 
 
 7 . Vegetating procels, 
 
 n 
 
 Succefilon, 
 
 8. Harvefl procefs. 
 
 4- 
 
 Soil procefs. 
 
 9. Barn management^ 
 
 5- 
 
 Manure procefs, 
 
 10. Market. 
 
 I. Species. — The common long-eared bar- 
 ley (hordeum imlgare) is the prevailing and al- 
 moft only fpecies of barley fown in this Dif-« 
 ^rid, 
 
 II. Soil. — The Norfolk foil is peculiarly 
 well adapted to this crop : even the lighteft 
 of it, if it be in fufficient heart, will bear tole- 
 rable barley , and the ftrongeft is not too heavy 
 for this grain i which is no where produced in 
 greater perfection than in Norfolk j \N'hofe 
 
 barley 
 
234 B A R L E y. 28. 
 
 barley is coveted for feed throughout the king- 
 dom. 
 
 m. Succession. — In the grind routine, 
 barley fucceeds wheat and tur):e*>s-y and in 
 fonTiC very light land farrr»s, it is fown inflead 
 of wheat, ^ktxthtjecond year's lay, 
 
 IV. Soil proce:3S. — i. Am?, wheat; — > 
 the ftubble having been trampled down \Axk 
 bullocks at turacps, and wheat-feel being 
 finifned, the farmer begins to " fcale in his 
 v/heat ftubbles" for a winter fallow for barley. 
 If the land lie in narrow work, the riagcts 
 are fplit j if in warps, the ground is Ifkcwife 
 plowed clean, but very fleet. The beginning 
 of March, the land is harrowed ; and, prefcndy 
 after, the farmer " takes up his wheat ilub- 
 bles," by a full-pitch crofs plowing j or, if the 
 fcafon be wet and the foil heavy, he reveries 
 the riJges. In April he harrows, and begins 
 " ftirring for barley," with another full-pitch 
 plowing, lengthway ; generally gathering the 
 foil, by this plowing, either into five-pace, or 
 into ten-pace warps } in which it lies until 
 feedtime -, — when it is harrowed ; rolled ; 
 
 fbwn ^ 
 
28, NORFOLK. 235 
 
 fown i plowed fleet j reverfing the warps, and 
 " flading down" the furrows, — fo as to render 
 the entire furface as even and level as may 
 be. 
 
 2. Afteh turneps, — the foil is generally- 
 broken up as fafl as the turneps are got off; 
 if early in winter, by rice- balking ; if late, by 
 a plain plowing. The general praftice, if 
 time will permit, is to plow three times ; the 
 firft fleet J the fccond full-pitch j the lafl: amean 
 depth ; v.idi which lafl: the feed is plowed in. 
 
 But when it is late before the turneps are 
 got off, different ways of management are fol- 
 lowed, according to the ftate of the foil, and 
 the feafon, and the judgment of the farmer.— 
 Sometimes the ground is plowed only once, 
 and the feed fown above j but more frequendy 
 it is broken by three plowings, as above -, not- 
 widifl:anding, perhaps, the farmer has'not more 
 than a week to perform tJicm in. 
 
 This at firfl: fight appears injudicious ma- 
 nagement : the plowings being fo quick upon 
 each other, neidier the root weeds have dme 
 to wither, nor the weed feeds to vegetate j yet 
 a principal part of die moifliure of the fcil (a 
 thing peculiarly valuable in Norfolk at that 
 
 time 
 
236 BARLEY. 2», 
 
 rime of the year) is necefTarily exhaufled. But 
 this being a frequent prafbice of fome of the 
 bell fanners in the Diflrict, we may reft af- 
 fured that two plowings and harrowings are not 
 wantonly thrown away. The Norfolk farmers 
 in general are mafters in the art of cultivating 
 barley. They feem fully aware of the tender- 
 nefs of this plant in its infant ftate, and of its 
 rootlings being unable to make the proper 
 progrefs in a compact or a cold foil : they 
 therefore ftrive by every means in their power 
 to render the foil open and pulverous. To 
 this intent it is fometimes two-Rirrov/ed, and 
 fometimes a fourth earth is given ; efpecially 
 in a cold wet feafon. 
 
 The backward fpring of 1782 tried their 
 fklll: fome lands were r»vo-furrowed nvice- 
 over^ laying the foil up in ridgets, dry and 
 hollow ; fo that two or three fine days fitted it 
 for the reception of the feed s breaking under 
 the feed-plowing as fine as alhes. 
 
 I^I'or is this caution confined to " tumep bar- 
 ley," but is extended more or lefs to " tlubble 
 barley j*' which, however, does not require fo 
 great a degree of care ; tiie foil in this cafe 
 f)eing kept open, in fome meafure, by the un- 
 
 diizefted 
 
28. !i O R F O L K. 23/ 
 
 digefted ftubble, and the roots of grafTes and 
 other weeds, which a turnep fallow is, or ought 
 to be free from. 
 
 This, perhaps, accounts fully for the fupe- 
 riority of ftubble barlies, over thofe produced 
 by a well tilled, well manured turnep fallow : a 
 myfterious faft, which cannot, perhaps^- be ex- 
 plained on other principle. 
 
 3. After lay, — the turf is generally 
 broken by a winter fallow, and the foil treated 
 in other refpcd, as after wheat; (For an excep- 
 tion fee MiN. 57.) 
 
 V. Manure process. — Barley is feldom. 
 manured for ; except when Ibwn after lay ; 
 when it is treated as wheat. After turneps, no 
 manure can be requifite ; nor after wheat, if 
 this has been manured for : if not, the turnep 
 crop following immediately, the barley is left 
 to take its chance ; unlefs the opportunity be 
 embraced for winter marling. 
 
 VI. Seed process. — i. time of sowing. 
 — Notwithftanding thedrynefs of the Norfolk 
 foil, barley may be laid to be fown late, in diis 
 Diftricl. There is lietle fown before the mid- 
 dle of April, and the feedtime fcldcm clofes 
 
 until 
 
23^ BARLEY. 2^. 
 
 until towards the middle of May. The time 
 of fowing, however, depends in fome meafure 
 on the fcaPjn J which, with refpeft to fowing 
 barley, is more attended to in Norfolk than 
 perhaps in all die world bcfide. Until Lin- 
 nasus hit upon the idea of fowing by die folia- 
 tion of trees, the republic of agriculture never 
 heard of any other guide to the time of fowing 
 than the almanack ; which is'ftill followed im- 
 plicitly in every Diftrift in this kingdom ex- 
 cept Norfolk: wliere a maxim, probably as old 
 as the prefent fyftem of huibandry, flicws that 
 her hufbandmen are not ini'ttentive to the fo- 
 liation of trees with refped to the proper fea- 
 fon of fovsingj their maxim importing, that 
 the fowing of barley ought to clofe y,\\i\\ the 
 foliation of the oak: — 
 
 " When the oak puts on his gollling grey, 
 " 'Tis time to fow barley nigiit and day s" 
 
 that is, when the oak puts on that fallow ap- 
 pearance which it does at the time the buds 
 are breaking, a few days previous to the ex- 
 panfion of the k-aves, no time fnould be loft in 
 getting die feed of barley into the ground ; 
 
 that 
 
48. NORFOLK. 
 
 239 
 
 that being, the happy jun6lure which ought to 
 be embraced. 
 
 In the backward Ipring of 1782, barley was 
 fown in June, with confidence, and with fuc- - 
 eels: I have, by me, a fample of exceedingly 
 good barley, produced from feed fown, by an 
 experienced hufbandman, the fourth and fifth 
 of June. See note to Min. 125, for remarks 
 on this incident. 
 
 1. Preparing the seed. — I never met 
 with an inflance either of forti^^ing it againfl: 
 difeafe, or of ftceping it to forward its vegeta- 
 tion m a dry feafon, or a backward feedcime. 
 This is ftrong evidence, though not a proofj 
 that fteeping barley, vrich intent to promote its 
 vegetation, has no beneficial efiea-. 
 
 3. The method of sov\-ixg, — All fown 
 broadcafl ; and aimoil all underfurrcw ! that 
 is, the furface having been fmoothed by the 
 harrow and roller, the feed is fown and plowed 
 under with a fhallow furrow: a circumftance 
 this, which, untill obfcrved it in Norfolk, had 
 never occurred to me, either in pradice or 
 theor\' ; though admirably adapted to a liglit 
 dry foil ; and, indeed, to any foil which is light 
 enough to produce good barley ; provided it 
 
 be 
 
•43 
 
 BARLEY. il 
 
 be rendi^red fuHiciently fine, and tb.t feed be 
 not buried too deep. 
 
 Whether through general cuftom, or from 
 particular experience, the Norfolk farmers arc 
 very partial to this method of putting in their 
 barley : however, if the feafon be wet, and 
 the foil cold and heavy, good farmers not un- 
 fi-equently fow barley above. And, in all pro- 
 bability, the diitinflion is well founded. In a 
 dry fpring and fummer, fowing under muft, to 
 all human reaibning; be eligible -, and m a cold 
 Ipringj or when the foil is rough with clods, 
 fowing above m.ay be equally good manage- 
 me^nt. Neverthelefs; I have knovrn a judicious 
 farmer give, under thofe circumftances, an 
 earth extraordinar)% radier than not have an 
 opportunity of plowing in his feed. 
 
 In a forv/ard fpring, and when the lad piece 
 of turneps happens to be eaten off late, die 
 oTound is fomenmes, at a pinchy obliged to 
 be plowed only once, and to be fo\v-n above ; 
 but, even in this cafe, there are men v/ho are 
 not at a lofs for an expedient. Inflead of turn- 
 in"- over the whole thicknefs of the foil at 
 once, they " two-furrow" h, and fow lef.reen i 
 in the manner defcribed in Mix. 43. 
 
 This 
 
i3. NORFOLK. 441 
 
 This method, if the under plit be fuffici- 
 bntly moifl and mellow to break kindly with 
 the liarrow, appears to be moft eligible ma- 
 nagement. 
 
 4i The quantity of seed. •— Three bufliels. 
 of barley an acre may be taken as the ncareft 
 medium quantity of feed, 
 
 5, 6. Covering, — ADjusTtNG. — Whether 
 or not grafs feeds be fown over the barley, the 
 fUrfaee is harrowed, prefently after the laft 
 plowing ; and, when the barley is up, run 
 over with a light roller. ^ ♦ 
 
 VII.Vegetatixg PROCESS.— Handweeded. 
 
 VIII. Harvest process. — i. Time of 
 Cutting. Barley, like wheat, is generally 
 fuffered to ftand until it be very ripe. 
 
 1, Method of cutting. — It is univerfally 
 moi^n intojwath ; — with a fmall bow fixed at 
 the heel of the fithe.— Cradles are not in ufe j 
 and the North-country method of fetting it up 
 in finglets, is unknown. 
 
 3. Method OF drying.— If barley receive 
 wet in the fwath, it is treated in a fmgular 
 method in Norfolk. It is not turned, but 
 
 Vol. I. R « lifted r 
 
142 B A R L E V. 2Tr. 
 
 " lifted :" — that is, the heads or ears are railed 
 from the ground, either with a fork or the 
 ttz&i of a rake ; thereby admitting the air 
 underneadi the hvaths j which, though thev 
 be fufiered to fall again immediately, do nor 
 fall fo dole to the ground as they lay before 
 they were lifted ; the air having free admifiion 
 under them. This method of hftins; is thoufrhr 
 to flop the ears from vegetating nearly equal 
 to that of turning ; v/hich requires more la- 
 bour; befides breaking and niffimg the 
 f.varffci which, by repeated turnings, lofe 
 their ftifFnefs, becoming v.'eak and flabby, 
 and liable to fall into clofe contad uith the 
 ground ; in which flite the corn prefently be- 
 gins to fprout. When the fwaths are become 
 thoroughly dr)', and ftiff onthe upper fide, 
 they are then turned, that the odier fide may 
 be got into the lame ilate ; and, if the wea- 
 ther be fuitable, rendered fit for 
 
 4. Cocking. — This is never done until a 
 fair profpeQ: of carrying ofiers idelf j it being 
 efceemed in Norfolk, as it is in the foutheni 
 counties, negligent management to leave bar- 
 ley all night in cock. I'he method of cock- 
 ing, or, as it is provincially, and more pro- 
 perly. 
 
iS. NORFOLK:. 
 
 243 
 
 peHy, called — " gathering," — is, in Norfolk, 
 performed in a particular manner. Some fmall 
 part may be gathered by men, with " gather- 
 ing fork?," — common ccni forks ; — but the 
 principal part of the barley crop is gathered 
 by women, with " gathering rakes :" — name- 
 ly, ftrong. rakes, with long teeth — \\ith wliich 
 the {waths are roiled up into wads of about 
 "a pitch, or forkfull, each, the women, at the 
 fam.e time, raking the fwathileads. This rids 
 work, faves men, and puts the barley into a 
 convenient form for pitching ; a roll hanging 
 better together Upon the fork, than a cock 
 made up in layers in the Kentifh manner. 
 
 5. Carrying. — Generally two pitchei-sand 
 T\\'0 loaders -, who load with the hands only : 
 women rake after the carriage : men, at lei- 
 fure timxcs, rake the ftubble with drag rakes : 
 Trot with empty carriages : tread mows, and 
 fometimes ricks, with hories : frequently make 
 a " well," — that is, carry up a flue or chim- 
 ney, in the middle of a barley rick j and fome- 
 times, when the feafon is catching, ufe the 
 fame judicious precaution in a " gulph," or 
 mow, in a barn. 
 
 R 2 IX. Barn-- 
 
244 B A R L E Y, iS« 
 
 IX. Barn management. — Sec the general 
 head. 
 
 X. Market. — Befides what is fhipped off 
 to the London and other markets, a confider- 
 able quantity is malted in the country ; both 
 for a market and for home confumption : this, 
 however, is fmall, compared with that of 
 other countries of equal extent and populouf- 
 nefs : fmuggled fpirits leflen the quantity ; 
 — and the quality of malt liquor, in Norfolk, 
 is lower than in many parts of the kingdom ; 
 the " harveft beer" excepted ; which is ufu- 
 ally brewed in Odober, and kept round till 
 the enluing harveft. 
 
 For an inftance of flieepfold being of 
 great ufe to barky, fee Min. ii. 
 
 jfi'or an experiment with lime fof barley, fee 
 Mix. 29. 
 
 For a finguiar foil procefs for barley, fee 
 Min. 57. 
 
 a^. 
 
P9. NORFOLK. 245 
 
 2.9. 
 
 OATS. 
 
 THE QUANTITY of oats grov/n in ihi^ 
 Diflrid is inconfiderable, when compared with 
 that of barley. 
 
 The only species I have obferved is a white 
 oat, of a quick growth, and probably of 
 Dutch extraction. 
 
 They are grov/n occafionally on all soils y 
 but moft frequently on cold heavy land, or on 
 ver)' light unprcduftive heathy foils. 
 
 Oats moft frequently succeed v/heat or 
 olland barley ; but there are no eflablifhed 
 rules refpefting any part of the culture of this 
 time-ferving crop. 
 
 The soil process is ufually the fame as 
 that for barley : the ground being, generally, 
 broken by a winter fallow of three or four 
 plowings J oats, however, are fometimes fown 
 on one plowing. 
 
 The SEED process, too, is frequently the 
 
 fame : except that oats are more commonly 
 
 fown abovefurrow than barley is. Tiie time 
 
 R 3 ' of 
 
246 OATS. 29. 
 
 cf /owing oats is generaUy made lubfervient to 
 that of fov.-ir.g barley ; feme being fown be- 
 fore ; others after barley-iecl : an uncommon 
 circumi^ance. I have iczn oars fown in June ; 
 and it is remarked by men of obfen'ation, 
 that oars fown late, grow ripe earlier than bar- 
 ley fown at the fame time. This {hews that 
 the Norfolk oats are of a quick-ripening kind. 
 The quantity of feed from four to f^ve bufliel^ 
 an acre. 
 
 I met with one remarkable inftance refpedl- 
 ing the culture of oats. The furface of 2^ 
 piece of ground, which had been fown feveral 
 days with oats, but which were not yet up, 
 was " run," by heavy rains, into a batter j and 
 baked by fucceeding dry days to a cruft ; (o 
 that the owner delpaired of a crop : he there- 
 fore, as an expedient, plowed die ground i 
 turning the oats, notwithftanding tliey had 
 besun to vesetate, under a fleet furrow. The 
 fuccefs was beyond expeclation. 
 
 This operation, however, was not altogether 
 a game of hazard : there being, it fcems, a 
 farmer, fomewhere 4n the Diflricl, who ufes it 
 in common praftice i plowing in his oats with 
 a ver)' fleet furrow j and, after they have 
 
 " cliicked,'* 
 
29. NORFOLK. 247 
 
 " chicked," but before they appear above- 
 ground, turning over the foil a full pitch : and 
 he is faid to find his account in this fmgular 
 management. 
 
 Two diings are, undoubtedly, obtained by 
 this practice : weeds of every fort are either 
 totally dedroyed, or fuHiciently checked to 
 give the corn an opportunity of gaining full 
 poITefiion of the foil : which, by this opera- 
 tion, if performed in proper feafon, acquires 
 a degree of porofity, giving a degree of free- 
 dom to the rootlings of the young plants, 
 which, perhaps, no other procefs could give. 
 
 The opennefs and freedom communicated 
 by this operation, feems to be fmgularly well 
 adapted to the infant plants of barley j 
 Avhich, it is highly probable, might frequently 
 receive benefit from this extraordinary oper-a- 
 tion. 
 
 The HARVEST PROCESS, — 2ARN MANAGE- 
 MENT, Sec. of oats, are fimilar to thcfe of 
 
 fAKklY, 
 
 R 4 30. PEAS. 
 
?48 PEA S. 5Q, 
 
 PEAS. 
 
 PEAS cannot be called a ftaple crop of tlii? 
 country : neverthelefs they are every year 
 grown, in greater or fmaller quantities -, ac- 
 cording, perhaps, to the demand of the pre- 
 ceding year, and according to the comparative 
 prices of peas and barley j which, in Norfolk, 
 may be called rival crops j peas being ufually 
 fown on wheat flubbles, or on light-land lays, 
 "which, in the common courfe of culture, are 
 objefbs of the barley crop. 
 
 The very low price of barley in the winter 
 1 78 1-2 fickened the farmers of that crop ; and, 
 in the fpring of 1782, rpore peas were fown in 
 Eafl Norfolk, than, perhaps, had ever been 
 tindv/n in a'ny preceding year. This circumflance 
 afforded me a favourable opportunity of making 
 remarks on the different modes of culdvation 
 made ufe of in producing this crop j which, as 
 will appear by the following fketches, has not, 
 here, any fettled mode of culture appropriated 
 
30. NORFOLK. 249 
 
 to it. Yet no crop, perhaps, affords greater 
 proofs of the mgenuity oi:' the Norfolk hiif- 
 bandmen, and of their talent for expedients, 
 than that v.hich is now before us. 
 
 B m dibbled* I'even pecks of white peas 
 
 an acre, on dlandy once-plowed, in flags, 
 " as v.ide as he could wheim them." Two 
 rows of holes on each flag ; the holes about 
 three inches apart in the rows ; namely, 
 " four holes m the lengtli of die foot," one pea 
 in each hole. Gave 4s, 6d. an acre for " dab- 
 bing;" and hired *Mroppers" by the day 
 (children belonging to the parilh) ; which cod 
 him about 4s. an acre more. The men of*- 
 tered to dibble and drop for 9s. — The foil free 
 from ftones. Finifned 27 Feb. 
 
 FI — — — d jlzued four bulF.els an acre of 
 white peas, broadcaft j on barley fiubhle^ after 
 tumeps— the clover mifllng. Soil light and 
 Ihallow. Finilhed i March. 
 
 M s dibbled r\vo bufhels of white peas 
 
 an acre on -jjheat ftubble. Gave 8s. an acre for 
 dabbing and dropping. FiniHied the begin- 
 ning of March. 
 
 • Dibbling : for pardcukxs refpecling this operation, 
 fee Mix. 23, 
 
 S— ^ n 
 
zzo PEAS. 
 
 S^- 
 
 S n fc^ed four buihtls, broadcafb, ca 
 
 dl3%.i\ — ^parr once plou-ed ; part ricc-balkcd, 
 2r)A EfterBPards plowed a mean pirch ; the whoit 
 fown abovefiirrow, aad rolled before fofwin^. 
 
 G n dihlled two bufhels on iUaxd-, Lhe 
 
 jHice four (hillings a b'j*hel for dibbing 2Dd 
 dropp'uig : about three holes and a half in a 
 f:>oc : cne pea in each hole. Flags narrow. 
 
 D i Uhllis nine pecks on axj ihin^ 
 
 V hich is in hearL Gives ariV price to have 
 r.cm done well, and put in thick. His dib- 
 bled peas, laft year, produced ten coomb an 
 acre: dibbles aboiit twenty acres this year: 
 almoft done \ 2 j March. 
 
 F r h2sJt{WH upwards of twenty acres 
 
 this year on 'xb^st fi;ih'cUj inircad of baiiey : 
 fows ibur bufhels of white an acre. Plow-s 
 XjL^Kit or ibur times, and pk>^^ in the iced uq> 
 tlerfurro'v. Finiihed 2 Apr. 
 
 B TjiZiediwr 
 
 broad-caft, on a «^; .; . -i^-x.^ .. , ,. . 
 
 aamely, fcaled in — f. . acrofs — f'.ir- 
 
 icd — harrowed — lbv.-ed — and fk^ad k 
 about three inches deep ; the ouciide fiarows 
 ibwn, and Oaded dowa, and Lhe whok harrowed 
 icrois once in a place the bcgLiaing of April. 
 
 B— ^d 
 
30. NORFOLK. 25t 
 
 B — d^fows three bufhels of grey peas, broad- 
 caft, the beginning of April. He thinks three 
 biifhels of grey are equal to four of v/hite. 
 
 B d, on light thin-fkinned^//^«^, dibbled 
 part with two biifhels an acre ; and Hvo-fur- 
 reived the reft with three bufhels, fciun by 
 hand betiveen the furrows ; each of them about 
 one inch and a half thick ! The Norfolk plow 
 fingularly adapted to this workj and, in loofc 
 broken ground, the procefs would be excel- 
 lent y but, in whole ground, the back of the 
 firft furrow being fmooth, and the peas round 
 and flippeiy, they do not reft where they fall, 
 but roll more or lefs into the feams and hol- 
 lov/s, notvvitliftanding the operation was, in this 
 inftance, performed in a mafterly ftyle. 
 
 Thus it appears that various ways are prac- 
 tiied in putring in the pea crop j but, from thofe 
 and otiier inftances, I m?.y venture to draw^ two 
 general inferences. Lavs are feldom plowed 
 more than once for peas; and the feed is, in 
 general, dibbled in, upon the flag of diis one 
 plowing. But STUBBLES are, in general, bro- 
 ken by a winter fallow of three or four plow- 
 ings J the feed being sown broad-cast ; and 
 PLOWED IN, about three inches deep, with the 
 laft plowing. 
 
 31. VETCHES. 
 
252 VETCHES. sh 
 
 VETCHES. 
 
 WHEN we confider the nature of the Nor- 
 folk foil, and the excellency of the Norfolk 
 hulbandry, we are, at the firft fight, furprifed 
 that vetches are not more in ufe, as furr.mer 
 food for farm horfes ; — and nothing, perhaps, 
 but the eftabliihed prevalence of clover can 
 account for it. Clover is not only mown for 
 foiling horfes in the flablc ; but, as has been 
 already noticed, horfes are frequently " roped'* 
 or teddered on clover -, as well as turned upon 
 it loofe. 
 
 This praftice was, probably, eftablifhcd 
 when clover was new to the foil, and the crops 
 of courfe large and luxuriant j and it was then 
 no doubt the moft eligible management : nc- 
 verthelcfs, it may, now, when the foil is no 
 longer the favorite of clover, be worth the at- 
 tention of farmers, of the preknt day, to try 
 whether more vetches, and pr. poraonably lefs 
 clover, would not be the moft eligible ma- 
 nagement. 
 
 22. BUCK% 
 
p. NORFOLK. 4S3 
 
 
 BUCK. 
 
 BUCK is an objeft of the Norfolk culture, 
 in a twofold light. It is propagated as grain, 
 and as manure : and it will be proper to vie\7 
 it in thefe two lights. However, the main in- 
 tention of its propagation, v.hether as a crop, 
 or as a melioration of the foil, being the fame ; 
 namely, the cleanfing of foul land i it will be 
 convenient to keep tlie two objeds in nearly 
 the fame point of view. 
 
 I. With refpecl to species, there is only 
 one ; this grain having not yet, I believe, run 
 into any varieties fufficiently flriking to have 
 dillinguifhing names appropriated to them. 
 
 II. It is fown almoft indifcriminately on 
 all fpecies of soils j except that light poor 
 land has the preference*, indeed, it is to this fpe- 
 cies of foil that buck feems moft efpecially 
 adapted, 
 
 HI. It 
 
25* 
 
 fe U C K. 3«. 
 
 III. It likewife succeeds every fpecles of 
 crop ; the ftate of die foil, as to foiilnefs and 
 poverty, being geneiaily more attended to than 
 cither the nature of the foil or the crop it bore 
 
 lall. 
 
