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to have given way to a cross of the New Leicester upon the native speckled-face Berkshire and Old Wiltshire breeds."

P. 366." It is however contended by many discerning and experienced men, that the breed best suited to the woodland district, is the old round-nosed, close-horned Wiltshire, which, from their superior height, are stated to stand better out of the dirt, and to bear with seemingly less suffering, the wet cold layer of the woodland clays, than the New Leicester, or any crosses of that breed upon the native Wilts or Berkshire."

"The native breed of the South Downs in Sussex, are spreading to a very wide extent throughout this county."

P. 368. "Upon the chalk downs in the Isle of Wight, the Sussex breed are becoming equally general, and so far as they are known, are as justly appreciated in such situations as on the more extended downs in other parts of the county."

The Spanish Breed.-P. 371. "The gentlemen" (whom) "the Surveyor had an opportunity of seeing, and who appear to have paid most attention to the improvement of wool by a cross with the Spanish Merina, are as follow."-Those gentlemen were Mr. Richards of Northhouse, Col. Cunningham of Malshanger, and Col. Mitford of Exbury.

Wool,-which Mr. Vancouver styles "one of the most important articles in the whole catalogue of rural economics," (p. 497.) has principally engaged his attention, while speaking of sheep; whether in the section bearing that name, or in proposing "Means of Improvement."

As a material of manufacture (native or foreign) wool is of the highest consideration, in this country; and, as such, forms a prominent object in English husbandry.— But seeing how much has been written of late years on the subject, and the small compass which every thing that can be said of it lies,-I perceive nothing in Mr. V.'s sentiments, concerning it, that would materially add to the useful information of my readers.

SWINE.-P. 378. "The native hog of this county is a coarse, raw boned, flat-sided animal, agrecing in no respect with the idea entertained of it in other parts of the kingdom: the great number fed for a few weeks in the close of autumn, upon the mast which the forest and other woodlands produce, in the county, and the excellent mode of curing hog-meat practised by the house-keepers, have contributed in a far greater degree to establish that superiority ascribed to Hampshire bacon, than any inherent excellence in its native breed of hogs. Very few, however,

of

of the genuine native hog are to be met with, the common stock being either the native Berkshire breed, or a considerable predominance of that blood in the native swine of the country."

FISHERIES. Salmon.-P. 49. "In all the rivers and inlets discharging into the sea, salmon are caught in their season: this fishery, however, is by no means so productive as formerly, particularly in the great supply that was drawn from the Southampton Water: this must be ascribed to the caprice of the animal in quitting its former haunts, and certainly not to the destruction of the young fish on their

return to seaward in the winter season.' (?)

Carp and Tench.-Market fish ponds, similar to those of Surry and Sussex, are found on the margin of Hampshire, bordering on those Counties.

PRINCIPLES OF IMPROVEMENT.

Mr. VANCOUVER, in conformity with the plan of the Board, has collected, at the close of his Report, his ideas concerning what he conceived to be the subjects of inprovement, of the established practices of the County. In this, as in other instances of the same kind, I have, on the principle of simplexity, incorporated such particulars, as I have deemed to be entitled to notice, with those which I have found in the body of the Work, on the same subjects.

What I think it right to lay before my readers, in this place, are some well conceived, GENERAL PRINCIPLES, concerning the IMPROVEMENT of the "NATIONAL TERRITORY."P. 450. "The objects which at all times, but which at this momentous crisis seem to press with the greatest force on the attention of Government, and upon the thinking part of the community of these kingdoms, are manifold and various, but which may generally be conceived under one or other of the following heads.

"First, the means of procuring from the national territory, and with the least possible expenditure of human labour, an ample and never-failing supply of animal and vegetable food.

"Secondly, in providing raw materials for manufacture, to the full extent the soil and climate of these islands will admit of; and,

"Thirdly, The raising of naval stores, as far as possible, within ourselves, for the purpose of preserving our present maritime superiority."

After assuming another position,-concerning popula

tion,which I do not conceive to be altogether tenable, Mr. V. draws this spirited inference.-P. 451. "Any practice therefore that does not ultimately tend to preserve the natural fertility of the national territory, is politically and morally wrong; and the advocates for such practices, be they who they may, are acting under a blind invincible prejudice, and to all intents and purposes becoming the most dangerous of all enemies to the permanent improvement, internal strength, and external importance of the country." Hear! hear!

SURREY.

SURREY.

SURREY has not an entire District within its out

lines. Its Northern Vale Lands form part of the VALE of LONDON. Its Heathlands, on its western confine, unite with those of Berkshire, Hampshire, and Sussex. Its Chalk Hills are a portion of the EASTERN CHALK HILLS of the SOUTHERN COUNTIES. And its Southern Vale Lands were evidently cast, by Nature, in the same mold with similar lands in Sussex;-together forming one of the most extensive vales in the kingdom; bearing the popular name of the WEALD or " WILD" of SUSSEX,

For details, concerning those several component parts of the County of Surrey, see my SOUTHERN COUNTIES.

"GENERAL VIEW

OF THE

AGRICULTURE

OF THE

COUNTY OF SURREY,

WITH

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT.

BY MR. WILLIAM JAMES, AND MR. JACOB MALCOLM,

THE

OF STOCKWELL, NEAR CLAPHAM.

1794."

HE QUALIFICATIONS of those Gentlemen, for the task of reporting the rural practices of a County, are not difficult to appreciate; tho they are not, by themselves, immediately expressed; otherwise than by the title page.-They were, I believe, at the time they wrote, nurserymen, on an extensive scale, and of good repute. A a

Their

[graphic]

tion, which I do not conceive to be altogether tele Mr. V. draws this spirited inference.-P. 451. "Any pr tice therefore that does not ultimately tend to presene the natural fertility of the national territory, is politically and morally wrong; and the advocates for such practi be they who they may, are acting under a blind invin cible prejudice, and to all intents and purposes becoming the most dangerous of all enemies to the permanent im provement, internal strength, and external importance of the country." Hear hear!

SURREY.

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