 IV. The soil process depends upon tlie 
 ftate of the foil, and die intention, jointly : 
 if the foil be tolerably clean, and the buck be 
 intended to be plowed under as a rnahure, it is 
 fown on one plowing : but, in general, the 
 ground is broken, as for barley or peas, to 
 forward rHiz fallow, and fccurc a crop. 
 
 V. The seed process is tlie fame for both 
 intentions i excepting that, for a crop, the 
 feed is fown firll ; namely, immediately after 
 barley-fccl : and that intended to be plowed 
 under, is fown as foon afterwards as the ground 
 is in a ftate fit to receive the feed. It is uni- 
 verfally fown aboveflirrow. The quantit}- of 
 feed fix pecks to t^vo buihels an acre. 
 
 VI. No VEGETATING PROCESS takes place: 
 the growdi of buck is fo rapid as to outftrip 
 and fmother almoft every fpecies of weeds j 
 an excellency peculiar to this crop. 
 
 VII. The 
 
^t, NORFOLK. ^sS 
 
 VII. The method of PLOWING buck under, 
 and the after management of buck fallows, 
 have been defcribed under the article wheat. 
 
 VIII. For the harvest process of buck, 
 we refer to the head barley 3 the harveft 
 management of both crops being fimilar. 
 
 IX. The farm-yard management of 
 harvefted buck is alfo fmiilar to that of barley ; 
 except that the draw being fit for litter, only, 
 and the grain being v/anted for the fatting of 
 pigs, in autumn, and the beginning of winter, 
 it is frequently tlirafhed out prefently after 
 harveftj before the liveibock are taken into the 
 yards. 
 
 X. Markets. Notwithflanding it is highly 
 probable that there is more buck grown an- 
 nually in Norfolk, than in the other thirty-nine 
 counties of the kingdom, it is all confumed in 
 the neighbourhood of its growth. It is the 
 univerfal food of fwine and poultry ; both of 
 which it fats quickly and well. It is fome- 
 times cruflied for pigs, and fometimes given 
 to them whole ; ii'^this cafe, however, Ibme 
 
 judiciou3 
 
156 B U C K. 3i, 
 
 judicious hufbandmen mix a few oats or p<*as 
 with it, in order that the Twine may grind it 
 down the more elfectually, and thereby pre- 
 Tent its pafling through them whole. 
 
 T U R N E P S. 
 
 THE TURNEP CROP is the grand bafo 
 of the prefent lyftem of Norfolk hufbandr}'. 
 I fliail, tlierefore, endeavour to defcribe its 
 culture as amply as comprehenfivenels will 
 permit. In doing this it will be neceflary to 
 confide r^ 
 
 I. The fpecies, 5. Manure procefs, 
 
 a. The foil, 6. Seed procefs, 
 
 3. The fucceflion, 7. Vegetating procefs, 
 
 4. The foil procefs, 8. Application. 
 
 I. Species. — There are four different fpe- 
 cies, or, perhaps, z-arieties of one fpecies, fown 
 in Norfolk. 
 
 I. The 
 
3J. NORFOLK. 257 
 
 1. "The common white stock," — white- 
 loaf — white-round — white- rind—...r, as it is 
 called in many places, the Norfolk, turner. 
 
 2. "Thepurple stock." Thisjinitsfliape 
 and the manner of its gro\vth. is fimibr to 
 the common turnep ; but its rind is of a dark 
 red or purple colour, its fize, in general, 
 fmaller, and its texture Ciofer and firmer than 
 that of the common white ilock ; and it is al- 
 lowed to fland the winter better, and to pre- 
 ferve its firmnefs and fucciilerice later in the 
 fpring than the tominori turnep. But it 
 feems to be a faift well eftablifhed, that the 
 purple turnep is not fo well afFecled by cattle 
 as the other fpecies : this circumftance, added 
 to the fmallncfs of ib fize, confines its culture 
 within narrow limits. 
 
 3. "The green STOCK." This refembies, 
 ilill more, the common white turnep ; from 
 which it differs principally in the colour of its 
 rind. It is in the hands of very few : thefc few, 
 however, fay J that it is preferable to the com- 
 mon (lock. 
 
 4. " The pudding stock *'." This, in 
 itsfliape, is fo perfcdtly different from the 
 
 * The tankard turnep of the midland counties. 
 
 Vol- I, S com- 
 
ifi T U R N E P S. 3>' 
 
 common fort, that it might well be nmke(£ as 
 a diftind Jptcies. Inilead of fpreading itlclf 
 fiat upon the ground, or burying itfelf parti- 
 ally in Lhe Iiirface mould, it riles in a cylm- 
 drical form, eight, ten, or twelve inches high ,- 
 ftanding in a m:inner wholly aboveground ; 
 generally taking a rough irregular outline, and 
 a fomewhat reclining pofture. In colour, con- 
 texture, aiid qualit)', it refembles very much 
 the common tumep ; of which it is by much 
 the moft formidable rival. Indeed, for early 
 fowing, to be eaten off in autumn, this long- 
 rooted fpecies feenrs to gain a preference even 
 to the common white-rounds : the roots are 
 of quick growth, — acqmrc a great fize, — and, 
 ftanding wholly aboveground, are readily 
 dra\vn j or, if eaten off by (heep, are corr- 
 fumed with little wafte ; the refufe fliells beLig 
 fmaller than thofe of broad flat tumeps half 
 buried in the ground. 
 
 But this very circumdance renders then* 
 wholly unf.t to be P>wn a5 a fpring food ; for, 
 (landing, as they do, expofcd on the furfacc, 
 they become liable to the aruck of every 
 froil: i and, from annual experience, it is 
 known Lhat they fuffcr fooner, and more, from 
 
 the 
 
3^. Norfolk:. 25^ 
 
 rfie feverities of winter, than the common 
 trftiTE-ROUND STOCK ; which, taken all inallj 
 is, I believe, the beft fpccies of turnep kno^^^^, 
 at prefent, in thefe kingdoms. 
 
 n. Soil. Tumeps are fcwn on every 
 j^cies of foil, in ufe as arable land. It is ob- 
 fervable, howeverj that the ftronger, heavier 
 foils, of the foiithem parts of this DiftricV, 
 will not bring tumeps freely v\iLhout marl j 
 v.-hich, perhaps, by rendering the foil m.ore 
 friable, and confequently U^ter^ fits it for die 
 tender fibrils of the turnep plant in its infant- 
 date ; or, perhaps, the marl itfelf is accept- 
 able to this litxiericus plant. 
 
 Be this as it may^ marl is foiind highly bene- 
 ficial to the crop ; and the fadt proves, that a 
 foil by nature ungtnial to rurneps, may La 
 fbme caies be rendered agreeable to them, by 
 art. See Min. 136, 
 
 III. Succession. Li the regular coUrfe of 
 management, turneps fucceed barley after 
 wheat ; and in this part of the Diftrict, where 
 the hexennial round is obferved with confider- 
 able regularity, they feldom fucceed any other 
 S 2 cropi 
 
26d T U R N E P S. j^. 
 
 crop J excepting fome few fo-wn on wheat or 
 pea ftubble after harveft -, but this is not a 
 general practice. 
 
 IV. Soil process. — t. The farmer having 
 finifhed fciling in his wheat faibbles for bar- 
 lev, he begins about ChriUmas to break up 
 
 HIS BARLEY STUBBLES, for tumeps. 
 
 In this mftance, he quits his general rule of 
 beginning to break up a fallowM\ith a fleet plow- 
 ing ; for, in breaking up a rurnep fallow, he 
 goes the full depth of the foil — " turning it 
 " up a full pitch to take the winter." — His 
 motive in this, as in moft other cafes, is a good 
 one. In this inftance, indeed, his pra<ftice 
 obNioudy proceeds from a degree of necefll- 
 rv i his general plan of management net al- 
 lowing him time to plow his turnep fallows 
 more than once, during the >\inter feafon. 
 For, CO fooner has he given them this one 
 l^lowing, than his wheat ftubbles require to be 
 taken up for barley ; wliicli, with his odier 
 fpring crops, engage every hour of his time, 
 until the clofe of fpring feedtime. 
 
 2. This finUhcd, he begins to take vp his 
 TURyEP FALLOWS. In doing this, too, he de- 
 viates 
 
33- NORFOLK. aiSi 
 
 viates from general pra(SlIce -, for the fecond 
 plowing of a turnep fallow is not acrofs but 
 iengthway. But here, likewife, he a6h from a 
 degree of necefnt}' ; for the firfl plowing hav- 
 ing been given the full depth of the foil, there 
 is no whole ground left for die plow to lay hold 
 of in crofs plowing ; and the flags, of courfe 
 foul, having lain fome months unmoved, are 
 become too tough to be cut readily with the 
 coulter; but would, of courfe, drive into rucks 
 before the plow. 
 
 3. This loofe woolly ftate of the turnep 
 fallows is, however, fometimes leflened by har- 
 rowing them in the beginning of April j and, 
 while the lays are Hiut up, throwing tur- 
 ners upon them for bullocks ; the treading of 
 which gives the foil a degree of lirmnefs, and 
 renders the fecond plowing more tolerable. 
 
 4. The teams, from the middle of May to 
 the beginning of July, are almoft wholly em- 
 ployed in plowing, harrowing, and manuring 
 the turnep grounds : for the fecond plowing 
 finifned, and the furface fmoothed with the 
 Jiarrow, a third plowing is given. 
 
 5. This plowing being well reduced with 
 the harrow, and the root weeds coUeded, and 
 
 S 3 burned 
 
262 T U R N E P S. 33. 
 
 burned or carried off, the dung is fct on, and, 
 if time willpermitj fcaled in fleet by a fourth 
 
 PLOWING. 
 
 6. After which, the foil and manure are in- 
 timately blended v.ith the harrow ; and, in 
 due feafon, the seed plowing takes place. 
 
 The fourth plowing, is, however, frequently 
 omitted ; either through want of time or 
 other reafon j the manure being in this cafe 
 turned in immediately with the feed plowing, 
 which, in either cafe, is of a mean depth. The 
 former is, no doubt, to appearance, the mofl 
 hulbandlike pra'^ice, and, in a light foil and 
 mci.l feafon, may be the moft eligible ma- 
 nagement J — but, in a dry time, and on a ftout 
 clofc-textured foil, the latter, provided the 
 manure be finely broken, and evenly fpread, 
 may be rr.ore eligible. See Min. 7 i. on this 
 fubjed, 
 
 V. Manure process.— tI. The species of 
 manure which is principally depended upon 
 forturnepsis " muck ■" — that is, dung, with 
 a greater or fmaller admixture of mould, 
 marl, &cc. — Malt coombs are in good repute j 
 ^d otlcakc is fometimes ufed by fome few in- 
 dividuals i 
 
33- NORFOLK, 2S5 
 
 dividuals ; but it may be faid, that nine acres 
 of ten of the turneps grown in Eaft Nor- 
 folk are manured for with " muck." The 
 quantity of malt-coombs made in the county is 
 inconfiderable, when compared with the num- 
 ber of acres of turneps annually fown in it ; 
 — and rape-cake is principally confined to the 
 north coaft : nor are either of thefe manures 
 equal to the tafk of keeping up the Ibil thro' 
 the barley and the two grafs crops j much 
 lefs of aflifling to fupport it under the fuc- 
 ceeding crop of wheat, in the manner which 
 may reafonably be expected from a proper 
 drefllng of dung j the whole quantity of which, 
 made upon a given farm, ought, in my opi- 
 nion, to be applied folely to the turnep crop : 
 and, if the foil require fupport under the 
 wheat, let it be afllfted with lime, maltdull, 
 loot, oilcake, or other light maauresj which 
 may not be only adequate to fecuring a crop 
 of wheat, but may be more or lefs ferviceable 
 to the fucceeding crop of barley. This has 
 already been mentioned -, bur I think it merits 
 a repetition in this place. 
 
 2. The QUANTITY of dung kt on for a 
 
 c;'op of turneps, generally depends on the 
 
 S ^ quantity 
 
264 T U R N E P S. 33. 
 
 quantity on hand, and the quantity of turnep 
 ground to be manured : there is little danger 
 of fetting on too large a quanrit)' : ten to fif- 
 teen cart-loads of good muck are confidered as 
 a fair dreHlng. Of ciLake, about a ton to 
 three acres : of maltcoombs, fifty or fixt)' i— 
 and of foot, forty or fit)^ bulhels an acre. 
 
 For the method of carn.-ing out, compoft- 
 ing, and fetting on muck, fee the article 
 
 MANURE PROCESS. 
 
 VI. The seed process. — i. The time of 
 sov.'ixG depends upon the application. — When 
 turnepsare intended for early confumption, they 
 are fown as foon as the foil can be got into pro- 
 per order for them : but if they be intended to 
 ftand the winter, the beginning of July is 
 thought to be early enough. The moft ge- 
 neral rule is, to begin to fow about a week 
 before Midfummer, and continue fo\ving,from 
 time to time, until about a formight after 
 Midfummer j — fay, from the feventeenth or 
 eighteenth of June, to the feventh or eighth of 
 July. 
 
33. NORFOLK. a6^ 
 
 It is a fact well aicertained, that late-fown 
 turneps ftand the winter better than fuch as are 
 fowTi early; which are fubiecr to the blight; 
 liable to be rotted by much wet, as well a^ by 
 froft; and become tough and woolly in thfe 
 fpring, when the later- fciMi ones are in full ptr- 
 fedlicn. 
 
 If a Norfolk f::rmer could infjre his firH: 
 fowing, he would fow kcer than he now does; 
 but liable as the tumep crop is to numerous 
 accidents and mifcarriages, it is prudent to 
 have a week or zwo in relerve for a feconi 
 fowing, in cafe the firft fowing iliould fail. 
 
 1. Old feed is fometimes prepared by 
 fteeping it in water, in order to forv^^ard its ve- 
 getation ; but this is by no means a general 
 pratlice. Experiments have been tried on 
 coating the feed with fulphur, foot, ^c. a^ a 
 fecurity agaLnft the « fiy ;" but the refuics have 
 not been fuch as to eftablifh any prafbice of 
 this nature ; the feed, v/hedier old or new, be- 
 ing ufually fown dry, and unprepared. 
 
 3. The method of sowimg is univerfally 
 broadcafV. The feed plo\viag having been 
 gone over, once in a place, witi; the harrow, 
 the feed is fown v,ith a wide hi^h ca-l, the 
 
 feedfman 
 
s66 T U R N E P S. 53. 
 
 ieedfman going twice over the ground ; agree- 
 ably to the prevailing, though not the gene- 
 ral, method of lowing. 
 
 4. The QUANTITY" of seed, two pints an 
 acre. 
 
 5. The feed is covered by rsvo tines of a 
 pair of light harrows, ufually drawn " back- 
 ivard i" that is, wrong-end-foremoft, to pre- 
 vent the tines, which are generally fct fome- 
 what pointed forward, from tearing up the 
 clovis, and burj'ing the feed too deep. The 
 horfes are univerfally walked one way, and 
 trotted back again in the fame place. This is 
 ^n excellent cuftom ; the quick zigzag motion 
 of the harrows at once affifting to level the fur- 
 face, and to diftribute the feeds more evenly. 
 
 VII. The vegetating process. Turnep^ 
 are univerfally lioed : and, unlefs they be fown 
 yer) hte, are generally hoed twice. 
 
 I. The diftance of time between the fow- 
 jng and the first hoing is very uncertain; 
 depending on the foil and the feafon : the fize 
 of the plants is the only guide. 
 
 If turneps be fuftered to grow too large bcr 
 fofe they be hoed, the plants are difiicuk to be 
 
 fct 
 
33, NORFOLK. 367 
 
 let out fingly, and are liable to be drawn up by 
 weeds; thereby acquiring a flender upright 
 tendency; whereas their naDjral growth, i^ 
 their infant ftate, is procumbent, fpreading 
 their firft leaves on the ground, and taking the 
 form of a role. 
 
 If the hoe be put In too foon, the plants 
 which are fet out are liable to be buried, and 
 their tender rootlings diflurbed, in the afl of 
 fetting out the neighbouring plants. 
 
 The critical ftate obferved by judicious 
 hulbandmen, is, when the plants, as they lie 
 fpread upon the ground, are about the lize of 
 the palm of the hand: if, however, feed- 
 weeds be numerous and luxuriant, they ought 
 to be checked before the turnep plants arrive 
 at that fize -, left, by being drawn up tall and 
 flender, they (hould acquire a weak fickly 
 habit. 
 
 2. The method of hoixg turneps is diffi- 
 cult to defcribe : nothing but pracftice can 
 teach it: — and, like other manual arts, it 
 ought to be learnt in youth. 
 
 A boy in Norfolk, by the time he is the 
 |ieight of a hoe, begins to make ufe of one : 
 confequendy every man who has been bred to 
 
 country 
 
«68 T U R N E P S. 33. 
 
 CountT}'' bufincfs is a turnep hoer ; yet not al- 
 ways, even with this advantage, an expert 
 one. 
 
 The operation, to be performed quick ancj 
 well, requires a quicknefs of eye, and a dex- 
 terity of hand, which every man is not favored 
 with : while fome men catch the proper plants 
 to be fingled, and fet them out, wi:h a rapidity 
 and neatnels of execution, very pleafmg to the 
 obferver. 
 
 The hoe is generally drav/n round the plant, 
 with a long fweeping ftroke ; and, when the 
 plants are fmall, this is the only ftroke that can 
 be ufed with propriety ; but, when the plants 
 are out of danger of being buried, a fhort 
 ftraight ftroke is more expeditious, and, in 
 the hands of fome few, makes tolerably goocl 
 work. 
 
 Upon the whole, it matters not which way 
 the operation be performed, provided the 
 grcur.d be ftirred, and the weeds eradicated j 
 the plants fet out ftngly, and at proper dif- 
 tances. 
 
 3. The proper distance depends upon the 
 foil, and the time of fowing -, jointly, and fe- 
 paratcly. 
 
 Turneps 
 
^3- NORFOLK. 2C9 
 
 Turneps Town, early, in a rich productive 
 foil, require to be fet out wider than thofe fown 
 late, on a foil of a contrary nature. 
 
 If the foil be at par, the time of fowing 
 ought to regulate the diftance : if this be at 
 par, the nature or Hate of the foil fhould be 
 the regulator. 
 
 Thefe rules, however, felf-evident as they 
 undoubtedly are, are not attended to by the 
 generality of farmers ; who, led away by long- 
 eftablifhed cuflom, or by the interefted perfua- 
 fions of their labourers (farmers in all coun- 
 tries being more or lefs warped by the opinion' 
 of their workmen) fuffer their turneps to be 
 hacked out fourteen or fifteen, or perhaps eigh- 
 teen inches afunder, without any regard to the 
 ftate of the foil, or the feafon of fowing. 
 
 This pra6tice was eftablifhed while the Nor- 
 folk foil was full of marl, and new to turneps j 
 and when, it is probable, eleven or twelve 
 inches in diameter was no uncommon fize ; 
 with tops proportionally large and Ipreading : 
 and fourteen or fifteen inches might, then, be 
 a proper diftance. 
 
 But, now, when the efficacy of marl is lef- 
 fened, and the foil no longer the favorite of 
 
 turneps. 
 
27a TURNERS. 3j, 
 
 turneps, which feldom reach more than fevert 
 or eight inches in diameter, it is ruinous and 
 abfbrJ to conrinue the praclice. 
 
 But the prelent price of hoing was hke^snie 
 eftabliihed when large turneps were grown, 
 and when wide hoing rtiight, perhaps, be pro- 
 per i and a workman cannot, at the prefcnt low 
 wages, afford to fet out tlie plants at a 
 {horterdiftance; for though, in either cafe, he 
 ftir the whole ground, yet the more plants he 
 has to fingle, the more tedious the operation 
 becomes. 
 
 If the plants be let out at eighteen inches — 
 each fquare yard contains four plants : bur, at 
 twelve inches, the fame fpace of ground con- 
 tains nine plants : fo that in this cafe the hoer 
 has more than twice the number of plants to 
 fingle and fct out. ^ 
 
 But does it not follow, that the farmer has 
 more than twice the number of turneps to fat 
 his bullocks upon ? and is not this interefling 
 facl a fuiHcient inducement to farmers in ge- 
 neral to break through a cuftom whofe original 
 foundation no longer exifts, and to filence the 
 perfuafions of their men by an adequate ad- 
 vance of wages? 
 
 There 
 
33. -NORFOLK. 27^ 
 
 There are men, whole good fenle and dif- 
 ccrnment have fhewn this matter to them in its 
 true light, and who are fully aware that the 
 "proof" of their turnep crop depends more on 
 its " thightnefs" than on the fize of the plant. 
 And it is the pradice of thefe men I wLQi to 
 hold out in flriking colours, in order that it 
 may become die general practice of the Dif- 
 tri£t i as well as to endeavour to do away a per- 
 nicious idea which has gone abroad refpc6ling 
 this part of the culture of turneps, in Norfolk ; 
 where good farmers do not fufFer their turneps 
 to be fet out fifteen or eighteen inches apart i 
 but rather from ten to fourteen, accordingly 
 as circumftances point outi and according to 
 the fituation of the plants with refpecl to each 
 other. 
 
 Thus, if three plants ftand In a fine, the two 
 outer ones fourteen inches afunder, the inter- 
 mediate one is, of courfe, taken Out: but 
 ihould two healthy plants fband in a wide va- 
 cancy, thoufands of which vacancies generally 
 occur in every piece of turneps, they are both 
 of them fufTered to remain, though they Hand 
 not more than fix or eiglit inches from each 
 other i for w!ien the tops have room to Ipread 
 
 and 
 
ajl T U R N E P S. 33, 
 
 and u'ax large, the roots vaU increafe in pro- 
 porrion ; and it is well known to thofe who 
 make obfenadons on the 2T0\\th of turneps, 
 that, when the roots of rvvo plants, thus 
 fituited, fwell out till they touch each otlier, 
 they become flat on die fide in contact, but 
 coRiInue to fpread on every other fide, as if 
 kg: incommoded by their contiguity j which. 
 Indeed, has one good effccb : for, in endca- 
 vouiing to preferve their rotundity, they force 
 each ether into a heeling pofture, tliereby giv- 
 L\g their tops more freedom of expanfion ; 
 and it feems to be an undoubted facfl, that the 
 vigour of a given plant will ever keep pace 
 tvith the fize and number of its leaves. 
 
 This leads us to a general rule for afcertain- 
 ing die proper diftance of turnep plants; 
 which ought to be fuch as will give them room 
 to keep themfelves in a Hate of vigour and fuU 
 growth i without leaving any fpace of ground 
 unoccupied by, or diinly filled with, leaves. 
 
 And this leads us round to the firft pofirlon, 
 — that the diftance ought to be in proportion 
 to the ftarc of the foil and the time of fowing. 
 
 For, fuppofing a root of fix inches diameter 
 to require a fpace of twelve inches fqiure, 
 
 to 
 
33. NORFOLK. 273 
 
 to difHife its top in, the top of a root of ten 
 inches would be croiided in the fame fpace j 
 while one of a fmaller fize wcuLi leave the 
 vacancy unfilled. And as turneps in this Dif- 
 trifl, now, run from four to eight inches in 
 diameter, twelve inches may be taken as a 
 proper rfiediiim dijiance. 
 
 To talk of precife dijiances, of turneps Town 
 broadcafl, would be ridiculous, and b?fpeak 
 a want of knowledge of the fubjeil : if a piece 
 of t^urneps be e;jamined after hoing, though 
 done by a v/orkman, the variety of di. lances 
 is endlefs j fcarccly any two incerlpaces being 
 the fame. 
 
 4. With re{pe6l to the second HOI^rG, lit- 
 tle can be faid j the firft being a guide to this : 
 the main purpart of it is to loofen the mould, 
 and draw it in fome meafure to the root; of the 
 plants ; to reduce the v/eeds effrdudly ; and 
 to fmgle fuch plants as have been left double 
 by the firll hoing ; as vv^ell as to remove f jch 
 as have been miffed ; or, liaving been buried 
 in the loofe mould in moift weather, have 
 llruck root again in i nproper places. 
 
 Ic would be well, i:'?.t t!ic time of the fecond 
 hoir.g fome of iht r.iperniMnerary plants could 
 
 Vol. I. T be 
 
274 TURNIP S. 75. 
 
 be tranfphnted into the vacant patches, in the 
 manner that rape plants arc ufual] y done. This, 
 however, cannot be praftifed v.-if h profit : tur- 
 nep plants niay be get to live, but not to thrive 
 after tranlplantation. Does it nor, therefore, 
 behove the turnep grower to fee, that, in the 
 firft hoing, no artificial \'acancies be added to 
 thofe, which too frequently abound, acciden- 
 tally, or for want of a proper quantity of feed, 
 in almcfl every tumep ground ? 
 
 On the contrary, a fbpemumerar}' plant miy 
 be removed on a certaLnty, and without addi- 
 tional labour or expence j for the ftroke which 
 loofens die foil, and eradicates the remaining 
 weeds, difpLices a fupernumerary plant. Is it 
 r.ot, therefore, unpardonable management to 
 ?et oiTt the phnts too thb the fjft hoing ? 
 
 The workmen, fome farmers, and theorifts 
 Ln gcneralj hold cut a plaufible idea, \\'hich has 
 fome ihi all dtzrtt of truth in it: namelv, that 
 if the plants are net iet out regularly the firft 
 hoing, they cannot afterwards be regulated. 
 
 This, in rows of drilled tumeps, would 
 
 .have fome weight ; jrciief^ J every plant which 
 
 was lefr could be iniiired to Ihe, and become a 
 
 thh'tr.gll^.rt. But, in a field of turneps iovm 
 
 a: 
 
53. NORFOLK. 2jS 
 
 at random, there is no fuch thing 2S regiikriry 
 of diHance -, and, here, the nodon has li:de or 
 no faundacion. 
 
 Nor is regularity here necefTary: for, f p- 
 pofing nine plan:s to grow in a yard fquare, it 
 appears to me a mar:er of fmall confeqiience, 
 whether they ftand exaftly a foot npart ; or 
 whether fome of them be fifteen and others- 
 only nine inches afuiider ; provided they be fo 
 diflributcd, that their tops fill up a fquare yard 
 of fpace above them: Tor, in die fame manner 
 as the tops of plants leek out for air and head- 
 room above, in a fimilar manner do their roots 
 feck out for food and moiilure belovN'. 
 
 I grant, that ifl had my choice, I v.-o^dd pre- 
 fer an exacV regulariiy of diilance ; b'Jt 1 vrculd 
 much rather forego the mentsl grsrir: cation, 
 than give up three or four turneps in a yard 
 fquare of ground. 
 
 Upon the whole, irilrikes me, that the ob- 
 ject of the firfl: hoing, inftead of being that of 
 fctting out the plants at exaifl and vvide dii^ 
 tances, fliould be m.erely that cf checking the 
 weeds, and thinning the plants, to prevent rheir 
 crowding each other ; and that the regulation 
 of diftances fhouid be left in a great meafure to 
 T 2 the 
 
276 T U R N E P S. jj, 
 
 the laft hoing : in the firfi:, (ly reajon of the 
 many accidents young turnep ■plants are liable to) 
 it is a work of hazard and uncertainty j in the 
 fecond, not only proper diflances, but proper 
 plantSj may be chofen, with a degree of cer- 
 tainty and fafcty. 
 
 With rcfped to timing the fecond hoing, 
 it ought to be given before the leaves become 
 too large, to prevent the plants from being pro- 
 perly fingled and fet out, or the weeds from 
 being effeclually cleared away \ but the longer 
 they fland before the laft hoing, the more 
 effectually will the weeds be overcome. 
 
 5. The length of the hoe fliould be in pro* 
 portion to the medium difiance berween the 
 plants, and this to their ex^e5iedftze. 
 
 The Norfolk hoes are, atprefcnt, cut of all 
 proportion to the prefent fize of plants ; and, 
 confcquently, out of proportion to the proper 
 medium diftance. I have meafured them nine 
 inches and a half 3 there are many, I believe, 
 of ten inches long : too long, in my opinion, 
 for any turneps I have feen in Norfolk, by at 
 leaft two inches. 
 
 It is die hocr's intereft to work with a long 
 hoe 5 for in a foil free from obflrudions, the 
 
 larger 
 
33. NORFOLK. ^77 
 
 larger the hce the quicker he gets over the 
 ground, and the fewer plants he has to let out j 
 but unfortunately for the inattentive farmer, 
 his intereft is, in this cafe, in direct oppoiiuon 
 to that of his workmen. 
 
 There are, hov.-ever, as has akeady been 
 obferved, feme good farmers who pay proper 
 attention to their curnep hoers, and who are 
 well aware that a little attention, and a (hilling 
 an acre extraordinary, beftowed upon the ho- 
 ings, is no obje6i: when compared with the 
 difference bet>ii'een a"thight"and arhin crop of 
 tumepsi — bet\veen a crop worth forry fniUings, 
 and one worth four pounds an acre. The ex- 
 pence of rent, tillage, manure, and ked is, m 
 cither cafe, the fame. 
 
 C. The prefent price is fix (billings an acre 
 for ir.t r.vo hoings, which are almoft alwcys 
 let jointly : if they be fcparated, the firft is from 
 three lliillings and fixpence to four Jhiilinss ; 
 the lafc from r.vo ll^iiilings to two (hillings and 
 ilxpence. 
 
 Thefe are low prices when compared wirh 
 
 thofe of other countries, where eight ihiijin£s, 
 
 ten (hillings, or n^elve (hillings, an acre, a.c 
 
 ^ven for die two hoings. Eu: there arc two 
 
 T J rcoil.iS 
 
i:8 T U R N E P S. 33; 
 
 reafons f^r this dilparit)'. In Norfolk every 
 countryman is a turnep hoer, and is generally 
 expert, compared vdxh thofe of other places ; 
 Ti-here hoing rjrneps is a myftt-ry, known ily 
 to gardeners, ax-: d a few individuals who, though 
 inexpert, have it in their power to make their 
 own prices. The other is the friability of the 
 Norfolk foil, and its freenefs from obftruc- 
 tions ; while foils, in general, are either in 
 themfelvcs flubborn, or contain ftones or 
 other obftruftions of the hoe. 
 
 8. The APPLICATION. Turneps are eithef 
 cultivated 
 
 For feed. 
 
 For fale, or 
 
 Forconfumption. 
 1. Sefd. — Many farmers raife their own 
 feed : though this is not a general praflicei 
 yet moll go:»d farmers, who are curious in their 
 ftock, cither r^ifr it themfclves, or have it 
 raifcd from t^eir ov/n flock by a labourer or 
 Other nci^:b: ur. 
 
 The Norfolk farmers are mailers in the art 
 of rai.lng turnep feed, in which, as in many 
 Other fubjcfts in husbandry, thtir ideas are re- 
 purkably clear und accurate. It is generally 
 
 underllood, 
 
33« NORFOLK. 279 
 
 underflood, in other parts of tlie kingdom, that 
 no turnep feed is fit to be fown, which has not 
 been railed from tranfplanted roots. But not 
 fo in Norfolkj where feed is frequently raifed 
 from untranfplanted tumeps. 
 
 It is a facl well underflood by every hufband- 
 man, here, that if the feed be gathered repeat- 
 edly from untranfplanted roots, the plants from 
 this feed %\ill become " coarfe-neckcd" and 
 *^ foul-rooted i" — and the ficfh of the rootitfelf 
 will become rigid and unpalatable. On the 
 contrary, if it be gathered, year after year, 
 from tranfplanted roots, the necks will become 
 too fine, and the fibres too few ; the entire 
 plant acquiring a weak delicate habit, and the 
 produce, though fweet, v.-ill be fmall. For the 
 neck, or on-fct of tlie leaves being reduced 
 to the fize of the finger (for inftance), the num- 
 ber and fize of die leaves will be reduced in 
 proportion ; and in a fimilar propornon will 
 the number and fize of the fibrils be reduced. 
 
 From a parity of rcafoning it may perhaps 
 be inferred, that when the neck acquires a 
 thicknefs equal to that of the wriii, the fize of 
 the root will be in proportion. 
 
 T 4 With 
 
98o T U R N E P S. 3j. 
 
 With rr fped to t}\c fires or roodings; this is 
 a juft inference j but with rcfpecl to the l^uli^^ 
 it is in great meafure erroneous. For a few 
 generations the fize of the bulb will keep p^c; 
 widi die uicreafe of le:-ves and fibres ; but after 
 Ikaving once reached thf lixics, which nature 
 has fet to its magnitude, it begins to revert 
 to its original ftate of wildnefs, from which 
 to its prcfcat flate it has> beyond difpute, been 
 raifed by trinfplar.tador.. 
 
 The farmer has therefore two extremes, both 
 of which he ought to endeavour to avoid. The 
 one is difcoverable by Lhc thiclcnefs and coarfe- 
 nefs of the neck, the fcaley roughnefs of the 
 top of the bulb, the thicknefs of the rind in 
 general, the foulncfs of its bottom, and the 
 forkednefs of its main or tap root : the other, 
 by the nendernefs of die neck, the finenefs of 
 the leaves, and the delicacy of the root. The 
 former are unpalatable to cattle, and are there- 
 by creauve of wade : the hrrer are unproduc- 
 tive ; are difficult to be drawn ; and do not 
 tlirowout fuch ample tops in the ipring, as do 
 thofe which are, by conftitution or habit, in a 
 middle ft^te bct^-een thofc t^'o extremes. 
 
 There 
 
33J« NORFOLK. ^Si 
 
 There is not, however, any general rule re- 
 fpefling how many years rumeps ought to be 
 tnmfplanLed fucceffively, and how ofcen they 
 ought to be fufTcred to run up from the feed 
 bed : the foil and fituation have, znd other cir- 
 cumftances may hsve, influence on the habit 
 or coniHtution of vegetables, as of axiimals j 
 and the farmer muil attend alone to the flate of 
 the turneps themfclves. Whenever he j-i.^ges 
 that by repeated tranfplantation they have paf- 
 led the acme of perfrcrion, have pafTed that 
 height to -which nature has faid, " So far Ilidt 
 thou go, and no farther," then it is his duty 
 and inrsrell to bt them run up to feed widiout 
 tranfplantation. 
 
 In Norfolk ir has been found from long ex- 
 perience^ that tranliDlanring two, three, or four 
 years, and letting the plants run up the third, 
 fourth, or nfth, will keep die frock in the de- 
 fired flate. 
 
 The time of tranfftanting is from old Chrifl:- 
 jnas to old Candlemas. 
 
 In the chcice cf plant s, the farmer is not 
 guided by fize; but "picks the cleaneft 
 plants," v.ithout reg:rd to the f^e : cr, more 
 accmately Iptaking, he muk'.s choice of ^azh 
 
 as 
 
j8i T U R X Z P 5. 33; 
 
 as are near, but not at, or above, the Hate of 
 perfection. In almofl every piece of turnep 
 then zrt plants in various ftates : much judg- 
 rnent, therefore, is recuifite in the choice of 
 p}2r.t3. 
 
 The choice of foil and ft nation for this purpofe 
 ss prett}' uniform ; a piece of good ground, 
 near a habitation, being generally pitched 
 
 But the methcd of planting is various : tlie 
 plants are generally fet in rows : but the dil^ 
 tance between the rows, and between plant and 
 plant in the rov/s, is uncertain. I have mea- 
 fured the rov.'s fixteen or eighteen inches apart, 
 and the plants eight or ten inches afunder. I 
 liavc alfo obferved them planted in two-foot 
 rows, and tv^^elve inches in the rows. But 
 the pra(5Hcc of a man who incifputably (lands 
 near the head of his profefiion, is to plant them 
 in rov.'s about two feet afunder, without any 
 intermediate fpace in the rows 3 in which the 
 plznts (land in contiguity. 
 
 The vegetating frccefs confiils in keeping the 
 intervals clean-hoed ; and when the feed verges 
 tOAvarJj rrpencfs, in preft rving as much of it^ 
 p'jffiblc from birds. If the plot be large, a 
 
 boy 
 
53, NORFOLK. 283 
 
 boy is generally employed to fcare them. — 
 When the plot has been fmall and near the 
 houfe, I have known a fimple expedient ufecj 
 for this intent with luccefs. On a (lender poil, 
 riiing in the midu of the patch of feed, was 
 fixed a bell ; from wliich a line pafled into the 
 kitchen ; in the moft frequented part of which 
 hung, the pull. Whoever pafled the puU, rung 
 the bell; fo that in a farm-houfe kitchen, 
 where a miilreis and tv/o or trj-ee maids were 
 fome of them almoft always on the foot, an 
 inceflant peal was kept up j and the birds, 
 paving no relpite from alarms, forfjok theii* 
 prey. 
 
 1. Sale. It is not a pra6lice among the 
 generali:y of farmers to raife turneps for fale; 
 neverthtlels there are every year more or few- 
 er fold. I ittle farmers, who v.ant conve- 
 riency or fkill, and larger ones who want money 
 Xo hy in a proper ftjck, or who from the 
 prices of ftock and turneps, comparatively, 
 judge it more eligible to fcii than to " graze," 
 — fell their turneps to thofe who have judg- 
 pient, money, and Ipirit to buy (lock. 
 
 Sale turneps are ufually confumed on the 
 premiiTes diey grow upon. Sometimes the 
 
 buyer 
 
2«4 T U R N E P S. 33. 
 
 bujerand fomedmesLhe feller drag's the crops, 
 and tends Lhe carde ; for which fome times lHc 
 one 2nd, ibmetimes the other finds ftraw. 
 
 Tii^ medium price of 2 middling crop of 
 tumeps v> about 50J. an acre ; but the price rs 
 fiijjedt to great and fudden fluctuations ; as 
 will appear in Min. 68. 
 
 3. Consumption. This is the grand pur- 
 poie for vhich the turncp crop is principally 
 Ciid^vaied. 
 
 Turaeps arc almofi: univerfally " puUtd ;" 
 tint is, drawn up by the roots. The prachc* 
 cf hurdling them off with flieep, as diey fland, 
 the almoft only practice of other countries, is 
 jKJt in life in«Eaft Norfolk. I do not rccoile(5t 
 to have oblerved one inflancc of this practice, 
 oalcls when the turneps were very fmall, or 
 Yery thin. 
 
 But the Norfolk practice is not more fingu- 
 Jar with refpect to die mode of applicadon, 
 than widi refpeft to the fpecics of ilock to 
 uiiich turneps are applied. In mod places 
 «Hr£pare the chief confumers ; but, here, cat- 
 tle are almoft the only objed of die tumep 
 cokure. I fpcak more particularly of Lhe 
 pra(5licc of ibis DiftrLcl : in which, as I have 
 
 beivie 
 
jj. NORFOLK. 18^ 
 
 before intimated, the genuine fyftem of Nor- 
 folk hufljandry is pradtifed. 
 
 There are three ways o^barjefthig the tur- 
 
 nep crop : 
 
 A. Dra\\ing and carting-offdie whole crop. 
 
 B. Draw ing and dillributing the whole over 
 the turnep-ground. 
 
 C. Carting off half, and diilributlng haL^. 
 The r\vo laft, however, are in ufe only where 
 
 iheep are the fole or joint confumers. The 
 firft, therefore, may be called the general 
 practice : and it is probable that nine tenths o£ 
 the tumeps grown m Eaft Norfolk are har- 
 vefted in that way. 
 
 A. Carting-off the whole. This pro- 
 cefs merits a minute defciiption. 
 
 a. V:e thr>e if dra'u:ing commences about 
 Michaelmas, and continues until the plants be 
 
 in blow. 
 
 b, Thefrccejs cf dra-j;ir:g. This, in fevere 
 weather, is an emiployment which nothing but 
 cuilom could reconcile, to thofe whofe lot it is 
 to go through in: namely, ftout lads ani 
 youths J whofe hands are frequently fwelled 
 until the joints are only to be difcerned by the 
 dimples they form i neverrfielefs, I have not 
 
 heard 
 
a86 T U R N E P S. 3^ 
 
 heard an inilance of ill confequencc from tlis 
 circumf-arxf. 
 
 Their method ofpuUing, when the tops will 
 bear ic, is very expeditious : they pull with both 
 Kan.'s at once ; and, having filled each hand, 
 (one on one fide of them, the other on the 
 other) they bring the two handfuls together 
 with a fmart blow, to difengage the foil from 
 the roots ; and, with the fame motion, throw 
 them jointly into the cart. 
 
 If the tops be cut off by the froft, or if this 
 be in the ground, they are pulled with 
 "crooms" — two-tined hooks. 
 
 If a deep fnow bury the roots, it is removed 
 with the fnow-fledge (fee Implements). 
 
 It is cuilomary to begLi pulling under the 
 hedges, clearing the headlands and fidclands 
 firfl: i and then, if the whole crop be carried 
 off, to begin on one fide, and clear the ground 
 prcgreffively for the plow. 
 
 If the area be broken into, — a lane b made 
 for the horfe and cart, by drawing the tur-^ 
 ceps i and, while thtir tops remain fucculent 
 and valuable, fctting them in double handfuls 
 on each fide die road i by which means 
 the tops are prtfci-vcd as free from dirt and 
 
 Ciin^ 
 
33. NORFOLK. 287 
 
 taint, as if the handfuls were thrown imme- 
 diately into the cait. 
 
 It is cuilomar}', in drawing turneps, to dear 
 them away entirely, great and f/nali: I met 
 v/ith one inllance, however, and that in the 
 practice of a good hulbandman, of the fmaU 
 ones being left upon the ground : not more to 
 cncreafe in nze, than to throw out tops in the 
 fpring i it being obfervable, that a fmall turnep 
 fends up a top nearly equal to that of one whofc 
 bulb is larger. There is one inconveniency 
 ariilng from this practice : the plow is pre- 
 vented from entering upon the foil until late 
 in the fpring ; and this, upon fome foils, is an 
 imfurmountablc objection. Upon land, how- 
 ever, which will bring good barley with one 
 plowing after turneps, it may be ver)"- eligible 
 management. 
 
 c. The method cf gi'^ing them to cat lie. This 
 is Lhreef^ld. 
 
 Flril, They are thrown on fhibbles, grais- 
 lands, and fallows, tD catrle abroad in the fields. 
 
 Second, They are given in bins, in the 
 ftrawyard, in which the can:le go loofe. 
 
 Third, They are given to catde tied up in 
 ho'jfes or under fheds. 
 
 The 
 
28^ T U R N E P S. 
 
 35- 
 
 The frfi is the prevailing pra(rdce: per- 
 haps, tliree fourths, or perhaps, a greater pro- 
 portion, of the bullocks fatted on tiirneps, in 
 thiii Diftrid, are fatted abroad in the fields. 
 
 The general pradcice is to begiii with the 
 wheat ftubbles ; on which turneps are ufually 
 thrown, until they be broken up for fallow for 
 barley. The next throwing ground is fre- 
 quently the barley ftubbles, which receive the 
 bullocks as the wheat ftubbles are fcaled in, 
 and retain them until they, in their turn, are 
 broken up for turnep fallow. From about 
 Chiiftmas until the beginning of April, the 
 clover lays, only, are thrown upon : and after 
 thefe are fliut up, (in order to acquire a bite of 
 ray grafs for the unfinilhed bullocks,) the tur- 
 nep fallows, fometimes, become die fcene of 
 throwing. 
 
 Thefe rules, however, arc not always ftritfUy 
 obfcrved : fomc farmers objefting to throw 
 turneps on land intended for turneps the en- 
 fuing year, under an idea that it is produclive 
 of the Anbury. In this cafe, the clover lays 
 fucceed the wheat ftubbles, fome part of diem 
 being kept open until the turnep crop be 
 finilhcd in the fpring. Young clovers arc 
 
 fome- 
 
3j» NORFOLK. 289 
 
 fometimes thrown upon ; but tliis is feldom 
 done, unlefs there does not happen to be a 
 clover flubble in the neighbourhood of the 
 turnep piece ; and even then, it is confidered 
 as bad management ; unlels the Icafon be very 
 dry, and the furface found. 
 
 In a wet feafon, the Norfolk farmers, even 
 on their dry foil, are fometimes put to incon- 
 veniences for clean ground to throw upon; and, 
 notwithftanding the value of teathe, when the 
 land will bear the bullocks, I have known a 
 farmer afl<; leave of his neighbour to let him 
 throw turneps upon an adjoining piece of found 
 olland ; rather choofing to lofe his teathe 
 than check his bullocks. 
 
 Hence, in laying out a Norfolk farm, it 
 is proper to endeavour to intermix the crops 
 in fuch a manner that a piece of turneps fhall 
 have, at leaft, two pieces of lay in its neigh- 
 bourhood; 
 
 The method of throwing turneps is fimilar 
 to that of fetting on manure ; the carts be- 
 ginning on one fide of a clofe, and working 
 regularly to the other ; giving every part an 
 equal Ihare j and never throwing twice in the 
 fame place, until the whole has been gone over. 
 
 Vol. I. U At 
 
290 T U R N E P S. 33, 
 
 At the beginning of the throwing leafon, 
 while grafs is ftUl in plenty for lean flock, it is 
 ufual to keep the fatting cattle conftantly in 
 the fame piece of wheat llubble, giving them 
 a frelh fupply of turneps every day, or every 
 two days at fartheft. 
 
 But the clover fhibbles being cleared from 
 grafs, and the ftore bcallrs beginning to want 
 afTiilance from turneps, the fatting cattle have 
 their " followen," — that is rearing catde : — 
 lean bullocks, cows, or (lore Hicep follow them 
 to pick up their leavings. 
 
 In this cafe it is convenient to have three 
 <* fhifts," namely, three pieces of throwing- 
 ground, going on at the fame time :— one for 
 the head beads, one for the followers, and a 
 third empty to throw in. Two pieces, or two 
 divifions of the fame piece, are indifpenfibly 
 necefiary. 
 
 Sometimes a row of hurdles is run acrofs a 
 throwing piece to divide the " bullocks" from 
 the " followers ;" and I have known a boy em- 
 ployed for the fame purpofe. 
 
 Good farmers arc very attentive to having 
 the turneps thrown evenly and thinly j it being 
 A maxim, tliat while a bullock is breaking one 
 
 lumcp, 
 
§3. !^ O R F O L K. 291 
 
 turnep, he jfhould not have it in his power to 
 tread or dung upon another. This, howeveri 
 is feldom effeclually guarded againft. If tur- 
 neps be fcattered a yard afunder, they are not 
 ill thrown : it is too common to iee them 
 thrown in " rucks" and " ringes" by half 
 dozens together. 
 
 They are thrown by hand, by a boy ftand- 
 ing in the cart, which keeps going on as he 
 throws them out, — vrith their tops and tails on, 
 'as they were drawn out of the piece. 
 
 Bullocks at turneps abroad, are fometimes, 
 * when the diftanc'e is not too great, driven into 
 the ftraw}'ard at night ;— and fometimes have 
 a little ftraw given them under the hedge of 
 the throwing piece, where rhey fleep, entirely 
 abroad. See Min. 69, 
 
 The quantity of (Vraw carried to tliem is 
 very fmall -, being meant merely to " clean 
 their mouths" from the dii-t of the turneps j 
 which, alone, are depended upon for brincing 
 ih^ catde fonvard. 
 
 It is indeed an interefting facl, that not one 
 in ten of the high finilhed bullocks, which are 
 annually fent to Smithfield market out of Nor- 
 folk, tafte a handful of hay i or have any other 
 U ? food. 
 
291 T U R N E P S. jj^ 
 
 food, whatever, than tumeps and barley draw ; 
 excepting fuch as are finilhed with ray grafs in 
 the fprirg j and excepting feme few fatted by 
 fuprrior graziers, who make a point of giving 
 their bullocks a: tiirneps a litde hay, towards 
 ipring, when the turneps are going off, before 
 the ray grafs lays be ready to receive them. 
 An excellent pmflice, this, which ought, if 
 poiTible, to be univerfally copied : for without 
 this precaution, bullocks are liable to receive a 
 check between nirneps and grafs. 
 
 The Jecond mediod of fatting catde \\'ith 
 turneps is, to keep them in a loofe ftrawyard ; 
 giving them turneps in clofe bins j namely, a 
 kind of fmall cowcrib with boards, or bars 
 nearly clofe, at the bottom. 
 
 Thefc bins are diftributed about the yard, 
 and the turneps ufuaily put into them whole; 
 but, in diis cafe, they are always " tailed"— 
 that is, have their tap-root lopped off — in the 
 field i and, unlefs the tops be frcfh and palatable, 
 they are ufuaily " topped-and-tailed," giving 
 to the fitting bullocks the bulb only ; the 
 tcps, if eatable, being given to ftore catde. 
 
 Bullocks in die yard have fometimes their 
 ilrav.' giv^a Lhem *in cribs ; and fometimes have 
 
 it 
 
3^; NORFOLK. 293 
 
 it fcattered in little heaps about the yard, t\\^o 
 or thrc'e times a day : the quantity of it eaten 
 is in either cafe fmall ; and, with the latter 
 management, the yard becomes evenly littered 
 without further trouble. 
 
 This method of fatting bullocks on turneps 
 is fcwnewhat more troublefome than that of 
 throwing to them abroad ; which, if the foil 
 be dry enough to bear (lock, and light enough 
 to require ^jamming," — is, perhaps, upon the 
 whole, the moft eligible management : but in 
 a deep-land fituation, and in a wet, or a fcvere 
 fealbn — the yard, if it be kept dry and well 
 littered, is the more comfortable place ; cfpe- 
 cially if it be provided with open fheds for the 
 cattle to take fhelter under in inclement fea- 
 fons. 
 
 The teathe of bullocks abroad is no doubt 
 highly ferviceabie to land ; efpecially to a hght 
 foil J while bullocks at turneps in a yard well 
 littered make a great quantity of good ma- 
 nure. 
 
 The third method is to keep the cattle ded 
 
 up in hovels; or under open fheds, with 
 
 troughs or mangers to receive the turneps ; 
 
 which, in this cafe, are frequently " chopped ;" 
 
 U 3 due 
 
2^ T U R N E P S. 35. 
 
 that is, cut into fiices\ or rr.cre generally, 
 though perhaps lefs eligibly, into quartersj with 
 a finall hedging bill, or other chopper, upon a 
 narrow board or ftool, with a bafket under- 
 neath to catch the pieces as they are choptoff. 
 The turncp in this operation is held by the 
 top ; which, when wholly difengaged from 
 the root, except the coarfe part immediately 
 about the crown, is thrown afide for the ilore 
 cattle. The tap root and borrom rind are 
 fiiced off widi the firll; flroke, and I'uffered to 
 drop on one fide the (kep ; fo that the fatting 
 cattle, in this cafe, have only the prime pare 
 of the bulb. 
 
 This accounts for the quick progrefs which^ 
 " Ihed bullocks" fometimes make ; efpeclaliy 
 in cold weather. But on account of the ex- 
 traordinary attendance they, in this cafe, re- 
 quire, — not only in cutting the turneps, but in 
 littering and cleaning out their ftalls, — befides 
 the checks which they are liable to receive 
 in clofe muggy weather — the pra<5tice is fcldom 
 followed by large farmers in this Diftricl i un- 
 Jeis to pufli forward fome particular individuals. 
 
 Among litde farmers, who have leifure and 
 inclination to tend their own Iheds, the prac- 
 tice 
 
3|. NORFOLK. 295 
 
 tice is not uncommon ; and much depending 
 on care and management in this buiiners, they 
 may, probably, find their account in it. Un- 
 der this treatment, the catde have a little bar- 
 ley ftraw given them, from rime to time, to 
 tlean their mouths, and dry up the luperliuous 
 juices of the turnep. 
 
 Sometimes fhed bullocks are " blown up" 
 Vrith pollard and barley meal ; bu: this is con- 
 fidered as an unfair practice by the butchers in 
 Smithfield, who prefer tumeps and hay in 
 winter, and ray grafs in the Ipring, to every 
 pther kind of fatring. 
 
 In the fouLhern Hundreds of this Biflricl, 
 the foils of which are, in general, too tender 
 to bear cattle \vith propriety in a wet leafon, 
 the yard and xhc Ihed are more common re- 
 ceptacles of bullocics than they are in fbis 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 In Blowfield Hundred, a commodious but 
 cxpenfive- fhed prevails : it has one main ad- 
 \'antage over the litde hovels in which bul- 
 locks are Ibmeumes cooped up: the loft}', 
 ipacious area in which the bullocks breathe, 
 affords them a plentiful fupply of frefli air, 
 and keeps their bodies in a di.e degree of tem- 
 perature. 
 
 U 4 F^r 
 
096 TURNEPS. 33; 
 
 For a defcnf tion of one of thefc Iheds, fee 
 Mis. 1 1 3. 
 
 B. Drav/ivg a»:d distributing thz 
 
 WHOLE CROP OV£R THE TURNEP GROUXD. 
 
 This being only in ufe where a large flock of 
 fhecp is kept and few bullocks are fatted, it is 
 fcldom pra(fliled in E.^fl: Norfolk. It differs 
 from th.e ordinary method of hurdling off tur- 
 neps, in that the fheep, inftead of being put 
 upon the plants as they {land, are kept back 
 upon the cleared ground, upon wliich the tur- 
 neps are thrown. But as, in diis cafe, the tur- 
 neps mud cither be thrown in part over die 
 ground already fouled by the fheep j or be 
 confined to a fpace fimilar to that off which 
 they are drawn j — by which means the princi- 
 pal intention of drawing is fruftrated ; — a third 
 method of harvefling has been invented 5 
 namely, 
 
 C. Carting off half and distributing 
 HALF. This ingenious method is, I be- 
 lieve, of modern invention ; and is now 
 chiefly praclifed by a few capital farmers, who 
 fat large quantities bcth of cattle and fhecp. 
 
 ^ 
 
13. NORFOLK. 297 
 
 In this cafe, the headlands and fidelands be- 
 ing cleared, the area is drawn and carried off, 
 warp for warp ; leaving the piece in ftripes, 
 about ten paces wide. 
 
 The firft drawing is expended on the bul- 
 locks in one or other of the ways already de- 
 fcribed j while the remaining flripes are drawn 
 and fcattered over the entire ground for flieep. 
 
 By this means the principal intention of 
 drawing is obtained} namely, that of diflri- 
 bucing the turneps evenly and thinly ; fo that 
 while one is eaten, another may not be foiled : 
 a principle which, it may be taken for granted, 
 is well founded ; as it is ftrictly and invariably 
 attended to by good farmers in general. 
 
 This advantage, however, does not appear 
 to me to be the only one obtained by drawing 
 turneps for fheep in the fold. 
 
 When a flock of Iheep are turned upon a 
 Ihift of franding turneps, the firll thing they 
 do is to run over the vv'hclei and, then, to 
 eat fuch of the tops as they have not tram- 
 pled down in running over them. While 
 they are doing this, they Hand upon the roots: 
 yhich, being firm in the ground, and fiat on 
 
 the 
 
zcjf T U R N E P S. 3^ 
 
 the top, are no way ixicon\'enient to {land upon. 
 But what is worfe, if the foot happen to fail 
 . near the edge of the turnep, the fharpncis cf 
 the hoof, and the fixed fiDjadon of the roct> 
 renders it liablf to be barked, as well as foul- 
 ' cd, and rendered uniavory to this fafljdiou^ 
 animal. 
 
 On the contrar)', if iheep be put upon dra\\7i 
 turneps, their tops may be m iQxne meafure 
 injured, but their roots cannot j for beir^ 
 roimd, and lying loofe upon die furface of the 
 ground, they afford no foothold to Hand upon. 
 And, if the hoof be put upon die edge, the 
 turnep rolling with the flighteft touch, the foot 
 flips, and the rind is laved. Thus the roots 
 in diis cafe, inftead of being footflools become 
 ftumblingblocks to the iheep i who, carefully 
 avoiding the t^orneps, .ftand, m this cale, en- 
 tirely upon the ground ; which, under diefc 
 circumilances, is left aimoft wholly free for 
 tiieir feet j the turneps touching it with a fmail 
 portion of their circumferences only; whereas, 
 in dieir natural (late of growing, they occupy 
 a cenfiderable pordon of the fumce. 
 
 V9y 
 
g3. NORFOLK. izgi^ 
 
 For obfervatiojis on Jleeping the feed j and?v* 
 Jowingy fee Min. 3. 
 
 For obfervations on the turr.ep caterpillar^ . 
 fee Min. la. 
 
 For obfervations on the ^rub and Anbury^ 
 fee Min. 20. 
 
 For an indance of the "^" being checked 
 by the (heepfold, fee Min. 2,1. 
 
 For preventatives of the Anbury, fee 
 Min. 12, 
 
 For experiment with //;;?<? for turneps, fee 
 MiN'. 29. 
 
 For the (quantity of turneps eaten by bul- 
 locks in the yard, and calculation on their 
 tr educe value, fee Min. 56. 
 
 For an nicident refpeding the " proof of 
 turneps ; and reafons accoundng for it by a 
 particular foil procejs, and cloje being, fee 
 JMiN. 57. 
 
 For a fimple v^'ay of prejerving turneps in 
 winter, and reflections upon it, fee Min. 61. 
 
 For inftances of the price of turneps, fee 
 Min. 68. 
 
 For comparative obfervadons on jhed and 
 dut-dcor bullocks, and on the practice o( indi- 
 
 "Sidnals 
 
3^ T U R X E P S. 5||- 
 
 viduals in fatdng bulhch on rjmfps, fee 
 MiN. 69. 
 
 For a ^ZTxlz'^hr/ied prcce/sy fee Miv. 71. 
 
 For the praitice of lundry indiiiduals in the 
 confumptioa of turneps on Jiore caific, {tc 
 MiN. 74. 
 
 For an opinion refpecting the great ufe of 
 turneps to cozvs in the fpring, fee Mi v. 8j. 
 
 For a defcription of the manner in which 
 bullocks l>reak their turneps, fee Mix. 84. 
 
 For oblervations on the expenditure of tur- 
 neps in Fleg, lee \I r k . 106. 
 
 For further obfen'ations on the tumep C<7- 
 terp filar, and of the Tenthredo ^^-hich produces 
 fhem, fee Mik. 122, 124, 129, and ij2. 
 
 For further obfen*arions on the applkcficn 
 of turneps, fee the article Bullocks, and the 
 MiN, from tiicnce referred to. 
 
 ^4. cri. 
 
,4. NORFOLK. 30^ 
 
 34- 
 
 CULTIVATED GRASSES, 
 
 UNDER THIS HEAD it wiU be proper 
 to confider, 
 
 1. The fpecies, 
 
 2. The Ibil, 
 
 3. SuccefTion, 
 
 4. Seedprocefs, 
 
 5. Vegetating procefs, 
 
 6. Firft-year's lay, 
 
 7. Second-year's lay. 
 
 I. Species. The cultivated grafies of this 
 Dillricb are. 
 
 Darnel, — lolium pereyine, — ray grafs ; 
 
 Clover, — trifcUurn fratenje — red clover; 
 
 Suckling, — trifolium repens — white clover ; 
 
 Black nonfuch*, — trifcUum agrarium, — tre- 
 foil hop clover, — or yellow clover; 
 
 Sufroik grais, — -pea a/muaj—dwa.rfmtcidoW' 
 grafs. 
 
 • By *' black nonfuch" is meant trefoil in the huCc ; 
 in contradiflir.ftion to darnel, which is frequently called 
 
 " white 
 
304 CULTIVATED GRASSES. ^^ 
 
 The firft two are the principal grafTes fown 
 in the regular courfe of hufbandry ; but gene- 
 rally with feme admixture of the third or fourth 
 fpecies ; the laft is fown only when a perennial 
 lay is intended j a thing which is fcidom at- 
 tempted in this Dillricl. 
 
 A newfpecies of productive nutritive grafs 
 would be very acceptable to the hufbandry of 
 Norfolk ; whofe lands, to ufe the provincial 
 phraie, are *^ rired of clover*.'* 
 
 If we confider the lengdi of time which 
 clover has been fucceflively fown on the Nor- 
 folk foil, this circumftance is not extraordina- 
 ry i as it has likewife taken pbce in Diftri(5ls 
 where the cultivation of clover is a more mo- 
 dern praftice than in Norfolk ; v/hcre it has 
 been cultivated time immemorial. 
 
 A fmall inclofure near Aylefham is fhcwn as 
 the firft piece of land which bore clover in 
 
 " wliitc noafuch." Trefoil feed freed from the huSk, u 
 called "hulled nonfuch." 
 
 • I made a trial of rihgrais (flantage latueolattu J , but 
 gained r.o credit from the experiment : for although this 
 graCs be Town in coniiJerable quantities in fome parts of 
 the kingdom, it is in Norfolk confidered as a •xeed : the 
 faft is, horfes do not s£i.Si it ; and ihefe arc the principal 
 coalumcrs of the ciover-crop, in this country. 
 
 this 
 
34. NORFOLK. 3^3 
 
 this Dlftrid. But even this circiimftance is 
 now become merely traditional j no perfon now 
 living being able to fpeak to it with certainty. 
 
 It is obfervable, however, that land, thouMi 
 It be no longer the favorite of clover, v/iU 
 bring up the feed perfectly well ; and, if the 
 plants are not cut off in their infant ftate, will 
 fupport them tlirough the winter, with vigour 
 and apparent heakhfulnefs. But in the fprino-, 
 when the plants begin to want a more ample 
 fupply of nourilliment than the foil is enabled 
 to furniili them with, they droop and dwindle, 
 and frequently, in a few weeks, entirely die 
 away. 
 
 Even on the frefheft foils, clover fcldom 
 ftands more than one year; going off entirely 
 the fecond fpring ; leaving the darnel (unlefs 
 fome odier grafs be fown) .in full polTeffion of 
 the Ibil. 
 
 This circumflance, however, is no great in- 
 convenience, in the prefent fyflem of Norfolk 
 hulbandry : if the clover afford a fufficiency of 
 herbage and hay, the firft year, its chief duty 
 is done : ray grafs having been found, from 
 long experience, to be of all other granes, yet 
 cultivated, the befl for nniihing turneped 
 
 bullocks 
 
304 CULTIVATED GRASSES. j^ 
 
 bullocks in the fpring ; not only as being early 
 and productive ; but as being of 2n uncom- 
 monly " forcing," that is, fattening nature. 
 
 Its duration, ho-ci-ever, is tranfient ; and 
 fuckling, or other fummer grafs is ufeful to 
 keep up a bite for the ftore cattle, until the 
 fecond-year's lays be broken up for the wheat 
 fallow. 
 
 II. Soil. They are fown indifcriminately 
 on eveiy Ipecies. 
 
 UI. Succession. They are ralfed almoft In- 
 variably with barley after turneps ; Ibmedmes, 
 but not ufually, they are fo\7n over wheat after 
 
 turneps. 
 
 IV. Seed process. — i. The timeofsow-« 
 ING grafs feeds is fomewhat fingular. It is 
 not immediately after the fowing of the barley j 
 nor after it is up ; but gencraiiy, berween the 
 fov.'ing of the barley and its appearance above- 
 ground. 
 
 This, on a dry foil, and efpecially in a dry 
 feafon, appears to a ftranger extraordinary 
 management ; and why Lhc moiflure which is 
 
 turned 
 
34- NORFOLK. foi 
 
 turned up to die furface by the feed-earth of 
 the barley fiiould be fuftered to evaporate be- 
 fore the grafs feeds are lodged among it, is 
 rather inexplicable ; unlefs it be Intended to 
 gain a freih advantage over the root weeds 
 which have been harrowed up in covering the 
 barley. 
 
 Or, perhaps, the pracftice has been eftabliihed 
 on a llill broader bafis. It has, perhaps, 
 been found, from long experience, that the 
 moillure turned up by tne feed plowing of the 
 barley, is, fome times, fufficient to bring the 
 grafs feeds into a flate of vegetation, without 
 being able to fupport them through a continu- 
 ance of dry weather : whereas by fufFcrin^the 
 furface mould to diy before the feeds be fown 
 in it, they lie in a ftate of fafety until rain 
 falls ; while the barley, being buried deeper, 
 gets up to Ihade the tender fcedlings j and at 
 the fame time gets, as it ought to do, the af- 
 cendancy of the grafs feeds. 
 
 2. Preparation of the seed. I did not 
 meet with an inftance of any preparation being 
 made ufc of, in this Diflricb. 
 
 3. Method of sowin'g. The different 
 forts are ufually mixed and fown together; 
 
 Vol. I. X ^ the 
 
3c6 CULTIVATED GRASSES. 34, 
 
 the quantity of ray grafs being fmall ; the 
 feedfman taking care to ftir them up, from 
 time to time, to prevent the fmalleft and 
 heavieft from fettling at the bottom of the bowl 
 or hopper. 
 
 4. Quantity of seed. — This varies with 
 the quality of the feed, and the opinion of 
 the farmer: half a peck of ray grafs ! and /§ 
 the amount of twelve or fourteen pounds of 
 clover, an acre, may be taken as the medium 
 quantity : if two or three pounds of fuckling, 
 or three or four pounds of " hulled nonfuch," 
 or a proportional quantity of " black non- 
 fuch," be fown, the quantity of red clover is 
 proportion ably lefs. 
 
 5. The feeds are generally covered \\ith a 
 pair of fmall harrows, drawn backward ro 
 prevent the teeth from tearing up the clods, 
 difturbing the barley, or burying the grafs 
 feeds too deep. 
 
 V. Vegetating process. The " young 
 feeds" are ftudioufly kept {romfieep the firft 
 autumn and winter. They are, however, eatg^i 
 freely with young (lock and other Oore caf/Ie ; 
 and for conveniency have fometimes rurneps 
 
 tbrcrjjn 
 
34. NORFOLK. 307 
 
 thrcwn upon them : but this, as has been ob- 
 ferved, is not a general practice ; nor is it 
 efteemed a judicious one ; unlefs the foil be 
 very firm and the feafon dry. They are fome- 
 times tcp-dre[fed in winter, with dung or com- 
 poft J but this is a prafVice confined to a few 
 individuals. In the fpring of the firft year, 
 they r.re univerfdlyy?6'W/>/Vi^^^j but, extraor- 
 dinary to relate, they are rarely, if ever, rolled 
 either the fiift or the fecond fpring. 
 
 VI. First-year's lay. — i. This is gene- 
 rally SHUT UP in the month of April, and 
 either fuftercd to fland for hay, or is paftured, 
 or roped upon, by the working horfes. See 
 
 HORSES. 
 
 1. Clover hay is mown with the fame 
 fithe, and is lifted or turned in the fame man- 
 ner, as BARLEY. The great fmgularit}^ re- 
 fpe(fting the treatment of clover hay, in Nor- 
 folk, confifts in its being univerfally made 
 into large cocks, as foon as it is weathered 
 enough to prevent its damaging in thefe 
 cocks ; in which it frequently flands a week, 
 or, perhaps, a fortnight. 
 
 X 2 By 
 
3o8 CULTIVATED GRASSES. 3+, 
 
 By cocking it in this manner, bef«rc it be- 
 comes too crifp, the leaf and the heads are 
 faved ; but heavy rains fomerimes do it great 
 injury in this ftate. From (lighter rains and 
 tranfient fnowers it is, however, much fafer 
 in thefe large cocks (four, five, or fix of 
 which will gener Uy make a load), than in 
 f\''aths J whofe furfaces being large in propor- 
 tion to their bulk, and their fituation being 
 low, arc liable to receive damage from every 
 fhowers while the furfaces of large cocks are 
 comparatively fmall, and, their fituation being 
 elevated, the wet is licked up by the firft 
 breeze of wind. * 
 
 Clover is feldom mown more than once ; 
 except for feed j the fccond crop being ufually 
 eaten-off with llore cattle; for wv.ich the 
 clover ftubbles are neceflary receptacles, after 
 the ray-grafs lays are broken up for wheat. 
 
 3. Raising clover seed is not a praclice 
 of this Diflricl. The principal part of than 
 which is fown in it is railed in Suffolk, and 
 the Suffolk fide of Norfolk; the quantity faved 
 in this part of the county being fmall, com- 
 pared with the quantity fown. See Min. 101. 
 
 Vn, The 
 
24' NORFOLK. 3-9 
 
 Vn. The secon'd-year's lay. This is in-- 
 variably paftured (unlef^ fome imall fharc 
 be fjifcred to (land for damel feed) ; the fpring 
 fhoot being uiually expended in " topping up" 
 tumeped bulloclLs: for which purpofe no 
 other vegetable, perhaps, is fuperior to ray 
 ffrafs. 
 
 Store Catde follow the bullocks (which ge- 
 nerally are all fent to Smirhfield by the miduk 
 of June), and keep pollefilon of the fecond- 
 year's lays, until they be broken up for wheat, 
 in July, Auguft, September, or Ocbober, agree- 
 ably to the SOIL PROCESS made ufe of for 
 ^VHiAT i which lee. 
 
 For an inftance of fo\\ing clover in au- 
 tiimn, fee Mix. 24. 
 
 For an account of Norwich clover- feed 
 market, ke Mi V. loi. 
 
 For a fmguidr efrecl afcribed to clover^ in 
 Fjeg, fee Mix. 106. 
 
 X 3 3J. NA- 
 
3IO NATURAL GRASSES. ^ 
 
 N\TUR\L GR\SSFS. 
 
 IN DESCRIBING the management of the 
 different kinds of Grasslands, it will be ne- 
 ceflary to treat feparately of each species, 
 namely, 
 
 1 . Grazing grounds, 
 
 2. Meadows, 
 
 3. Marlhes, * 
 
 4. Fens. 
 
 I. Grazing grounds. — If we except the 
 parks and paddocks of men of fortune j who, 
 through economy or fafhion^ have, in general, 
 difparked their deer, and converted their parks 
 and paddocks into fheep-walks and grazing 
 grounds i we find very little upland grafo in 
 /i?;j Diftrift : I recollect only one piece, of any 
 extent, in the occupation of farmers. 
 
 There are two caufes of this fcarcity of natu- 
 ral grafsland : the (oils of this neighbourhood, 
 
 and 
 
35. NORFOLK. 311 
 
 and of the entire county, taken in a general 
 point of view, are of a quality imgenial to the 
 native graffes. If a piece of arable land be 
 laid down to grals, in the rourfe of a very few 
 years it becomes mofiy and unproductive, and 
 calls aloud for the plow and harrow. 
 
 The other is, the high price which corn bore 
 a few years ago. This urged the farmer to in- 
 creale his arable land to the Ilretch : not only 
 UPLAND grafs, but even bogs appear to have 
 been fubjecked to the arable procefsj though, in 
 their prefent ftate, too moift and chilly to bear 
 even the finer graffes ; much more to fupport 
 and mature profitable crops of corn. 
 
 This is far from being intended as a general 
 Cenfure of the anxiety of the Norfolk hufband- 
 men to increaftj the quantity of arable land ; 
 for I am of opini >n, that there is fcarcely an 
 4cre of land in the counzy which is not worth 
 more under the Norflk fyftem of aration than 
 it would be in any Lther ftate; except the Mea- 
 dows, the Marshes, and the Fen's ; which I 
 am equally clear in opinion ought to be im- 
 proved as grafsland, or as fources of turf, 
 reed, oziers, fedge, or other aquatic and palu- 
 ftrean produdtions ; and ought not, under any 
 X 4 pretence 
 
ju NATURAL GRASSES. 35, 
 
 pretence -whatever, to be attempted to be re- 
 duced to arable land. 
 
 n. Meapows. The fpecies of grafsland 
 which pafles under this denomination in Nor- 
 folk, is confined to thofe bottoms, or vallies, 
 which accompany, aimoft uniformly, the rivu- 
 lets which abound in Eaft Norfolk. 
 
 Thefc vallies yary in width and depth. In 
 feme places the bed of the rivulet is funk 
 deep and narrow, in an almoft level fiuface ; 
 fo that the arable land comes down to its brink ; 
 in othfrs, the valley is wide, and the bottom 
 flat i and, in this c^fc, tlie fides of the valley, 
 are fometimes low with an eafy fwel], fome- 
 times bold and lofty : /i'/V. however is feldom 
 the cafe j the Norfolk meadows in general 
 lying in genti? .--ips a few feet below the level 
 of die uplan ", 2n4 from half a furjong to t\vQ 
 or three furlongs wide. 
 
 Thefe dips, gentle as they rpay be, fubjed 
 them, in g-neral, ;o a pernicio'j^ redundancy of 
 fubt.rranean moiflure. 
 
 The Norfolk foil, in general, is, as has 
 bfen repeatedly obi" ;^'cd, of a nature unufually 
 ^ibrbcnti driatdng up rain water as fall, 
 
 as 
 
35. NORFOLK. 313 
 
 as it reaches the earth : a flood is feldom heard 
 of in Norfolk. The waters thus abforbed are 
 liable to be obltrufled by beds of marl and 
 clay : if an obftnj flion take place on the verge 
 of a valley, the waters obfcructed ouze out, or 
 attempt a pafTage, on its fides; or rife, or 
 attempt to rlie, out of its bife. Tims, iand- 
 fprings, quickfands, hanging tumour., and 
 bogs, occur in almofl every m'.aic.. : and 
 where none of thefe a(f:ually rake place, a 
 coldnefs uflially prevails iii every part of 'the 
 area 'except in very dry feaf:ic) ; owing to 
 the lownels of the fitaition, compared %\ith 
 the neighbouring upland ; vrhofe abforbed 
 waters, though they fmk beneath tlie corn- 
 mould, ind t;.ough diey may meet widi no 
 particular obtfuccion, yet, in a wet feafon, are, 
 in ail human probability, coilefted, more or 
 lefs, at die depth of a few feet below the fur- 
 face 
 
 Be this as i: may, tlie chilnefs vdiich pre- 
 vails in the lower parts of tlie m.eadov.-s, dc- 
 fVroys^or checks tne better gralTcs, and pro- 
 duces or e.irour^jcs alders, fedges, ruihes, 
 and the whole tribe of paluftrean weeds: while 
 
 the 
 
3T4 NATURAL GRASSES. 35. 
 
 the upper margins are produilive of furze, 
 fern, and anthills. 
 
 Such, from firuation, is the natural Jiate of 
 the Norfolk meadows i and forry I am to add, 
 that, i^ith a few exceptions, //^ri& is their frejtnt 
 fiate. 
 
 Admirer as I am of the arable management 
 of this countr}", and cautious as I willi to be of 
 cenfuring, without caufe, any department of 
 Its rural economy i I cannot refrain from con- 
 demning, in full terms, its grafsiand manage- 
 ment. 
 
 Having, hov/ever, minuted my fentimenrs 
 on this fubjefb, as they occurred from time to 
 time, in the courfe of my obfcrvatign or prac- 
 tice i I fhall, in this place, only give a (ketch 
 of the prefent management, fuch as it is, and 
 draw wiiat appears to mc the general outline of 
 improvement. 
 
 In winter, or towards fpring, when the land- 
 
 Iprings are flow mg and the bogs full of water, 
 
 a few paltry grips are, fometimes, made acrolk 
 
 fuch parts of a meadow as are no longer able 
 
 to bear pafturing flock: thefc grips being 
 
 ufu^lly run in a perpendicular direction, from 
 
 the rivulet toward the upper margin. 
 
 But, 
 
35, NORFOLK. 315 
 
 But, frequently, even this is omitted ; or, if 
 once done, is lb long neglected, that its effect 
 is loft. 
 
 Befides this faint attempt at improving the 
 fubftratum, the rufhes and other tall weeds on 
 the furface are Jometimes fwept down with the 
 fithe ; — and Ibmetimes left to enjoy their natu- 
 ral right. — Thus much as to impro'veinents. 
 
 With refpecl to the iijes to which thefe mo- 
 rafTes are applied, they are principally confined 
 to that of keeping young cattle from ftarvino-; 
 cows are fometimes trufted in them -, but in 
 general their furfaces are too rotten, and their 
 herbage too rank for this fpecies of ftock : 
 and common prudence, rellilting from dear- 
 bought experience, generally prevents the far- 
 mer from trufting eitlier his fheep or his horfes 
 jn his " meadows i" — left the former Ibould be 
 fubjecled to the rot, and the latter be fmother- 
 cd in the peatbogs. 
 
 When the young cattle have picked out the 
 little grafs they can find, — the ledges and other 
 aquatic weeds of the bogs are fometimes mown, 
 and carried off by hand, for litter ; and fome- 
 times fuffered to die and rot on their native 
 bogs, whofe depth is thereby annually in- 
 
 creafed, 
 
3i6 NATURAL GRASSES. 35. 
 
 crcafcd. Upon the founder better parts, the 
 rufhes and rough grafs are, fometimes, made 
 into a kind of coarfe hay, for winter fodder for 
 ftore cattle. 
 
 The common rental price of meadow land 
 is, from five (hillings to ten fhillings an acre j 
 and, in their prefent ftate, it is their full rental 
 value ; taking one year with another : in a 
 very dr\' feifon they are frequently, on a par, 
 worth ten fliillings an acre to a former i paf- 
 turao-e of any kind being, in that cafe, fingu- 
 krly valuable in Norfolk ; but, in a common 
 year, rfiey are not, in their prefent ftate, I ap- 
 prehend, worth, on a pr, more than fevcn 
 ftillings an acre. 
 
 If we confider the natural fituation, and the 
 prefent ftate of the Norfolk meadows, the fol- 
 lowin<y improvements fpontaneoufly offer 
 themfelves. 
 
 1. Draining the furface and fubftratum 
 from fuperfluous moifture. 
 
 2. Clearing and levelling the furface- 
 mould, and increafing its contexture and firm- 
 ness. 
 
 3. Improving the quality of the pro- 
 duce, by grass sEE^Si or, by planting. 
 
 4. In,. 
 
35. NORFOLK. 315^ 
 
 4. Increafing the quantity, as well as the 
 quality of the herbage, by manuring and 
 
 WATERING. 
 
 The laft, namely watering, is a praflice 
 entirely unknown to the generality of Norfolk 
 hufbandmen. Indeed, until the furface of 
 their meadows be adjufled, and the fubterra- 
 nean waters removed, a knowledge of the 
 praifVice would be ufelefs to them. 
 
 '■Without this advantage, great as it would 
 be in addition, I will venture to afiert, from an 
 extraordinary attention to this fubjed, that the 
 prefent rental value of the meadows of Eall 
 Norfolk might be doubled j and this at the 
 expence of one third of the improved value. 
 I will venture to go farther, and give it as my 
 clear opinion, that the meadow lands of Eaft 
 Norfolk, with a fimilar proportion of expence, 
 might, on a par, be improved ten Ihillings an 
 acre. 
 
 We have, in a former feflion, eftimated the 
 number of arable acres in Norfolk to be fix 
 hundred thouiand. Suppofing the proportion 
 of arable to meadow land to be as twenty to 
 one (ten :o one v>'ould, perhaps, be a nearer 
 proportion) the number of acres of meadow 
 will be thirty thoufand, which^ at ten fhiliings 
 
 an 
 
3x8 NATURAL GRASSES. 35. 
 
 an acre, is fifteen thoufand pounds ; from which 
 take one third for the expence pf improvement, 
 the remainder is ten thouGnd pounds, the neat 
 annual improvement. 
 
 If to the iMPR0VE\fEN'T of draining, &c. 
 that of WATERING were added, in places 
 where it is practicable, at a moderate exp>ence, 
 this annual increafe might be very confiderably 
 augmented. 
 
 In a country where landed gentlemen areilio 
 minutely> and fo flrenuoufly, attentive to their 
 own intereft, it is aftoniihing they do not fet 
 about fuch yeiii improvements as would, in the 
 inflant, render them refpectable, and bring, 
 in the end, a duralle increafe to their reritrollsi 
 rather than continue to dwell upon thofe, 
 which have already brought down fo much 
 diftrefs ujjon their tenants, and obloquy upon 
 themfclves. 
 
 However, with refpeft to the improvement 
 of meadows, the tenants arc equally culpable 
 ■with their landlords : even a twenty-one year's 
 leafe is not enough to encourage them to make 
 the requi.ite improvement. 
 
 The fact is, the landlord and tenant are 
 jointly interelied ; and the expence in this, as 
 
 in 
 
35- NORFOLK. 31^ 
 
 in almofl: all cafes of improvement upon a 
 leafed eftate, ought to be joint. On granting 
 a leafe, the landlord ought to advance, or 
 allow, fome certain fum of money towards the 
 improvement ; which he, or his agent, ouf^ht 
 to fee executed, according to agreement, pre- 
 vioufly entered into by the tenant. 
 
 III. Marshes. This fpecies of natural 
 grafsland is, on the eaftern fide of the county, 
 confined to the neighbourhood of Yarmouth ; 
 where an extenfive trafl of marfhes lie on the 
 banks of the Breydon; which, formerly, was 
 probably, an arm of the fca, but is now a 
 mere dilatation of the Yare ; which, at Yar- 
 mouth, regains the river form. This valuable 
 trafl of land, with its prefent ftate and applica- 
 tion, being fully defcribed in Minute u8, it 
 is unnecelTary to dwell upon it in this place. 
 
 IV. Fexs, Under this head I clais die 
 fv/am.py margins of the rivers and lakes v/hich 
 abound in the fouthern part of this Diflrid. 
 
 Their natural produce is reed, gladdon*, 
 ft'dge, ruflies, and other aquatic and paluftrean 
 
 • Gkddon-"T Y p H A latifJtatt ar.guftlfolia, — cats-tail. 
 
 plants ; 
 
jao NATURAL GRASSES. 35. 
 
 plants i tlieir upper fides being frequently out 
 of the water's way, afrjiding a proportion of 
 grazable land : hence, probably, they are pro- 
 vincially termed " marlhes." This, however, 
 is not only contrary to the common accepta- 
 tion of the term ; but tlie produce and princi- 
 pal ufe of a {en are totally different from thofe 
 of a grazmg marfii. 
 
 The profits of a fen arife, in general, fr6m 
 
 Reed and gladdoy, cut for thatch, for build-' 
 ings; 
 
 Sedge and ruflies, for litter ; and thatch, for 
 hay and corn ricks, and fometimes for build- 
 mcrs; 
 
 Coarfe g-rafs, for fodder, and fometimes for 
 paflurage -, — 2nd 
 
 Peat for -fuel*. 
 
 The lajly if made the mod of, is a very va- 
 luable article, — as appears in Min. 54. 
 
 • The proprietors of manors arc alfo proprietors of the 
 fifh in fuch parts of thofe frefli-wacer lakes as lie within 
 their reCpeclive manors ; and the ri^ht of tithing is fre- 
 quently let ofF to men who make an employr.ient of taking 
 the pike (fo.ne of them of iinmcnfe iizc) and other fifli 
 with which " the broads" abound. 
 
 The 
 
35. NORFOLK. 321 
 
 The ufeand value of Reed have been (poken 
 to, amply, under the head Buildings an'D 
 
 REPAIRS. 
 
 Gladijon' is of a firriiiar ufe, but iefs 
 value J its duration being much Ihorter than 
 that of reed. 
 
 The other articles require no explanation. 
 
 For an inllance of burning dntbUls, fee 
 MiN. 6. 
 
 For an inflance of a grazing ground being 
 more nutritious to heifers than to fleers, fee 
 Miy. 39. 
 
 For the Norfolk method of opening drains, 
 fct Mix. 44. 
 
 For the method of " gelding" anthiilsj fee 
 MiN\ 5c. 
 
 For general obfervadons on Norfolk mea- 
 dows, fee Mix. 51. 
 
 For general obfervadons on/^j,feeMiN-. 54. 
 
 For a (biking inftance of the prefent bad 
 management of mendc^vs, fee Mix, 65. 
 
 For the method of cutring rfc*:/, fee Mi n. 89. 
 
 For a ftriking improv^ement o( meado'uj land, 
 fee Mix. 96. 
 
 For a defcriprion of the Tarmoutb marfoes, 
 &c. fee Mix. 11 S. 
 
 Vol. I, Y Be- 
 
322 NATURAL GRASSES, 3^ 
 
 Befides thefe Minutes on provincial praiftice, 
 I find Ibme relating to a fpecies of grafsland, 
 different from any of thofe above enumerated ; 
 namely, a young perennial lay -, the hei-bage 
 principally ray grafs and white clover j the foil 
 a tolerably rich loam ; the ficuation cooler 
 than that of Norfolk arable land in general j 
 but warmer than what is called meadov/ ; 
 formuig a fuite of dairy grounds ; which, lying 
 round the houfe I refided in, fell immediately 
 under my own eye j and the management of 
 them was frequently conduvfbed under my own 
 directions. SeeMiK. 108. 
 
 For infbmce of profit by mcxing the broken 
 grafs of paftured land, fee Mi y. 7. 
 
 For an evidence o( ficep being inimical to 
 c'^ivsy fee Miy. 8. 
 
 For the effed ofthejhovellings of ajheepfold 
 upon grafsland, fee Mi .v. 10. 
 
 For an experiment on the time of manuring 
 graisland^fce MiN. 127. 
 
 j5. CATTLE. 
 
j6. NORFOLK. 5*3 
 
 Z6. 
 
 CATTLE. 
 
 IN TREATING of this fpecles of II ve- 
 ftock, it will be proper to confider, feparately, 
 
 1. The fpecies, or breed. 
 
 2. Cows, and the management of the dairy. 
 
 3. Rearing catde. 
 
 4. Bullocksj or fatting catde. 
 
 I. The species. The prefent breed of 
 cattle, in this Diftrift, is not lefs peculiar 
 to the country, than its breed of horfes was 
 formerly (fee horses), and isftrongly marked 
 with the fame leading chambers. 
 
 The native catde of Norfolk are a fmall, 
 hardy, thriving race; fatting as freely, and 
 finifhing as highly, at three years old, as cattle 
 in general do at four or five. 
 
 They are fmall-boned, — fnort-legged,— 
 
 round-barrelled, — well-loined, — thin-thighed 
 
 —clean-chapped ; the head, in general, fine, 
 
 and the horns clean, middle-fized, and bent 
 
 Y 2 . up- 
 
324 CATTLE. 36. 
 
 upward : the favorite colour, a blood-red, 
 with a white or a motded face. 
 
 The breed of Norfolk is the Herefordlhire 
 breed in miniature ; except that the chine and 
 the quarter of the Norfolk breed are more 
 frequendy deficient. 
 
 This, however, is not a general imperfec- 
 tion. I have feen Norfolk fpayed heifers fent 
 to Smithfield, as well laid up, and as full in 
 their point Sy as Galloway or Highland catrle 
 ufually are :^ and, if the London butchers be 
 judges of beef, there is no htxxtr jujhed be^-fts 
 fcnt to Smithfield-market. 
 
 Thefc two qualifications ; namely, the fu- 
 perior quality of their flelh, and their fatting 
 freely at an early age, do away every ob- 
 jection to their fize and form. Neverthelels, 
 it might be adviieable to endeavour to improve 
 the latter; provided thofe two far fuperior 
 qualifications were not I^y that means injured. 
 But it might be wrong to attempt to increafe 
 the former, which feems to be perfecliy well 
 adapted to the Norfolk foil. 
 
 The medium weight of a well-fatted three- 
 year-old is forty ftone (of fourteen pounds 
 each). 
 
 Bulls 
 
56. NORFOLK. 325 
 
 Bulls of the Suffolk polled breed have, at 
 different times, been brought into Lhis Dif- 
 tricl : and there are feveral inftances of the 
 Norfolk breed being crofTed -with thefe bulls. 
 —The confequence is, an increafe of fize, and 
 an improvement of form : but it is much to 
 be feared, that the nadve hardinefs of the Nor- 
 folk breed, and their quality of fattLng quickly, 
 at an early age, are injured by this innovation ; 
 which was firft introduced by gendemen, who, 
 it is probable, were unacquainted with the 
 peculiar excellency of die true Norfolk ftock j 
 and the mongrel breed, which has arifen from 
 the crofs, yet remains in the hands of a few 
 individuals. 
 
 A few years ago, a Highland Scotch bull 
 was brought into this neighbourhood, bv a 
 man who Hands high in die protefTion of 
 grazing i and who has crofled his own flock, 
 of the true Norfolk breed, with this bull— 
 The produce of this crofs proves, that if the 
 genuine breed can be improved, by any ad-?- 
 mixture of blood whatever, it is by that of 
 the Highland breed. The chine is, by this 
 crofs, obvioufly improved -, and the hardinels, 
 as v.-ell as the flefh, and pronenefs to fat ai a 
 Y 3 certain 
 
326 CATTLE. ^ 
 
 certain age^ cannot receive injury from this 
 admixture. The only thing to be feared from 
 it is, that the flock "will not fat fo early ^ as 
 will tliat of the genuine breed \ and, if the 
 opinion of the oldeft, graveft, and I had al- 
 moft faid the bell, farmer in the Diftricl has 
 any weight in this cafe, this evil effecl is much 
 to be apprehended : he is clear in that a 
 " Scot" does not fat kindJy even ztfhree years 
 old ; much lefs at iwo ; at which age many 
 hundred head of cattle are annually fatted in 
 this coiuirr)'. 
 
 The fa6l appears evidently to be, that the 
 Norfolk hufuandmen are in pofieflion of a 
 breed of cattle admirably adapted to their foil, 
 climature, and fyftem of management: and 
 let them crofs with caution j left by mixing 
 they adulterate ; and, in the end, lofc, irre- 
 trievably, their prefcnt breed of cattle j as 
 their forefathers, heretofore, lofl a valuable 
 breed of horles; the lofs of which can, now, 
 be only lamented. 
 
 If, through the laudable fpirit of improve- 
 ment, attempts be made with fcreign breeds, 
 they ought to be made with caution. But, 
 from what ! have feen and know of the Nor- 
 folk 
 
36. NORFOLK. 327 
 
 folk (lock, and what I have fince feen of the 
 improvement of the breed of cattle in other 
 counties, it appears to me, evidently, that 
 nothing more is wanted to improve the form 
 of the prefent breed of cattle in Norfolk 
 than a due attention to the breed itfelf. 
 
 y^\\\\tjucb cows, znajuch bulls, as I have 
 fometimes feen, are fuffered to propagate their 
 deformities, no wonder fome valuable points 
 Ihould be lowered. But if, in the reverfe of 
 tills unpardonable neglefl, men of judgment 
 and enterprize would make a proper felecflion; 
 and would pay the fame attention to the Nor- 
 folk breed as is paid to the long-horned breed, 
 in the midland counties, and to the fhort-horned, 
 in the north of Yorkihire; — every point might 
 beyond a doubt be filled up, and the prefent 
 valuable qualities be at the fame time retained. 
 
 But the great caufe of neglecl in the breed- 
 ing of cattle in Norfolk, is, that men of judo-- 
 ment and fpirit rather choofe to purchafe of the 
 Scotch drovers, or of their poor and induftrious 
 but lefs judicious neighbours, than to go them- 
 felves through the tedious round of rearing. 
 However, if we confider the prefent univerfal 
 fcarcity of catde (1786), and that the Scotch- 
 Y 4 men, 
 
328 C A T T L E. 36. 
 
 men, through recent improvements in their 
 plan of hufbandr)', are now enabled to fat a 
 part of Lhat flock, which formerly they drove 
 wholly to the fouthward ; it feems higlily pro- 
 bable that the Norfolk, graziers will, hence- 
 fon-vard, find their advantage ui encreafing, 
 and improving, their own breed ; and they 
 may reft alTured, that he v.-ho firft fcts about its 
 improvement will have it in his power to keep 
 the lead ; and reap, of courfe, the highcft ad- 
 
 II. Cov.'E. — The prime intention of keep- 
 ing cows in this countr}' is the rearing of young 
 ftocki — the produce of the dairy, unlefs in the 
 neighbourhood of large tov/ns, being a fecon- 
 dary objcft. 
 
 But the number of cows kept, even by the 
 rearing farmers, is few : eight or ten may be 
 confidcred as a middling dairy of cows upon 
 a middle-fized farm 3 — I mean on the eaft fide 
 of the county. 
 
 In Weft-Norfolk, efpecially on the marfti- 
 
 land fide towards Cambridgeftiire, large dairies 
 
 of cov/s are kept, for the purpofe of making 
 
 butter i which is fcnt v/eekiy to London under 
 
 the denomination of Cambridge butter. 
 
 Thi^ 
 
36. N O P- F O L K. 329 
 
 This is a fortunate circumftance to the EUfl: 
 Norfolk breeders, who draw an irxreafe of 
 rearing calves from that quarter of the county : 
 v/hofe dair}'men, in their turn, are benefited, 
 in being by this means enabled to gee riddance 
 of their calves, at an early age i jobbers mak- 
 ing it a bufmels to transfer them from one fide 
 of the county to the other. 
 
 By diis means, and by buying up the calves 
 of cottagers, farmers, and gentlemen of the 
 neighbourhood, who do not rear their ovrn, an 
 Eaft NorfoUi breeder is able to rear a greater 
 number of calves than the number of his co^vs 
 amount to. 
 
 Ten or tvselve calves may, perhaps, be con- 
 fidered as the medial number reared at prefent, 
 on a farm of one hundred and fifty pounds to 
 two hundred pounds a year. 
 
 In the neighbourhood of Norwich and Yar- 
 mouth, cowkeeplng is frequently appUed to 
 the FATTiNp OF CALVES for the ped markets 
 (fee Markets). 
 
 Alfo, in the neighbourhood of thefe and 
 Other towns, Euttzr becomes an objed of 
 
 Chees£ 
 
520 CATTLE. 3§. 
 
 Cheese is likcv/ife an article of the pcd 
 market i where it is generally fold in a crude 
 recent ftate j elpecially in the Ipring and early 
 part of the fummer -, when it is bought up at 
 a few weeks, perhaps at a few days old, by 
 the working-people ; of whom at that feafon of 
 the year it is the principal food. 
 
 With refpeft to the management of the Nor- 
 folk dair)'\vomen, and their fkill in butter and 
 cheefe making, little can be faid which will 
 redound to their credit. However, in exte- 
 nuation, it may be faid, arhi with truth, that 
 rank meadows, and new lays, in fummer, and 
 turneps in winter and fpring, are ill calculated 
 for producing the delicacies of the dairy : and 
 it may be added, that where perfcc"tion cannot 
 be hoped for, emulation lofes its efxeci. — 
 Befides, cuftom has been very kind in recon- 
 ciling their countrymen to thofe things which 
 a ftranger revolts at ; fo that they have, now, 
 no motive for endeavouring to corre<fl the 
 ranknefs of their butter, or the rancidit}' of 
 dieir cheefe. 
 
 Ncverthelcfs, in one thing they are ex- 
 tremely culpable : this is in fuifeting their 
 checfcs to be devoured, year after year, by a 
 
 fpecies 
 
3$. NORFOLK. 33^ 
 
 fpecles of mnggot peculiar, perhaps, to this 
 county, v,ith every appearance of tamenefs and 
 refignation j as if they were confcious of its 
 being a judgment upon their evil manage- 
 inent. 
 
 But even in this cafe, cuftom is friendly 
 to them : for fuch is the depravity of tafte, 
 ■when led away imperceptibly by habit, that 
 even the maggots themfelves are to fomc 
 grateful. 
 
 This, however, is only a palliation of their 
 crime ; for, not unfrequently, the entire dairy, 
 except the ordinary fkim cheefe, is more or 
 lefs affedled ; Co that, before Michaelmas, the 
 cheefes would be literally fo many bags of 
 niaggots, were they not fold ofti and con- 
 fumed, at an age, at which, in any other coun- 
 try, they would not be ranked among human 
 food. I have myfelf feen a dairy of cheefe— 
 that is, the floclc then left on hand — in total 
 ruins before that time. An Ealt Norfolk 
 cheefe, found and v/hole at Chriftmas, is a 
 rarity; by Ladyday, there is not, generally 
 fpeaking, a pound of Norfolk cheefe, nor even 
 a handful of maggots, to be purchafed in the 
 Diftria:. 
 
 I am 
 
33» CATTLE. 36. 
 
 T am the lefs refcrved in my cen{ures of the 
 Norfolk dairywomen in this refpedl, as I know, 
 from my own experience in the county, that the 
 evil which is here fpoken of, and which is a 
 caufe of great and unnecefTary hardfhip to the 
 labouring poor, in the winter months, origi- 
 nates, principally, in a want of attention and 
 management. But having in that cafe, as in 
 others relating to my own experience, minuted 
 the circumftances, as they occurred, or as foon 
 as a regular Minute could be formed of them, 
 I fhall not enlarge upon the fubjedl, here, but 
 refer to Minute 108. 
 
 ni. Rearing cattle. — This fubjecl calls 
 for a threefold divifion, 
 
 1. Calvesj 
 
 2. Yearling!!, 
 
 3. Two-year-olds. 
 
 I. Calves. The rearing of cattle is be- 
 come, in my opinion, a fubject of the firfl: 
 importance to this country: a univerfal and 
 growing fcarcity of neat (lock is experienced, 
 more or lefs, throughout the kingdom. I have 
 therefore paid more than common attention to 
 the rearing of calves (the firft and mod dif?i- 
 
 cul; 
 
36. NORFOLK. 333 
 
 cult part of the bufinefs) in this Diftrifl: not 
 only as being a primary object in the Eaft 
 Norfolk fyftem, but becaufe the practice here 
 is, in majqy refpefls, peculiar to the country. 
 
 The number has already been mentioned in 
 general terms : it varies, however, with the 
 quantity of meadow or other natural grafsland 
 belonging to a given farm ; and fometimes, 
 but not always, with the time at v,'hi ch the 
 cows happen to come-in. 
 
 The time of rearing. — Some farmers " bring 
 up" all the year round ; — rearing eveiy calf 
 he has dropt. Others rear in winter, only ; 
 fatting his fummer calves for the ped markets 5 
 or, at a diftance from them, for the butcher* 
 Norfolk farmers, in general, begin early in 
 winter to rear their calves : fome fo early as 
 Michaelmas j in general, if their cows come- 
 in, before Chriftmas : not only as being fjlly 
 aware of the advantage of rearing early j but 
 in order that they mw rear as many of their 
 own calves as pofnbie ; " drove calves" beinor 
 always hazardous, and fometimes fcarce. 
 
 No diftinftion is made as to fex : males and 
 females are equally objcvSts of rearing, and are 
 both, occafionally, fubjeded to caftration ; it 
 
 being 
 
3J4 CATTLE. 36. 
 
 being a prevailing cuftom to fpay all heifers 
 intended to be fatted at three-year-old j but 
 fuch as are intended to be iiniflied at two-year- 
 old are, I believe, pretty generally left "open:" 
 ss are, of courfe, fuch as are intended for die 
 dairy. 
 
 There ar'! two reafons for this pradioe : — 
 they are prevented from taking the bull too 
 early, and thtrchy fruftrating the main inten- 
 tion J and by this precaution thty lie more 
 quietly - are kept from roving — at the time of 
 fatting. This may be one reafon why fpayed 
 heifcrs are thought to fat more kindly at diree- 
 year-old, and to be better ficlhcd, than open 
 heifers. 
 
 The method of treatment remains now to be 
 explained. — This depends in fome meafure on 
 the time of rearing: the winter calves require 
 xnore milk than the later-dropt ones do. 
 
 The general treatment of a calf dropt at 
 ChrLftmas may be faid to be this : lucks, twice 
 a day, the firft fortnight : has the pail, twice 
 a day, for the next month or fix weeks : and 
 once a day, fur a month or fix weeks longer: 
 v;ith hay in a rack, and iurneps in a manger ; 
 and fometinies, widi oats and bran among the 
 
 turneps : 
 
36. N O R F O L K. 335 
 
 turneps: which laft, after a calf has taken 
 freely to them, ferves as both meat and drink. 
 
 In this confifrs the chief peculiciricy of the 
 Norfolk method of rearing calves : which may 
 be faid to be with milk and turneps : the laft 
 a Ipecies of food, which, in every other part 
 of the kingdom, is, I believe, entirely neglect- 
 ed, or unthought of 
 
 As foon as the weatlier gets warm enough, 
 the calves are turned out, in the day, among 
 the fatting bullocks, or into a patch of turneps, 
 or upon a piece of wheat, or a forward grafs- 
 piece, and houfed again at night : until, the 
 days growing long, and the nights warm, and 
 the clover and darnel have rifen to a full bire, 
 they are turned out altogether i and continue 
 to have tht firft bite of every thing, which is 
 good and palatable to them, throughout the 
 fummer. 
 
 This, as beforementioned, may be called 
 the general treatment of calves dropt at Chrift- 
 masi but as the managements of no two far- 
 mers are exadtly the fame, I made it my bufi- 
 nels to attend to the practice of individuals ; 
 and as the refult of my obfervations appears in 
 MiN'uTzs 5 J, and 7c, I fhail refer the reader to 
 
 thofe 
 
335 CATTLE. 36. 
 
 thofc Minutes for furdier particulars on the 
 fubj e cl. 
 
 1. Yearlings. The lattermath and Rub- 
 bles being finifhed, the yearlings — provin- 
 cial]/ " buds," — are put to turneps : cither as 
 followers to the bullocks, or have fome frefli 
 turneps thrown to them : in either cafe, they 
 flcep in the par- yard, and generally have a fe- 
 parate par allotted them j though fometimes 
 they are parted with the two-year-olds. 
 
 In the yard, the bed of the "ftover" is al- 
 lowed them, and, perhaps, a little ordinary 
 hay : it being a maxim pretty generally 
 adopted among good farmers, to keep their 
 young (lock as well as they can tiie fii-ft 
 winter. 
 
 In fpring, and fummer, they follow the 
 bullocks, and run in the meadows; or, if 
 thefe be wanting, are fometim.es fent out to 
 fjmmer grafs in the mirihes or grazing- 
 gToUnds. For the agiirir.ent price, fee the 
 List of Rates. 
 
 3. Two-YEAR-OLDS. Run in the ftubbles 
 and broken grafs till Ciiriftmas, or until tur- 
 neps can be fpared tliem ; when they generally 
 foilov,- the builcciLs. In v.ir.ter, they are 
 
 always 
 
36. NORFOLK. 337 
 
 always " parred" at night j fometimes with 
 the cov/s i fometimes with the buds ; fome- 
 times alone. Good farmers generally keep 
 them feparate : — if parred with the bruds, they 
 rob them ; if widi the cows, they are liable 
 to be " horned," and are never at reft : except 
 while the cows are eating up the beft of ihQ 
 fodder. 
 
 Seme farmers, when turneps run fhort, " put 
 out" their two-year-olds in winter : and others, 
 when they are plentiful, " graze," that is, fat 
 their tvvo-year-olds. 
 
 In general, however, they are " kept over- 
 year," on meadows or lays, or are fent to the 
 marihcs or grazing grounds, as fituati:ns and 
 circumftances point out; and, at Michael- 
 mas, are put to turncps as fatting cattle. 
 
 The agiftment price for two-year-olds, from 
 Mayday to Michaelmas, varies with the keep. 
 See List of Rates. For further particulars 
 fee the Minutes referred to below. 
 
 IV. Bullocks *. — This is the grand obje<5l 
 to which every part of the Norfolk hufbandry 
 
 more 
 
 • " Bullocks."— This is a general term, in Norfolk, for 
 
 all kinds of caule at turneps, or other food, with an in- 
 
 VoL. I. Z tcntion 
 
338 CATTLE. ^ 
 
 more or lefs tends, and which diflinguiihes it, 
 anc^ has long diftinguifhed it, from the huf- 
 bandry of all other countries. 
 
 The pradice of fatting bullocks on turneps 
 is, however, now beginning to creep into 
 every part of the kingdom : but it may be 
 faid to be ftill in a flate of infancy every 
 where, except in Norfolk ; and an accurate 
 account of the pradlice of this parent county 
 cannot fail of being ufeful to every other 
 turnep-Iand Diftritt. 
 
 Imprefled with tliis idea, I fpared no pains, 
 nor let flip any opportunity, of making myfelf 
 acquainted widi the fubje(5l. The refult of 
 my obfcrvadons and enquiries I regiftcred as 
 they occurred, and appear in the Minutes. 
 All, therefore, that remains to be done in this 
 place, is to make a general analyfis of the fub- 
 
 tcntion cf being fatted ; whether they be oxen, fleer?, 
 heifers, or cows. A fimple general term is much wanted 
 in this cafe ; and, although the term bullocks may not be 
 entirely free from objeifUon, I fhall, in this place, adopt 
 it. Dr. Johnfon defines it " a young bull ;" but the 
 moft general acceptation of it, at prefent, is — " an aged 
 ox." Upon the whole its meaning is vague, and it may, 
 without much impropriety, be applied lo fatting and fat- 
 ted cattle. 
 
36. NORFOLK. 339 
 
 jeft, and to delineate its oudine, Co as to place 
 it in a regular and clear light 3 and thereb7 
 prepare the reader to go through the iMinutes 
 with the o-reater eale and advantage. 
 
 The four grand divifions of the fubjecft 
 are^ 
 
 1 . The fpecies of bullocks fatted. 
 
 2. The method of obtaining them. 
 
 3. The method of fatting them. 
 
 4. The method of difpofing of them. 
 
 I, Species. — The only fpecies of cattle fat- 
 ted in Eaft Norfolk m.ay be faid to be " home- 
 breds" and " Scots." Some " Irilh beace" 
 have, at different times, but not regularly, 
 been brought into the countr}^, and have ge- 
 nerally done very well. In Weft Norfolk, 
 great numbers of Lincolnfhire and Yorklliire 
 oxen were formerly, and fome few, I believe, 
 are now, fatted j but in this Diflri(5l they have 
 always been confidered as much inferior to 
 the Scotch and home-bred ftock. 
 
 HOME-EREDS COnflft of 
 
 Steers, 
 
 Spayed heifers. 
 Open heifers, 
 Barren cows, 
 ^.. ** Running calves.? 
 
 Z 2 The 
 
340 C A T T L E. 36. 
 
 The iaft is a fpecies of fatting cattle pecu- 
 I'ar, perhaps, to this country. They are 
 calves, which are fufFered to run witli their 
 dams until they be a twelvemonth or more 
 old : the cow being all the while at " head 
 keep," of v.'hich the calf partakes, as v/ell as 
 of the milk of its dam : which, herfclf, in the 
 mean time, generally _ gets fat enough to be 
 frnt to Smidifield, with her calf (perhaps^ as 
 lieavy as herfclf) by her fide. 
 
 The Scotch cattle fatted in Norfolk 
 confift of what are here called 
 " Galloway Scots /' 
 " Lowland Scots ;" 
 « Highlanders ;" 
 « Ifle of Skys." 
 Galh'Jo ay cattle are large, t!iick, f}-ioit-]eg2;ed, 
 moftly hornkis, and of a black or brindled 
 colour : die flefli well grained j and the fonn 
 altogether beauriful : — chine full ; — back broad 
 and levels — quarter long and full at the nache ; 
 round barrel; — deep girt ; — and die bone, 
 Jiead, and chap, in genejal, fine. 
 
 Such, I apprehend, is the genuine original 
 " Gallov.ay Scot i" and a pnncip;U part of the 
 bullocks brought into Norfolk under diat name 
 
 arc 
 
36. NORFOLK. 341 
 
 are of this defcripnon : — but the droves arc 
 generall/ adulterated with a mongrel fort -, — 
 the produce of a crofs • with a long-horned 
 breed. 
 
 This Ipecies of adultery is faid to be com- 
 mitted and encouraged by the nobility and 
 landed gentlemen of the. countries they are 
 bred in ; but the fact appears to be, that they 
 have already one of die fineil breed of cattle 
 in the world upon their eilates : and it behoves 
 them to hand it down to pofterity as pure at 
 ieaft as they received it. In this age of im- 
 provementj it might be kudable to endea- 
 vour to improve it to the utmoft : not, 
 however, by foreign admixtures j but by 
 giving the moft beauuful females to the 
 moft beautiful males of dieir own breed. 
 They appear to me to have much to lofe, 
 but nothing to gain, from crofTingj — not even 
 with the prefcnt iong-horned breed of the 
 midland counties. 
 
 This fpecies of Scotch catde appears to be 
 
 originally of the county of Galloway, which 
 
 forms die fouthern extremity of Scotland ^ 
 
 but diey are now, it is faid, propagated in other 
 
 Z 3 parts 
 
342 CATTLE. 36, 
 
 parts of the Lowlands, efpecially in the rich- 
 iand counrits of Lothian, in die neighbour- 
 hood of Edinburgh. I have known them fat- 
 ted to eighrv' ilcne ; and have been informed, 
 from authority which I have no reafon to 
 doubt, that they have been known to reach 
 near one hundred (lone (of fourteen pounds 
 each). 
 
 Lowland caitle. The ordinary breed of 
 black catiky in the Lowland counties, are a fize 
 below the Galloways, — and appear to be a 
 mixture between thefe and the Highland breed. 
 Sixty ftone is a good weight for a Lowland 
 ox. His form and inclination to fat partake 
 of the Galloway breed : the former, however, 
 is fcldom fo near perfection as is that of a " true 
 Galloway Scot." Lowland cattle are fome of 
 them horned, fome of them polled : thrir co- 
 lour black, or brindled, or dun. 
 
 Highla}id cattle. This feems to be a diilinft 
 breed. The fize is beneath thofe of the Low- 
 lands : fort)' to fifty ftone is the ordinary weight 
 of a Highland bulk)ck. In form, fiefli, and 
 fatting quality, the Highland breed refemblc 
 much that of Galloway j except that their 
 backs in general are coarfcr, tJicir bone pro- 
 
 portionahly 
 
36. NORFOLK. 343 
 
 portionably larger, and in that they have, in 
 general, but not always, horns, — of the middle 
 fize, and moftly bent upward, — like thofe of 
 the Wellh cattle — but finer. 
 
 In general appearance there is a llrong re- 
 femblance (their horns apart) bet^veen the 
 Hig-hland breed and the black cattle of North 
 Wales ; but with refpedl to flefh and fatting 
 qualit}", — the main objedls, — die comparifon is 
 greatly in favor of the Scotch breed ; which 
 the gendemen of North Wales are faid to 
 fetch annually out of Scodand, or to buy them 
 up at the Engliili fairs, to be fatted for their 
 own tables. 
 
 Tbe IJle of Sky s appear to be only a "jariety 
 of the Highland breed , contra6led by foil, or 
 climatiire, or both. They are, in point of fize, 
 the Ibwefl in the gradadon. But with regard 
 to fiefh, fatting, and growth while fatting, they 
 may ht faid to fland fore moll. I have known 
 an Ifxe of Sky fteer, bought at two years and 
 a half old for lefs than forty {hillings, reach, 
 in about twenty months, to fortyfive ftone*. 
 
 At that age their " growdi" in England is 
 aflonifning i owing, perhaps, not more to 
 
 * But this was the head bullocic of a lot of half a fcore, 
 and is, perhaps, a fingular inllance. 
 
 Z 4 their 
 
J44 CATTLE. 36. 
 
 their niture, than to 1 chir.r : - :' :.' - irjrf , ir.d 
 a chcjigt of food. Mucr*, ricwcvcr, ccptr.c^ 
 Qpon their age. If they be ir.tended for in:- 
 mediate farting, four years old is the propereft 
 age. An lile of Sky or a Highland lieer ai 
 two or three years old uiii grow, but he i^iU 
 not fat ; at five or izx ht Y.iil at, bet he vnH 
 not grow whik fardi^g, ecual to a four-year- 
 cdd bullock. At this age, the weight of Lie 
 of Skys, when/z^, varies, from twenty to foity 
 ibcne. 
 
 Thefe are the four jTr.../, or varittusj of 
 caitk which are brcugh: by the Scotch dro- 
 vers to the Norfolk i2.i^^J i-i which are bought 
 i^ and ferted by the Noribik &rmers, under 
 the tbregcnng names. There may be other 
 breeds, and adirixtures of cactk, propagated 
 in Scotland i but not being lent to this mar> 
 ket, they are foreign to the prefect fubjed. 
 
 2. Th£ method of OBTAIXIXG BULLOCK5 
 
 for fktiing. — This is either by 
 Rearing, Or by 
 Purchale. 
 Some fenners rear ail their own^tting Hock ; 
 otheis purchaic the whole. But the more ge- 
 neral practice is to rear par^ and buy in part. 
 
 Muca 
 
36y NORFOLK. 345 
 
 Much depends ijpon fituation ; but more, per- 
 haps, upon judgment : and flill more, penhaps, 
 upon an ample and regular iupply of che means 
 ofpurchale. — It is allowed that the affluent for- 
 tunes, which were formerly made by fome few 
 Norfolk farmers, were chiefly acquired through 
 a fuperior fkill in the purchafe of ilock j fe- 
 conded by a full fupply of money ; by which 
 means they were always able to time their 
 purchafe to the belt advantage. But in men 
 of inferior judgment, and who have not money 
 at their command to purchafe when the price 
 of {lock is low, it is undoubtedly prudent to 
 rear the v.-hole, or a principal part, of their own 
 flock ; for, in doing this, they travel a beaten 
 track, and tread on fure ground. 
 
 The purchafe of bomebreds is chiefiy at the 
 fairs ; — or at tlie breeders' houfcs ; or on the 
 ** caflle hill" at Norvcch, where there is a 
 weekly market ; — Ibm.etimes prett}- full of 
 difrerent Ibr-ts of live flock. 
 
 The -purchafe cf Sects is, in this Dillriift, 
 chiefiy at the fair of St. Faith's, a village near 
 Nonvichi to v/hich the Scotch drovers bring 
 annually great numbers. — See Min. 27. and 
 
 Thefc 
 
346 CATTLE. 36. 
 
 Thefe Scotch dealers have a fuccefTion of 
 fiiirs, which keep them Ibme months in the 
 coimtry j during which time a continued 
 ftream of cattle is kept Rowing from its various 
 Iburces in Scotland to its general efflux : which 
 is judicioufly removed from place to place, that 
 the diffufion may be the more regular and eaf}'. 
 
 The fale begins the 9th of September, at 
 IlarleJloUy in Soiidi Norfolk ; where its flay is 
 about a fortnight. From Harlefton it moves 
 on to JVclffktt in Suffolk ; and returns toScching^ 
 near Lynn in Norfolk, i\\t loth of O(flober. 
 From " Seche" it is removed to St. Faith^s 
 (its grand (ladon) near Nor\vich, the 17th of 
 Ovflobcr. Its (by, here, is uncertain : a fort- 
 night, or three weeks, or as long as the de- 
 mand lads. There is a fair at Halef-Jjorth^ a 
 few miles widiln SufTolk, the beginning of No- 
 vember i but this feldom, I believe, clofes 
 altogedier St. Faith's fair. The 2 2d of No- 
 vember it recommences in Norfolk at Hemp- 
 tcr.-Green, in the northern part of Weft 
 NoJ^olk : whci-e condnuing a week, or longer 
 time, it is finally removed to Ihxone^ on the 
 bord':rsofSuiTolk, the beginning of Decem- 
 ber; 
 
36. NORFOLK, 347 
 
 ber; and there continues open until near 
 Chriftmas. 
 
 Eaft Norfolk, as obferved above, is princi- 
 pally fupplied at St. Faith's. The nortiiern 
 Hundreds fometimes draw an additional fupply 
 from Hempton- Green -, and the f^uthern ones 
 from Halefworth and Hoxone ; which, with 
 the other fair in Suffolk, lie within the reach 
 of the Norfolk farmers. 
 
 The Highlanders and Ifle-of-Skys are chief- 
 ly or wholly oxen; but the G?lloway, and 
 other Lowland Scots have a mixture of fpayed 
 heifers ; a fpecics of fatting-cattle which is 
 \:oveted by judicious graziers. 
 
 The mod comm .n age is fbur years old ; 
 but many of the Scotch cattle brought to thefe 
 fairs are probably much older : fome of them 
 have been worked : even fome of the High- 
 land oxen are faid to be worked at the col- 
 lieries. There are alfo many three-year-olds, 
 and fome two years old, or under. Thefe arc 
 bought to be kept " over-year" in the mea- 
 dows, marfhes, and grazing-grounds. 
 
 For the fame purpofe, two-year-old home- 
 breds are alfo purchafed, the firft days of thefe 
 ^airs, as well as at others. 
 
34« CATTLE. 36. 
 
 But, for immediate fatting, the dsfircd ages 
 are diree years old for homebred, and four 
 years old for Scotch. 
 
 3. The method of fatting. — This has 
 been already fpoken to in defcribing the appli- 
 cation of TURNEPS; to which the reader is re- 
 ferred i as well as to the Minutes mentioned 
 at the clofe of this article, for individual prac- 
 tice. It will nevertlielefs be proper in this 
 place to take a general view of the fubjeel ; 
 thereby endeavouring to place in in a light as 
 perfpicuous as may be^ The ftrft tiling to be 
 confidered is. 
 
 The fropQ-rticH of bullocks to a given quan- 
 tity of turneps. This depends on the fize of 
 the bullocks, and the quality of die turneps. — 
 The general calculation is a middle-fized bul- 
 Jock to an acre of good turneps. Taking tur- 
 neps on a par, a fatting bullock and a follower 
 come, perhaps, nearer, die real proportion. 
 
 The tbn£ depends on the growth of tiie tur- 
 ncpa and the poflcfuon of die bullocks : tiie 
 homebrcds are ufually put to turneps about 
 ^ic^aelmas: t.he Scotch as ibon as they arc 
 puvchafcd. It is cbfcrvabie, here, that not- 
 w-.thiitanding a Scotch bullock, ef^^cifilly of 
 
 the 
 
36. NORFOLK. 34.9 
 
 the fmaller kind, never fav/, perhaps, a turnep ; 
 yet, when thrown to abroad, in company with 
 two or three homebreds, he generally foon 
 learns to break his turneps. Some particular 
 bullocks, however, will receive a check before 
 they take to them. 
 
 The flace for fatting bullocks on turneps 
 appears, under the article Turneps, to be 
 tither 
 
 The field, 
 The yard. 
 Sheds, or hovels. 
 
 The firft requires leaft attendance and at- 
 tention, and is highly beneficial to light land : 
 the fecond makes a great quantity of manure, 
 but a wafte of ftover : the laft requires lefs 
 litter ; but incurs a greater portion of labour. 
 
 In a dry, open feafon, bullocks at turneps 
 do befl abroad : in wet, pinching weadier, 
 befl under cover. 
 
 Out of thefe eftablifhed fads arifes an ob- 
 viouHy eligible plan of management, where ^ 
 ciicumftances will admjt of it. In autumn, fa 
 long as the weather continues moderate, let 
 bullocks remain abroad ; but, whenever it feG 
 m very wet, or very fcvere, take them ur> 
 
 under 
 
350 CATTLE. 3^; 
 
 under cover ; — and there let them remain un- 
 til they be finiflied ; or until the warmth of 
 fpring calls them abroad again. 
 
 But the moll eligible method of fatting de- 
 pends on a variety of circumfliances : 
 The foil and fituation -, 
 The conveniencies in the yard ; 
 The fcalbn i and 
 The fpecies of ftock to be fatted. 
 
 Cattle which have been accuilomed to lie 
 abroad in a fevere climate, will fiand the win- 
 ter in the field better than thole which have 
 been uled to a fhcltered yard, in a warmer cli- 
 mate. 
 
 No general plan of management can, there- 
 fore, be laid down. All that can be done is, 
 to point out the various modes in ufe, and 
 leave every man to confider well his own par- 
 ticular circum.ftances, and make his election 
 accordingly. See Turkeps, page 287. 
 
 4. The markets for bullocks. The 
 confumption is dinded bet\vcen the metropolis 
 and the county. The proportion I never heard 
 gucficd at. Perhaps diree fourths, perhaps no 
 more than r\vo thirds, of the bullocks fatted in 
 Norfolk, are fent to the London market. 
 
 Norfolk 
 
36. NORFOLK. 351 
 
 Norfolk is a populous county ; not more 
 through the Norwich manufaclory, which dif- 
 fules itfclf over a principal part of it, than 
 from the circumilance of Norfolk being an 
 arable country. 
 
 The places of fale are, 
 
 Smithfield ; 
 
 St. Ives * i 
 
 The fairs 3 and 
 
 The farmer's yard. 
 Bullocks for the London market are chiefly 
 fent diredly to Smithfield : many, however, 
 go by the way of St. Ivesj and fome few 
 are bought up in the country by the London 
 dealers. 
 
 Thofe fent to London and St. Ives are put 
 under the care of drovers, and generally fold 
 by the falefmen of the refpeclive markets. — 
 Some farmers follow their bullocks to thefe 
 markets j and fometimes, but very leldom, 
 ftand the market themfelves. 
 
 The advantage of fending bullocks by tiic 
 way of St. Ives is, that if that market prove a 
 bad one, they are driven on to Stevenage j and 
 if this does not fuit, are driven through to the 
 
 * St. Ives, in Kuntingdonihirc. 
 
 London 
 
252 C A T T L F. 3«j 
 
 London marker. Biit \&3c they sre thus 
 driven from plice to phce, they are not only 
 accjmubdng expences, birt are (hrinkiiig in 
 carcafe. From the north-wefl: cmrter of the 
 ccjnt}' ccnfidtnble niinibers of bullocks are, 
 I believe, driven to St. Ives, and there is one 
 drover from the northern part of thb dillficb. 
 
 Bur die grand market for bullocks fatted in 
 Eaft Nonoik is Smithfield : to ^-hich, in the 
 fibaibn, diey are driven weekly, or twice a 
 week ; according to the fbpply, and the fbges 
 of the feafbn. 
 
 Smidi of Erpingham has long been the 
 common drover of tbis Dilbift. He gene- 
 rally begins, about Candlemas, to go once a 
 fortnight : in the latter part of Febnnni^ and 
 the month of March, once a week : in jfjprll. 
 May, and June, generally twice a week : and 
 in At^:i41: or September, he ufualiy makes one 
 or two joumies to take off the Ibrpiis of the 
 home-confumpticn, and the " harvefl beef," 
 fatted in the marihes, grazing-grounds, and 
 lays, during die courle of the lummer. 
 
 His place of rendezvous is St. Faith's ; 
 "where, or in hi? road to it, the firmers meet 
 him ^ith their rcfpecavc lots. 
 
 For 
 
NORFOLK. 
 
 353 
 
 For the Monday's market, he fcts out from 
 St. Faith's on Sunday, and reaches London 
 the Sunday following. The diftance one hun- 
 dred and twelve miles. 
 
 At Mile-End he is met by the falefmen j 
 who mark, and take, from that time, the 
 charge of the lots which are refpeftively con- 
 figned to them. Sometimes the choice of a 
 falefman may be left to the drover ; but, in 
 genera), every farmer has his own falefman. 
 
 If the owners of the bullocks do not attend 
 the market themfelves, it is the drover's duty 
 to fee (were it poflible) that juflice be done to 
 his employers ; and to receive the neat pro- 
 ceeds from the falefmen ^ who deliver ac- 
 counts in this form : 
 
 Three Tuns, Smitli£eld. 
 
 Seven beafts fold for Mr. 
 
 1 \^'aterman 
 
 I Beecon 
 
 I Andrews 
 
 1 Sewel 
 
 1 Alexaiider 
 
 I Brown 
 
 I Biown 
 
 Vol. I, 
 
 o o 
 o o 
 
 '4 
 i3 
 
 12 lO O 
 
 12 GO 
 
 12 O O 
 
 12 O O 
 
 13 O O 
 jC^i 10 O 
 
 tLe lOihday of June 1782^ 
 
 6 
 I 
 
 Selling (at IS. 6d.) 
 Toll & expences 
 Help - - - 
 Gi?Ss - - - 
 Drover, J. Snuth, 
 Paid yourfelf - 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 J 9 
 
 o o 
 
 15 o 
 
 o 8 
 
 j^88 10 6 
 
 (Signed) S— 1 P-n, 
 
 Beaft and Ihcep falefkaa." 
 
 A a 
 
 The 
 
354 • CATTLE. ^, 
 
 The expenccs are, and have been for many 
 years, invariably Lhe fame j namely, fevcn fhil- 
 lings and a penny halfpenny a bullock, — great 
 or Imall i cnlefs when very large heavy bul- 
 locks are fcnt off, a day or two before the 
 drove, as they fomerimes are to eafe them on 
 their journey j in wliich cafe the expence of 
 the Ai\ii Is fomewhat more. 
 
 Thefe accounts, which arc payable at die 
 falefmen's bankers, are delivered to the ownert 
 of the bullocks, if t!iey attend j if not, to 
 the drover ; who formerly brought down the 
 whole amount in money j but now, princi- 
 pally, in bills, at a fhort date, upon the Nor- 
 'mch bankers. 
 
 The drover's place of payment in this neigh- 
 bounhood is Nordi-Vv'allham; the firil market 
 ciy after the fale. The farmers go to his Inn, 
 where dieir accounts and calh are ready for 
 them. See Min. ny. 
 
 iMlNUTZS ON BRIED. 
 
 For an infhnce of the excellenc)' of the ^r- 
 of-Sky cattUy lee Mix. 4cr. 
 
 For an opinion comparadve between Lhe 
 Scot(b and Lhe Norfolk breeds, fee Mis*. 6^. 
 
 for 
 
36, N O R F O t K. 355 
 
 For an evidence in favor of the Suffolk 
 breed, fee Min. 69. 
 
 For an opinion that three-year-old Norfolk 
 will fat as kindly as four-year-old Scotchy lee 
 Min. 72. 
 
 For an inflance highly in favor of the Irifh 
 creed, fee Min. no. 
 
 For an inltance of the excellency of the Nor- 
 folk breed, fee Min. 119. 
 
 Minutes on general management. 
 
 For an inftance of a grazing ground bemg 
 more friendly to heifers than to iteers, fee 
 Min. 29- 
 
 For reflexions on the rearing of cattle, fee 
 Min. 5J. 
 
 For obfervations on the pradice of diftribut- 
 ing rubbing pofts in paflured and teathed in- 
 clofures, fee Min. 66. 
 
 For an inftance of the niimber and fpecies' 
 of cattle kept on a middle-fized farm, fee 
 Min. 70. 
 
 For general obfervations on the winter ma'i» 
 bagement of ftore cattle, fee Min. 74. 
 
 A a 2 MiNUTis 
 
356 CATTLE. 36. 
 
 Minutes on cows and the dairy. 
 
 For inftances of fhecp being unfriendly to 
 cows, feeMiN. 8. 
 
 For an opinion that turneps are an excellent 
 food for cov/s in thefpring, fee Min. 83. 
 
 For general obfervations on cheefe making, 
 fee Min. 108. 
 
 For general obfervations on making butter, 
 fee Min. 109. 
 
 Minutes on rearing cattle. 
 
 For an evidence that young flock will pay 
 fpr good keep, fee Min. 46. 
 
 For a method of rearing calves, fee 
 Min. ^2' 
 
 For an evil effecl: of not fpaying heifers 
 clean, fee Min. 69. 
 
 For vr.rious methods of rearing calves, fee 
 Min. 70. 
 
 For obfervations on the winter management 
 of young (lock, fee Min. 74. 
 
 Minutes on bullocks. 
 Species. 
 For the cotnparatlve value of different ^/vr^/j 
 of cattle for fatting, fee Minutes on e».eed, 
 above referred to. 
 
 For 
 
36. NORFOLK. 357 
 
 For obfervations on fatting the Norfolk 
 breed at one-year-old, as " running calves,'* 
 fee MiN. 69. 
 
 For reflections on fatting them at two-years- 
 old, fee MiN. 112. 
 
 Buying. 
 
 For an account of the Scotch buUock-falr of 
 St. Faith's, fee Min. 27. and 134. 
 
 For an inftance of buying the Norfolk breed 
 at Holt fair, fee Min. 39. 
 
 For general obfervations on buying bul- 
 locks, fee Min. iio. 
 
 For further information on this fubjecl, fee 
 )VIiN. 113. 
 
 Fatting. 
 
 For a fingular circumftance of the grazing 
 grounds of Foulfham being more nutritious to 
 heifers than to fleers, fee Min. 39. 
 
 For an incident on the fattiiTig of Ifle-of-Skys 
 with great fuccefs, fee Min. 40. 
 
 For an incident on the quantity of turneps 
 eaten, and the procefs of fatting bullocks in 
 the yardy fee Min. 56. 
 
 For an incident on the proportion of bul- 
 locks to turneps in the fields fee Min. 57. 
 
 A a 3 For 
 
358 C A T T L E. 36. 
 
 For obfervations on Ihed and out-door bul- 
 locks, fee Mi \. 69. 
 
 For various inftances of individual praflice, 
 fee MiN. 69. 
 
 For a method of curing fufflation, fee 
 Mi.v. 72. 
 
 For the manner in which bullocks break 
 their turneps, fee Mi n. 84. 
 
 For obfervadons on fhed and out-door bul- 
 locks, in fevere weather, fee Mi v. 93. 
 
 For an incident of pradlice particularly at- 
 tended to, fee MiN. 97. 
 
 Fpr further pbferyations on this incident, 
 fecMiN*. 102. 
 
 For fome account of the Fleg grazing, fee 
 Mtn. ic6. 
 
 For further obfervations on the abovemen- 
 'tioned incident of practice, fee Mix. 1 10. 
 
 For a furtiier progrefi in the fame incident, 
 fee Mitf. III. 
 
 For an infVance of bullocks doing well a^ 
 grafs, though the weather was wer, fee Mix. 
 
 For fome account of grazing in ElowfieJd 
 Hundred, and ip the Yarmouth marfhes, fee 
 Mtv. 11&. 
 
 Selling 
 
j$. NORFOLK. 359 
 
 Selling. 
 For an inflance of lale at Smichfield, lee 
 
 MiN. I02. 
 
 For an account of Walfham bullock-fair, 
 fe£ Mint. 105, 
 
 For an account of Worftead bullock-fair, 
 fee MiN. 107. 
 
 For another inflance of fale, and the uncer- 
 tainty of Smithfield market, fee Min. hi. 
 
 For an account of Ingham buUock-fair, 
 fee MiN. 112. 
 
 Obfervations or a lot k^s. off to Smichfieid, 
 fee Mm. 113. 
 
 For the drover's method ofpaying the farmers: 
 with obfervations on that lot, fee Mix. uy. 
 
 Prcfit. 
 
 For an inftance of great profit by the Ifie- 
 of-Sky cattle, fee Mix. 40. 
 
 For calculations of profit, from the quantity 
 of turneps eaten in the yard, fee Min. ^S. 
 
 For a calculation on the quantity eaten in 
 the field, fee Min. 57. 
 
 For an infbnce of low profit by Scotch cat-r 
 tie, fee Min. 102. 
 
 For fundry inftances of great profit by 
 Scotch and Iriih cattle, fee Min. i 10. 
 
 A a 4 For 
 
36^ CATTLE. 36. 
 
 For an evidence that profit depends chiefly 
 on management, fee Min. iic. 
 
 For another infrance of moderate protit by 
 Scotch cattle, fee Min. u i- 
 
 For an inftance of great profit by home- 
 breds, fee Min. 119. 
 
 It may be proper to obferve, that the in- 
 uances of profit ^ which are here adduced, are, 
 taken <;olle6livelyj much above par. If, in a 
 common year, a bullock, of forty ftone, pay 
 half a crown a week for fatting, he is thought 
 to have done tolerably well. Suppofing him 
 to take fvx months " time j" and, in that time, 
 to elt an acre of turneps ; the grofs produce, 
 on this calc'jhrion, will be three pounds five 
 fnillings j, from which deducl fifteen fliilJings 
 for llraw and attendance, the remainder is 
 fifty fciliings for the neat produce of the tiir- 
 neps i — cxclufive of the value of the teathe, 
 pr the dung arifing from the confumption. 
 
 But it being evident (at lead to my mind) 
 that very niuch depends upon management, I 
 am clearly of opinion, that, by a judicious 
 attention to breeding, or a proper choice 
 in purcliallng iy-by laying-out farms con- 
 veniently. 
 
36. NORFOLK. 361 
 
 veniently, and adapting the mode of fatdng to 
 the given foil and fituation .;-:-by finifhing the 
 bullocks highly, and condufting tl-e fale judi- 
 ciouflyi the prefent par price of two Ihillings 
 and fixpence a week, for a bullock of forty 
 ftone, might be raifed ^vithout extraordinary 
 exertion, to three fhillin2;s or three fnillins-s 
 and fixpence a week : — and, confequendy, the 
 neat par produce of an acre of rarneps, on the 
 above calculation, to three pounds, or three 
 pounds ten fhiillings an acre. To this raufb 
 l>e added the teathe, v/hich, upon the lighter 
 Jands, is one of the main fupports of the Nor- 
 folk f)'ftem of hufbandry. 
 
 37. SHEEP. 
 
SHEEP. 5f» 
 
 37- 
 
 SHEEP. 
 
 NO CIRCUMSTANCE in the Norfolk 
 Jjufbandry furprized me more than that of find- 
 ug the country in a manner deftitute of fheqj. 
 
 In one of my journies to Gunton, I purpofely 
 rode, on horfeback, through the center of the 
 county — by Thetford, Watton, Dereham, 
 Reepham, &.:. in order that I might catch a 
 general idea of its rural ecor^omy. 
 
 From the nature of die foil, and from the 
 prevalence of the turnep hufbandry, I had con- 
 ceived it to be the had of (heep : but from 
 ^e time I croffed the river at Thetford, until 
 I arrived within a few miles of tlie end of my 
 journey, / did net fee cm fpeep ! 
 
 In the north-weft quarter of the count}", con- 
 fiderable fiocks are kept : but in the eaftera 
 end fouthem divifions the number kept, in the 
 fiimrner montlis, is trifiing ; except upon 
 commons, or about tlie refidences of gentle- 
 fnenj and, except upon fome few capital 
 
 fanns. 
 
17, NORFOLK. 363 
 
 farms, upon which over-year flocks are kept. 
 But Eaft Norfolk farms, in general, are, in the 
 months of July, Auguft, and September, as 
 free from fheep as elephants ; — except, per- 
 haps, fome few kept on until harvefl: for, what; 
 is called, " harveft beef j" namely, to be killeci 
 for the work-people in harveft. 
 
 In and round the park of Gunton, a confi- 
 derabie flock was kept ; and it is chiefly from 
 obfervations on this flock, that I gained my 
 infonjiation refpedling the Norfolk breed of 
 Iheep. 
 
 The BREED of Norfolk horfes was not for- 
 merly, nor its breed of cattle at prefent, more 
 lingular than is its breed of sheep i which, it 
 is Highly probable, has long been preferved in 
 purity ; — I mean v/ithout adventitious mixture 
 of blood. 
 
 There are two z-arieiles of this species of 
 Ihcep: the one larger (weighing from fifteen 
 to twentyfive pounds a quarter), which is the 
 common ftock of the county: — the other 
 fmaller (from ten to fifteen pounds a quarter)^, 
 which are bred chiefly upon the heaths in the 
 neighbourhood of Brandon and Methwold, in 
 fhe fouth-weft quarter of the county. Thefe 
 
ffi4 SHEEP. 37. 
 
 go by the name of" heath fheep ;" but differ 
 in no refpefl from the common forr ; except in 
 that of their being fmaller, and in that of their 
 wool being finer. 
 
 The characleriftrcs of a Norfolk iheep arq 
 tliefe: 
 
 The carcafe long and flender. 
 
 The fleece fhort and fine. 
 
 The legs long, and black, or mottled. 
 
 The face black, or mottled. 
 
 The horns — of the ewes and wedders, mid- 
 dle-fized, and fomcwhat ftraight ; rcfembling 
 tliofe of the Dorfetlhire ewes, fo well known, 
 now, in difterent parts of the kingdom, as the 
 modiers of ho\]fe lamb ; — but thofe of the rams 
 are A'cry large, long, and fpiral, l^e the horns 
 of the Dorfetfhire ram. 
 
 The loin of a Norfolk fheep, of the bed 
 mould, is wide, and the hind quarters fufri- 
 ciently large for the general make ; but the 
 fore quarters, in general, are very deficient. — 
 The fiiouklers low, the back aukwardly high, 
 and the chine fharp, and unfightly. 
 
 This is, at leafl, too generally the cafe ; I 
 have, however, feen fome of them with tolc- 
 rabbbacksj and lam confidently of opinion, 
 
 that 
 
3f. NORFOLK. jSj 
 
 that if the Ncrfolk breeders of Iheep would 
 pay lefs attention to their " countenances'* 
 (that is, the colour of their faces) and more to 
 their carcafes, the prefcnt breed, viewed in a 
 general light, might be very highly improved : 
 not, however, bv the introduction of ftrangc 
 breeds, and unnatural crolTings j but by a ju- 
 dicious choice of the males and females of their 
 own breed;— which, taken all in all, even at 
 prefent, appears to be Angularly well adapted 
 to the foil and fyllem of management prevalent 
 in this country. 
 
 They may be bred, and will thrive, upon 
 heath and barren Iheepwaiks, where nine 
 tenths of the breeds in the kingdom would 
 ftarve : they ftand the fold perfeclly well : fat 
 freely at two years old : bear the diift, remark- 
 ably weU, to Smithfield, or other difcant mar- 
 kets i and the luperior flavor of die Norfolk 
 mutton is univerlally acknov/iedgcd. 
 
 Therefore, tYtC Norfolk hulbandmen, in 
 tlieir fheep, as vreli as in their cattle, have 
 much to lofe : and the aim oft only thing they 
 have to gain is a better chine ; which, with a 
 judicious attention to their own breed, might 
 
 beyond 
 
^S 5 H E E F; 37. 
 
 beyond a doubt be obtained, without hazard-f 
 Ing any of their prefcnt advantages. 
 
 The long-wooled breeds of Lincolnfliire; 
 Huntingdonfhire, and Leicefterfhire, have of 
 late been attempted to be introduced, by gen-, 
 tlemen, in different parts of the county i and 
 mongrels have been reared from a mixture of 
 the tvvo breeds : but neither the country, nor 
 the gentlemen themfelves, are hkely atprefcntj 
 to gain eitlier advantage or credit from their 
 experiments : faving that pfaife which is due to 
 every experimentaHil in agriculture. 
 
 It is far from being my intention to check 
 the hiidable fpirit of experimenting j but in 
 this, as in almoft every other cafe, I will) that it 
 fiiould be conducted with caiition : a valuable 
 breed of flock, adapted to a given foil and 
 fituation, is an acquifition of ages ; but let their 
 fuperior excellencies be what they may, a few 
 years are fufficient to lofe diem, perhaps, irre- 
 trievably. 
 
 I am an admirer of the prefcnt beautiful 
 breed of Leicefterlliire fheep; which, as to 
 form, are undoubtedly fuperior to any other 
 breed in the kingdom, and are admirably 
 adapted to the foil and fituation they are bred 
 
57. NORFOLK. ^j 
 
 in ; as well as to every other rich inclofed ^rafs-f 
 land countr)' ; and confequentl}' may not be 
 unfit for the paddocks of gentlemen in this or 
 any other Dilbicl ; nor, perhaps, altogether 
 improper for the Eaji Norfolk farmers, whd 
 keep only a few fheep, for the purpofes above- 
 mentioned. Bet, taken in a general light, ai 
 a breed for the count}' at large, they appear to 
 me to be wholly un'at.—I helirje they will not 
 live upon the heaths, and open, extenfive, un- 
 productive fheep-walks of Weft Norfolk, lb 
 well as the prefent breed of heath Iheep of that 
 country : Iknouj they will not (land the fold io 
 well, nor travel fo well to the London market, 
 nor fell for fo much by the pound when they 
 arrive there, as will the prcf^nt breed of Nor- 
 folk fheep in general i which, aukward in form 
 fis they undoubtedly are at prefent, appear to 
 me, from a knowledge of diFerrnt breeds, to 
 be better adapted to the foil, fituation and 
 fyftem of management of the county at large, 
 than any odier breed at prefent cxifting in the 
 Ifland, 
 
 The czn-zral economy or f}ftem of ma- 
 nagement of fheep in this country is mention- 
 ed in Mix. 122, on the Iheeplhow of Csw- 
 
 fton; 
 
368 SHEEP. 3f. 
 
 fton i in which alfa the particular prafllce of 
 this Diftricl is fo far pointed out as relates to 
 the lambs and crones bought at that fair ; which 
 vrith thofe of Kenninghall and Kipping, alfo 
 held in the fummer months, form the grand 
 communication ber«'een die two fides of the 
 count)'. 
 
 If a farmer do not lay in his intended ftock 
 at thefe fairs, he bu)'S hoggards at the fpring 
 fairs ; Icttmg them run in the fallows, lays, and 
 ftubbles until autumn j and finifliing them with 
 tumeps the enfuing winter. 
 
 For the method of fatting them on turnzpSj 
 (kc that article. 
 
 For the admcaforement of a Jheepfoldy fee 
 MiN. I. 
 
 For an evidence of Iheep being inimical to 
 cozvs, fee Min'. 8. 
 
 For an inftance of advantage o^jheepfold to 
 barley, fee Min. ii. 
 
 For an experiment and oblervations on the 
 time of putting the ram to xht. ewes, fee 
 MiM. 17. 
 
 For an experiment m^\ Jheej^fold for wheats 
 fee Mix. 18. 
 
 For 
 
5?i NORFOLK. 369 
 
 For an incident of frjeepfold checking the 
 turnep-fly, fee Mr n. 21. 
 
 For an evidence that different ^rf<f^^ oflheep 
 afrecl different fpecies oifood^ fee Mm. 75. 
 
 For obfervations on e'-joes lambing^ fee 
 Mint. 76. 
 
 For an inflance of the effed of good keep 
 on young lamhsy fee Min. 78. 
 
 For an incident on crojjlyig Leiceflcrlhire 
 ewes with a Norfolk ram, fee Min, 82. 
 
 For an inftance oip'clifichiejs in the Norfolk 
 breed of fheep, fee Min. 86. 
 
 For an inftance of cutting ridgil lambs, fee 
 Min. 99. 
 
 For a further evidence of an almofl: total 
 privation of fheep in Eafl Norfolk, fee 
 Min'. 106. 
 
 • For obfervations on Cawjton pee^JhoWt fee 
 Min. I2J. 
 
 Vol. I, B b j8. RAB- 
 
370 RABBITS. 
 
 %S. 
 
 w' 
 
 RABBITS. 
 
 THE SOIL of this county, viewed at largf, 
 might be termed a rabbit foil j and it is highly 
 probable that, before its prefent fyilem of huf- 
 bandry took place, a confiderablc part of it 
 was occupied by this fpecics of livellock. 
 
 At prefent, however, they are, in this Dif- 
 trift, wifely confined to the heathlets, and the 
 barren hills upon the coall. A level country 
 is unfit for rabbit warrens, but convenient for 
 the plow : on the contrar}', rabbits delight in 
 the fides of fandy hills j which, where turn* 
 wrift plows are not in ufe, are extremely incon- 
 venient for tillage j and, when cultivated, arc 
 generally unproductive. 
 
 The rabbit, on level ground, finds it diffi- 
 cult to makes its burrow j the excavated mould 
 is all to be dragged upivard to the furface : 
 hence a piece of ground, altogether level, can 
 fcldom be ftocked fucccfifully with rabbits ; 
 
 urJc fs 
 
38. NORFOLK. 371 
 
 linlefs It be firft laid up, by art, at a great ex- 
 pence, into inequalities. 
 
 On the contrary, agalnH: the fide of a fteep 
 hill, the rabbit has no difficulty to encounter : 
 the declivity affords him a ready vent for his 
 mould ; his v.-oi-k is all dcjun-hiU : and — unlefs 
 the foil be too flub bom, or too rocky, for the 
 rabbits to work freely among, — a broken hilly 
 country may generally be (locked with advan- 
 tage ; provided a tolerable market for the car- 
 cafes can be had within reach; 
 
 There are, perhips^ few fandy or other 
 loofe -foiled hills y which would not pay better in 
 rabbit-warren than under any other courfe of 
 hufbandry. 
 
 For an infiance of an improvement by con- 
 verting unproduclive fandy hills into rabbit- 
 warrens, fee Mi N. 79. 
 
 B b 2 s\\'rs. 
 
37* SWINE. 39. 
 
 59- 
 SWINE. 
 
 THE NUMBER of Twine reared and fat- 
 ted in Norfolk is very confiderable : the dairy 
 in fummer, the flubbles in aurjmn, and the 
 barns and Habits in winter, furnifh a conftant 
 fupply of fuftenance j while the great quantity 
 of buck railed in this country furnifhes an 
 ample fource of fatting. 
 
 In Norfolk, however, as in other DiftriLls, 
 farmers differ widely about the proper number 
 to be kept, upon a given farm, under given 
 circumftances. It may ncverthelefs be fliid 
 that, in general, they are fully aware that a 
 moderate number well-done-to, are more pro- 
 fitable, in the end, than a greater number 
 badly keptj — yet there are fome few men, 
 even in Norfolk, whofe half-ftarved herds are 
 nuilances to the neighbourhoods they are kept 
 in i without affording either pleafure, or ex- 
 traordinary profir, to their refpedive owners. 
 
 The 
 
1^ NORFOLK:. 373 
 
 The fpccies of fwine, which formerly was 
 univerfal throughout the country, is, like the 
 iheep, a flender long-legged animal i but, like 
 thofe, is of quick growth, and prone to fat at 
 an early age : I have fcen them, at fix months 
 old, near three quarters grov/n, and as fat as 
 pigs in general are, at nine or twelve. Their 
 fize is not large : fifteen to twenty ftone (four- 
 teen pounds) is a good weight for a fat well- 
 grown hog. 
 
 But the " old original fort" is now nearly 
 loft; the Chinefe and Berkfhire breeds have of 
 late been introduced ; io that, at prefcnt, Nor- 
 folk exhibits the fame motley mixture of 
 breeds^ which may be {ttn m almoft every 
 other county in the kingdom. 
 
 Farmers in general rear their Own pigs : 
 keeping, according to the fize of their farms, 
 one or more fows, wlijch in general arc fatted 
 young, and/payed before they he fatted : through 
 which means thcjr flelli is thought to be much 
 improved. 
 
 They are f?.tted almoft univerfally on buck j 
 
 which is fometimes cruflied, and fometimes 
 
 given to them whole. It is a quick good fat- 
 
 B b J ting i 
 
374 SWINE. 39. 
 
 ting J fomcwhat fimilar to barley j not fo good 
 as peas. 
 
 The confumption lies principally with the 
 county : fome few, but I believe no great num- 
 ber, are fent to the London market. 
 
 They are in general killed as porkers, — and 
 cither carried to the ped market, or pickled 
 for family ufe : not put down in tubs, for keep- 
 ing, in the rourh-of-rEngland manner ; but only 
 immerged in brine, for prefent ufe i and in thi^ 
 manner are continued to be temporarily pre- 
 ferved, from time to time, throughout the 
 year: a fpecies of houfehold management I 
 Jiave not met with elfewhere. 
 
 For a fmgular inftance of fatting hogs loofc 
 \n a yafd, fee Min. 52. 
 
 40. POULTRY* 
 
NORFOLK. 
 
 .0. 
 
 POULTRY. 
 
 NORFOLK is celebrated, and juflly, for 
 its TuRKiEs. The fpecies is large ; their flefl:, 
 neverthelefs, fine ; and the number reared 
 greater than that produced in any other Dif- 
 tricl of equal extent.; owing, perhaps, to one 
 circumilance. It is underfiood, in general, 
 that, to rear turkies with fuccefs, it is ntcclTar)' 
 that a male bird fliould be kep: upon the fpot, 
 for the fame purpofe that a gander, a drake, 
 or a male fowl is kept ; namely, ta impregnate 
 the eggs mdividually. This deters not only 
 cottagers, who are afraid of the expence of 
 keeping a gluttonous turkeycock the year 
 round, but many farmers, who diflike the noife 
 and troublefomenefs of thcfe animals, from 
 breeding turkies. But the good houfewives 
 of this country knov/ that a daily intercourfe 
 is unnecefiary ; and that, if the female be fent to 
 a neighbouring male previous to the fcafon of 
 Cxclufion, on^ adl of impregnadon is fufficient 
 B b 4^ for 
 
376 P O U L T R V. 45. 
 
 for one brood. Thus relieved from the 
 cxpence and difagreeablenefs of keeping a 
 male bird, mofl: little farmers, and many cot- 
 tagers, rear turkies. This accounts for the 
 number : and the fpecies, and the food they 
 arc fatted with (which, I believe, is wholly 
 buck) accouiit for their fuperior fize and qua- 
 lity. 
 
 With refpeft to gzes'e, ducks and fowl^ 
 of this country, nothing is noticeable i ex- 
 cept that they are, in general, below the 
 common fize, and that it is a practice to put 
 young goflings upon green wheat : a piece of 
 houfewifery which perhaps is peculiar to the 
 country. 
 
 Poultry of every fpecies are fold, in the mar- 
 kets, ready picked and fkewered fit for the fpit; 
 and are, in general, fo well fatted, and drelfed 
 |ip in fuch neatnefs and delicacy, as fiiew the 
 Norfolk houfcwives to be miftrefTes in the art 
 of managing poultry. 
 
 ^u DECOYS, 
 
41. NORFOLK, 377 
 
 41. 
 
 DECOYS. 
 
 THE LAKES, and large pools, which 
 abound in the Ibudiem Hundreds of Eaft 
 Norfolk, are the nurferies of innumerable 
 flights of "wildfowl," of various fpecies, but 
 principally ducks i which arc taken in great 
 jiumbers in decoys, formed on the margins of 
 thcfe waters ; and which, in eligible fituadons, 
 may well be confidercd as objecls of rural 
 economy. 
 
 Much judgment is requifite in forming and 
 managing a decoy. A gentleman in this 
 neighbourhood had a perfon out of Lincoln- 
 fhire to make one for him. But, after a great 
 f xpence of cutdng pipes, fixing ficreens, nets, 
 &c. it proved unfucccfsful. The pipes were 
 too ftraight, too clofe and confined, and too 
 narrow at the mouth; without any banks for 
 the wildfowl to bafk upon. Upon the whole, 
 jt was too much like a trap to be taken. 
 
 The 
 
37S DECOY 5. 41. 
 
 The leading principles of a decoy are theic : 
 The wild duck b a very fhy bird, and dc- 
 Egh:sin retirement. The firll ftep, therefore, 
 is to endeavour to mal:e the given water a 
 peaceful alv'liim, by fuffering the ducks to reft 
 on it UTidiilurbed. The fame love of con- 
 cealment leads Lhem to be partial to waters 
 vhofe margins abound uHlH unden^'ood and 
 aqijinc plants : hence, if the given water is 
 pot already fumifned with thefc appendages, 
 diey muft be provided i for it is not retirement, 
 akne, which leads them into thefc receCes, 
 ^Hit a fearch after food, alfo. 
 
 Ncyertheleff, at certain times of the day, 
 vhen wildfowl are off ditir fctdy they arc 
 pquaHy delighted "with a fmooth, grafTy mar- 
 gin, to adju:\ and oil their plumage upon. On 
 the clofc-pafhired margins of large waters fre- 
 quented by wildfowl, hundreds may be feen 
 amullng themfelves in this way: and, per- 
 haps, nothing draws them fooqer to a water 
 than a conveniency of this kind :— hence it 
 becomes eCenrially necefiary to fuccefs to pro- 
 vide a graffy, Ihelving, fmooth-fhavcn bank at 
 die mouth of the pipe, in order to draw the 
 ibwl, not only to the water at Irrge, but to the 
 
 deihcd pan of it. 
 
 Having, 
 
4?. NORFOLK, 379 
 
 Having, by thefe means, ?Jlured them to 
 the mouth of the pipe, or canal, leading from 
 the water to a tunnel net, fixed at the head of 
 it ; but hid from the fight among trees and 
 aquatic plants ; the difficulties now remaining 
 are thofe of getting them off the bank into 
 the "water, without taking wing ; and of 
 leading them up the pipe to the Ihare whjch is 
 fet for them. 
 
 To get them off the bank into the water, a 
 dog (the more he is like a fox the better) 
 ilcals from behind a ikreen of reeds, which is 
 placed by the fide of the pipe to hide the 
 decoyman, as well as his dog, until the fignal 
 be given. On feeing the dog, the ducks rufh 
 into the water i where the wildfczvl confider 
 themfclves as fafe from tht. enemy which ha4 
 alTailed them. 
 
 But among the wildfo\d, a parcel (per* 
 haps, eight or ten) o{ deccy- ducks have mixed, 
 and were, probably, inftrumenral in brinsino^ 
 
 them, with greater confidence, to the bank. 
 
 As foon as thefe are in the water, they make 
 for the pipe ; at Lhe head of which they have 
 been conftantly fed 3 and in which they have 
 |iways found an afylum from the dog. The 
 
 wild- 
 
380 DECOYS. 41, 
 
 wild-ducks follow j while tJie dog keeps dri- 
 ving behind ; and, by thst means, takes ofr 
 their attention from the trap they are entering. 
 
 As foon as the decoy man, who is ail the 
 while obfcr\'ing the operation through peep- 
 holes in the reed Ikreen, fees the entire fhoal 
 under a canopy net which covers aiyl inclofes 
 tlie upper pirt of the pipe, he fhews lumfclf ; 
 when the unldfowl infiantly take v.ing i but 
 their wLigs meeting v.jth an impervious net, 
 inftead of a natural canopy formed of reed* 
 ajid bulLiifhes, they fall again into the water, 
 and, being afraid to recede, the man being 
 clofe behind them, pulh forward into the taij 
 of the tunnel net which terminates the pipe *. 
 
 This being the ufe of the pipe, its form be- 
 comes obvious. It ought to refemble the out- 
 let of a natural brook, or, a natural inlet or 
 creek of the principal water. The mouth 
 ought to be fpacijui, and free from confine- 
 
 ♦ I was told by the proprietor c{ a decoy, who U 
 liimfelf fond of the diveriion, and whofe veracity 1 iiavc 
 no reafon to doubt, that he his, in this way, caught 
 •• nine dozeu at a puih.** 
 
 menr. 
 
41. NORFOLK. 381 
 
 ment, diat the wildfowl, on their firfl rufhinor 
 into the water, and v/hile they have yet the 
 power of recolledion, may be induced to be- 
 gin to follow the tame ducks ; and for the fame 
 purpofe it ought to be crooked, that its inward 
 narrownefs, and nets, may not, in the firft in- 
 llance, be perceived. The lower pnrt of a 
 French horn is confidered as the beil form of 
 the pipe of a decoy. 
 
 One material circumflance remains yet to be 
 explained. It is the invariable nature of wild- 
 fowl to take wing with their heads toward the 
 wind i and it is always imprudent to attempt 
 to take them in a decoy, unlefs the wind blow- 
 down the pipe : for, while their enemy is to- 
 leeward of them, they have lefs fcruple to ^o 
 up tiie pipe, making fure of an efcape by tlieir 
 wings. But, v.hat is of ftill more confequence, 
 if the v>'ind let up the pipe, when they take 
 wing under the canopy net, fome of them 
 would probiibiy efcape (a circumftance always 
 to be dreaded), and thofe which fell ag;un into 
 the water would fall, of courfe, with their 
 iieads toward the w ind, and would, with greater 
 diiticuky, be driven into tlie t'jnnel. 
 
 This 
 
3S2 DECOY S. 41. 
 
 This circumftance is fo well known, by de- 
 coymcn in general, that every decoy is, when 
 circumfcances will admit of it, furnifhed with 
 three or four different pipes, pointing to dif- 
 tinft quarters of the horizon, that no oppor- 
 tunity may be loil on account of the wind. 
 
 42. BEE?. 
 
41. NORFOLK. 383 
 
 42, 
 
 BEES. 
 
 A CONSIDERABLE qmntit)- of hope) is 
 colle(fled in Norfolk ; but, in general, it is of 
 an inferior qiialir\- : owing, as i: is generally 
 believed, to the quannty of buck which is 
 annually grown m this country, and which is 
 highly grateful to bees ; affording them an 
 ample fupply of honey. 
 
 Tt does not, however, appear clear to me, 
 that the inferior quality of the Norfolk honey 
 is owmg :x> its being collected from this plant. 
 It refembles, in colour and fmell, the honey of 
 the north of England, co!lecl:ed from ir.r. 
 heaths, moors, and fells, which abound in 
 that part of the iHand : and i: appears to mc 
 probable, that the brcwnnefs and ranknels of 
 the Norfolk honey is owmg to the fame caufe; 
 namely, heath; — which not only abounds on 
 the iirtie heathy waft^s, which occur in 2I- 
 moft every part of the comity ; but fcems to 
 
 be 
 
3^4 B £ E S. 42. 
 
 be a natural production of the foil in general ; 
 frequently rifing, even in good foil. On ditch- 
 banks, and other uncultivated places j fo that 
 the evil, if not whoU)', is, in part, occafioncd 
 by the heath j which, it is a notorious fact, 
 affords much honey, but of a bad quality. 
 
 I will not, liowever, infer from this, that 
 buck is produflive of fine honey, and that it 
 has no fhare in the debafcment of the Norfolk 
 honey. The flowers of buck have no doubt a 
 powerfulj lujcicus fmeU, which is difagreeable 
 to many people j but are not thofe of beans 
 equally powerful, equally lufcious, and to fome 
 perfons equally difagreeable ? I only wilh 
 that die evil eftcCl of buck upon the quality 
 of honey may be douhtid, until it ht proved j by 
 accurate experiments. 
 
 For an inflance of a depopulated hive being 
 taken poITcfTiOn of by a new colony, fee 
 MiN. 126. 
 
 LIST 
 
I 
 
 O F 
 
 RATES AND PROPORTIONS 
 
 I N 
 
 NORFOLK, 
 
 THE MOTIVE for forming a regifler of 
 rates and proportions was, principally, my 
 own pradice. A man who fits down to 
 pra6life in a Diftrid whofe ciiftoms he is a 
 llranger to, has many difficulties to encounter. 
 An ignorance of the current prices of mate- 
 rials, labour, and produce, is not one of the 
 leaft ; and he finds it expedient to make him- 
 felf acquainted with thefe particulars, as foon 
 as pofTible. 
 
 Vol. L G c My 
 
t 
 
 386 LIST OF RATES. 
 
 My motive for endeavouring to perfect the 
 lid, and forpublifliiiig it, is threefold, Firft, 
 it will be a proper, and, in fome meafure, a 
 neceflary appendage to tiie prefcnt volumes. 
 Second, it may be a guide to the inexperienced: 
 A gentleman, or any man, who undertakes 
 the management of an eftate, or a farm, with- 
 out having been regularly initiated in the em- 
 ployment, ftands, in his own country, iii a 
 fituation fimilar to that which a practitioner 
 Mnds himfclf in, when he firft enters a frefh 
 Diftri^l : and the prefentLift may not be found 
 ulcful to the inexperienced in Norfolk, only ; 
 but may ferve, in fome meafure, as a guide 
 ro thole in other countries : for although the 
 prices of labour and produce vary in every 
 Diftrict; yet an authentic regiftcr gf thofe of 
 any one, may Icrve to lellen the number of im- 
 pofitions which gentlemen are liable to, on 
 their iirft entrance into the field of practice. 
 And, laftly, a colletlion of regifters of rates 
 of labour, in different and diltant Diftritfts, 
 will not only be a ftill better guide to the 
 beginner -, but may be found ufeful to prac- 
 titioners in general ; in afUfting them to regu- 
 late their refpcctive lifts of prices, 
 
 l"hc 
 
NORFOLK. 3S7 
 
 The particulars which I collected in Nor- 
 folk fall, aptly, under the following heads. 
 
 I. Bricklayers work. 
 
 1. Materials. 
 
 2. Labour. 
 
 3. Proportions. 
 
 II. Carpextzrs work. 
 
 I. Materials. 
 2: Labourers, 
 m. Thatchers work. 
 I. Materials. 
 z. Labourers. 
 3. Proportions. 
 
 IV. Woodlands and Hedges. 
 
 1. Produce. 
 
 2. Labour. 
 
 V. Husbandry. 
 
 1. Yearly fcrvants. 
 
 2. Day labourers. 
 
 3. Road team -v.-ork. 
 
 4. Soil procefs. 
 
 5. Manure procefs. 
 
 6. Seed procefs. 
 
 7. Vegetating procefs. 
 
 8. Har\'eft procefs. 
 
 9. Bam management. 
 
 10. Markets. 
 
 11. Grafsland. 
 
 C c 2 I. BRICK- 
 
388 LIST OF RATES. 
 
 I. BRICKLAYERS WORK. 
 
 I. Materials. 
 
 Common red bricks *, 1 5 to i Gs. a thoufand. 
 
 Hard-burned, 1 6 to 1 7 j. a thoufand. 
 
 Stone-coloured, ai to 231. a thoufand. 
 
 Flooring bricks, 9 inches fquare, Sj. a 
 hundred. 
 
 12 inches fquare, i8j. a 
 
 hundred. 
 
 — — — 18 inches fquare, 50J. a 
 
 hundred. 
 
 Common pantiles, 50^-. a thoufand. 
 
 Glazed pantiles, 90J. a thoufand. 
 
 Plane tiles, i6j. a thoufand. 
 
 Ridge tiles, 8oj. a thoufand. 
 
 Pipe-drain bricks, 14 to i8j. a hundred. 
 
 " Dreeps" — offset bricks, 10s. a thoufand. 
 
 " Lumps" — barn-floor bricks, 30^. a thou- 
 flmd. 
 
 large ditto, 501. a thoufand. 
 
 Old bricks (half-bricks, half-bats), lis. a 
 thouland. 
 
 Old foundation blocks (rough mafll's of 
 brick and lime cemented together), is. Gd. a 
 load. 
 
 • Gage, — nine inches long ; four inciies and a quarter 
 wide J and two inches and one-eighth thick. 
 
 Caflins 
 
NORFOLK. 389 
 
 Cafting and carting the clay, and making 
 and burning bricks, 71. a thoufand. 
 
 pantiles, 30J. a thoufand. 
 
 Taking down brick walls, and cleaning the 
 bricks, 2s. 6d. a thouland -, reckoning two 
 bats for one brick. 
 
 Cleaning loofe bricks, is. a thoufand. 
 
 Price of fearftones, is. to is. 6d. a load. 
 
 Pulling down old fea (lone walls, and clear- 
 ing and forting- the ftones, 5^. a fquare ftatute 
 rod (namely, about 30 fquare yards). 
 
 Lime, 9J. to los. jrf'. a chaldron (of 32 
 buHiels). 
 
 Cafling and carting marl and burning it into 
 Ume, i8i. and beer, or lod. a chaldron. 
 
 One chaldron of coals (36 bufhels) burn 
 7 chaldron of lime (32 bufhels). 
 
 Clay, IJ-. a load. 
 
 Hair, is. to 14^. a bulhel. 
 
 Sap laths, 14^/. a bundle. 
 
 Pantile laths, 7/. a bundle. 
 
 2. Labour. 
 
 Journeymen's wages, lod, and beer, or 
 i.r. lid. 2i day. 
 
 Labourer's wages, u. and beer, or is. 3^. 
 a day. 
 
 C c 3 Lay- 
 
390 LIST OF RATES. 
 
 Laying bricks, loi. a fquare yawi, (of 
 14 inch work i that is, one and a half brick 
 thick). 
 
 Foundation, is. (the fame thickneis). 
 
 Labour and lime, 20^. a yard. 
 
 Laying pantiles on interlaths and mortar^ 
 4J. a fquare (of 100 fquare feet). 
 
 Pk-iftering, 2^. a fquare yard. 
 
 Celling, 4//. a fquare yard. 
 
 Rendering, that is, one coat of plaiftering) 
 between fpars, id. halfpenny a yard. 
 
 Laying brick floors Li mortar, 3^/. a yard. 
 
 Laying barn floors with clay, 4^. halfpensy 
 to 6(i. a yard. 
 
 Laying hay-chamber floors with ditto, ^d. 
 halfpenny to 6d. *. 
 
 Daubing on fhidwork, 4//. halfpenny a vard. 
 
 Stopping and plaifl:e ring old daubing, id. a 
 yard. 
 
 3. Proportions. 
 
 A fquare yard of 9 inch work (that is, a 
 brick in length thick) takes about one hundred 
 and twenty bricks (the gage fmall). 
 
 One chaldron of Norfolk lime will lay about 
 two thoufand bricks. 
 
 • Tempering the clay and drefiing the floor included. 
 
 One 
 
NORFOLK. 391 
 
 One load of fea ftones will pave about ten 
 fquarc yards. 
 
 One load of clay \v\}l lay (iii die Nonolk 
 manner) about eight fquare yards of i»m-floor. 
 
 n. CARPENTERS WORK. 
 I. Materials. 
 
 Oak timber as it ftands, 3/. 3/. to 4/. a 
 load (of forty feet). 
 
 Ditto in the ftick, 5CJ. to 6oj. a load. 
 
 Afli as it (lands, 4CJ. to ^os. a bad ot 44 
 feeti allowing 4 feet for bark. 
 
 Ditto, in tTiC icick, 3CJ. to 40/. a load of 
 44^eet, 
 
 Poplar, as it {lands, 30^. to 4CJ. a load of 
 44 f£€t. 
 
 Alder, as it {lands, zcs. to 3c/. a load of 
 44 ^^^^ 
 
 2. Labour. 
 
 Journeyman carpentcr*s wages, iSd. and 
 beer, or 21^. a day. 
 
 A foreman carpenter's wages, 2s. and beer, 
 or 2s. 2,d. a day. 
 
 A joiner's wages, is. 3^. and bee.^, or 2.-. 6d. 
 a day. 
 
 C c 4 
 
392 LIST OF RATES, 
 
 III. THATCHERS WORK. 
 
 I. Materials. 
 
 Reed, 3/. to 3/. 3 j. a hundred fathom (of 
 6 feet). 
 
 Cutting and binding reed, 25/. a hundred. 
 
 Cutting and binding gladdon, 30/. a hun- 
 dred. 
 
 Taking off old reed and binding it, los, a 
 hundred. 
 
 New " tar-rope" (three ftrands), ^s. 6d. to 
 4J. a ftone (of fourteen pounds). 
 
 3. Labour. 
 
 Day's work of a man and boy, is. 6d, 
 
 Laying reed, a halfpenny a foot ; or, 4J. 2d. 
 a fquare. 
 
 Laying flraw, rhe fame. 
 
 Setting on " roofing," 3.-/. to 4^. a foot in 
 length. 
 
 3. Proportions. 
 
 A hundred of reed covers five fquare : 
 A load of ftraw about two fquare. 
 A fquare of reed takes about five pounds of 
 tar- rope. 
 
 A load of draw will make about 25 feet of 
 
 " roohng. 
 
 IV. 
 
NORFOLK. 393 
 
 IV. WOODLANDS AND HEDGES. 
 I. Produce. 
 
 For prices of timberj fee Carpenters work* 
 
 Oak bark, los. to 12s. each load of timber. 
 
 Top woodj 8 J. to ioj". each load of tim- 
 ber. 
 
 Round wood, (the naked boughs) 12s. to 
 1 51. a waggon load *. 
 
 Bakers' faggots, 15J. to i8j. a hundred (of 
 one hundred and twenty). 
 
 Spray faggots, lis. to 14J. a hundred (of 
 one hundred and twenty). 
 
 " Bufhel blocks -j-" — lOs. a load (of forty 
 blocks). 
 
 . 2. Labour, 
 
 " Grub-felling J" timber from i^. to 18^. a 
 load of timber, together with the " ground- 
 firing i" that is, the roots. 
 
 * A full waggon load of round wood piled up rough 
 (not cm into lengths) meafured on a par, nine feet long, 
 four and a half feet wide, and four and a half feet high: 
 
 t Rough firing blocks cleft out of decayed pollards, 
 roots, or other ofFal wood ; each block ht'vng fupfofeJ to 
 be the ilze of a bufhel. 
 
 X Partially grubbing. — Sec Planting. 
 
 Cutting 
 
3^ LIST OF RATES. 
 
 Cutting off the round wood, u. a load. 
 
 Tying wood faggots, zs. 6d. to j/. a hun- 
 dred (of fix fcore). 
 
 Tying furze faggots, is. to zs. 6a. a hun- 
 dred (of fix fcore). 
 
 Riving btiihel blocks, 4/. a load. 
 
 Riving half-bufhel blocks, 51. to 6s. a load 
 (of eight}- blocks). 
 
 Riving half-bufhel from fhort ends, when 
 Etrle fawing is \\-anted, 4J. a load. 
 
 Ri\nngfni2ll billet, id. 2. fcore. 
 
 Riving plaiilering laths, 6d. a bundle. 
 
 Toie.'-ably good white-thorn layer, at 4J. a 
 thouland. 
 
 Oaken layer, three or four years old, to lay 
 into hedges, i j. a hundred. 
 
 Gathering haws, %d. abulhel. 
 
 Gadiering acorns, i/. a bulhel. 
 
 Gathering aih keys, 6J. a buihel, heaped 
 ar.d prelTed down *. 
 
 Double -digging t\^•o Ipits and a crumb, is. 
 a fquare rod (of feven yards). 
 
 Price of furze feed, 15J a pound. 
 
 • Tide prices vary of courfe with the plenty or fcar- 
 chy of the differen; articles in a given year. The abave 
 arc low prices. 
 
 \ Making 
 
NORFOLK. 395 
 
 Making a new fix-foot ditch, planting quick, 
 and letting a hedge, is. and beer, or i^d. a 
 rod (of feven yards). 
 
 Re-making an old ditch, fcoiirin^, ficingj 
 backing, and fetting a hedge, jii, to loJ. and 
 beer. 
 
 Cutting thorns, is. 3. waggon load. 
 
 Backing and hedging, 5^. a rod. 
 
 Backing without hedging, 3<^. a rod. 
 
 Grubbing up hedges and borders, 6d. to is. 
 ■ a rod and the " fmali firing," that is, the chips 
 and Imaller roots. See p. 112. 
 
 V. HUSBANDRY. 
 
 I. Yearlv servants. 
 Yearly wages of ahead man, 8/. to 10/. 
 Yearly wages of a fecond man, 4/. to 61. 
 Yearly wages of a harrow boy, 40^. 
 Yearly wages of a woman; 3/. to 3/. ^s. 
 Yearly wages of a girl, joj-. to 401. 
 
 1. Day labourers. 
 
 Day wages of a common man*, in winter, 
 is. and beer. 
 
 Day wages of a common man, in fummer, 
 IS. id. and beer. 
 
 * A teamer man is allowed ix. a week extra, for 
 *• horfe money." 
 
 Harvcft 
 
396 LIST OF RATES. 
 
 Hsrvcil wages, ^^s. tQ 40J. and board du-> 
 ring hsrvefl, whether it be Ihort or long. 
 
 Day wages of a '.vomanj 6d. and beer, and ia 
 harvefb alio board. 
 
 3. Road Team-work. 
 Five horfes, one man and waggon, i os. a 
 day*. 
 
 Teamerman's read allo\\-ance, 6d. a day's 
 journey. 
 
 4, Soil process. 
 
 Plowing, — whether it be breaking up a fal- 
 low or flirring it, 2s. 6d. an acre for man and 
 horfes. 
 
 Seed-pIo\^nng (efpecially for wheat in nar- 
 row ridges) feldom done by the acre, 
 
 5. Manure process. 
 Cafiing marl, 3^/. to 6d. a loadf . 
 
 * lauance of foar iiorfes one man and two waggons in 
 kay time, for -s. td. a day. 
 
 ■f- One ir.dividoal gives 4^. in leiiurc- times, and Sd. in 
 r^nep-hoing, alocd for calling; befides the uncallow- 
 ing, wnich. iie pays for extra by the day. One man and 
 big boy fi!l twelve loads a d^y ; the team (five horfes one 
 mas) carr.ir.g that number a fhort dilbnce. Total ex- 
 pence about I %d. a load. 
 
 Another gives 3-. to 4^. for cabling (befldes uncal- 
 
 loving:). A team carries nx loads about naif a mile. — 
 
 One Ean fills by the day. 
 
 Fillincr 
 
NORFOLK. 
 
 397 
 
 Filling marl, id. a load. 
 
 Spreading marl, gd. to is. an acre. 
 
 " OutholUng" (fcouring out the rich mould 
 from the bottoms of ditches), id. to id. a rod 
 (of ^tvtn yards). 
 
 <^ Turning up borders," (that is, digging 
 up the toplbil, and laying it in a ridge with the 
 grafs-fide downward) id. a rod, for a yard 
 wide, if free from roots or other obflrudlions. 
 
 Filling mould, — generally done by the day. 
 
 Turning up muck in the yard, — by the lump. 
 
 Turning muck heaps, i^. a load. 
 
 Filling muck, id. 2. load. 
 
 Spreading muck, %d. to lod. an acre. 
 
 6. Seed process. 
 
 Wheat, generally fown by the day. 
 
 Barley, &c. id. an acre. 
 
 Turneps, id. an acre. 
 
 Clover and ray-grafs (mixed), id. an acre- 
 
 7. Vegetating process. 
 Hoing turneps, — firft hoing, 3^. 6d. to 4J. 
 — fecond hoing, is. to is. 6d. — the two 
 hoings, 6s. an acre, and beer. 
 M^'eeding, 6d. and beerj or 6d. to 5^. an acre, 
 Stonepicking, id. an acre. 
 
 8. Har^ 
 
39^ LIST OF RATES. 
 
 8. Harvest process. 
 
 Mowing clover and ray grafs, is. to i Sd. an 
 acre, and beer. 
 
 Mowing ^r^, 1 8^. to 2 1^/. an acre, and beer. 
 
 Sweeping broken grafs in paftures, &c. 
 about IS. an acre. 
 
 Reaping wheat, 5 to 6 or js. an acre. 
 
 Mowing barley, &c. i;. an acre. 
 
 Dragraking, 2d. an acre. 
 
 Thatching ricks, Sd. a fquare ; or more 
 commonly 6d. a yard, in length, for both fides, 
 whether the roof be deep or fhallow. 
 
 9. Barn labour. 
 
 Thralhing wheat, about is. a coomb, and 
 beer. 
 
 Thrafhing barley, oats, and buck, 6d. to Sd. 
 a coomb, and beer. 
 
 Thrafhing peas, gd. a coomb, and beer. 
 
 Thrafhing clover feed, 6s. a bufhcl. 
 
 Sifting cleaned corn, id. z coomb. 
 
 Skrecning and putting up fuch corn, 6d. a 
 lad. 
 
 Cutting chaff, iSd. to lod. afcore; or iSd. 
 a day and board ! (the machine in ufe a bad 
 one.) 
 
 10. Markets. 
 
N O ^ F O L it, 5^ 
 
 10. Markets. 
 
 The Norfolk buHiel, eight and a quarter 
 gallons. 
 
 Eighteen flone a coomb, of four bufhels, is 
 efteemed a good weight for wheat: twenty 
 ftone has been produced ; that is, fixtythree xa 
 feventy pounds a bufhel, of eight and a quar- 
 ter gallons; or about fixtyone to fixtj'eight 
 Winchefter. 
 
 II. Grassland. 
 
 Agiftment price for the fummer ; namely, 
 from Mayday to Michaelmas ; in marlhes or 
 grazing ground, at head keep ; — 
 
 For two-yvear-^olds and fmall Scotch cat- 
 tle, 30J. to 2S^' 
 For yearlings, i8x. to 21/. 
 Agiftment price for the fummer ; in mea- 
 dows, or at fecond grafs; — 
 
 For two-year-olds, iSs, to 20s, 
 For yearlings, los. to iis. 
 Agiftment price, by the week, in fummer i 
 For bullocks, at head grafs, 2J, 
 For fhcep, at head grafs, 3^. 
 
 AgiUmeat 
 
40O LIST OF RATES. 
 
 Agifrment price, by die week, after Mi- 
 chaelmas ; 
 
 For fatting cattle, at head, is. 6d. 
 
 For rvvo-year-olds, dry cows, &:c. at fc- 
 
 cond grafs, is. 
 For yearlings, at fecond grafs, 8^. 
 For flieep, 2^. 
 Cutting open drains in moory meadows^ 
 three feet wide, id. to 4^. a rod (of kvtn 
 yards), and beer. 
 
 Scouring fuch drains annually, a halfpenny 
 a rod. 
 
 Scouring main drains (five or fix feet wide) 
 annually, i d. a rod. 
 
 Scouring main drains the fecond year, 2d. a 
 rod. 
 
 Scouring rti^in drains the third year, 3^. a 
 rod. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUMFi