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that there are several very powerful causes operating to reduce the quantity of arable land." d

The Reporter sets out in search of those causes. But he does not, to my apprehension, bring them home, to the conviction of the reader.-What he has said of them would seem to have risen from the reflection of his own mind, rather than from his survey of the County of Surrey. yu MOWING GROUNDS.-P. 389. "By far the greater part, and the most valuable of the meadow land in this county, hes along the banks of the Thames, in the north-western division in the parishes of Oxted, Tanridge, Lingfield, Crowhurst, in the south-eastern division; on the banks of the Mole, near Cobham; and on the banks of the Wey, Dear Godalming. There is also some meadow land in the north-eastern division of the county, near the metropolis, about Dulwich and Camberwell, and a little near Petersham, Wandsworth, and Streatham. A few acres are scattefed over most other parts of the county; but the proportion both of meadow land and of pasture is least in the Weald, where, from the nature of the soil, and the expense and difficulty of tillage, most grass land would naturally * be expected."

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9. Quality of Hay. The following statement is highly interesting. P. 390. "The quality of the hay varies very much in different parts of Surrey. About Chobham and Bagshot, the meadow hay has a very fine colour, and, to all appearance, is very excellent hay; but it has been proved by the experience of almost every regiment of cavalry which has been quartered at Guildford, and which, from the appearance of the hay, has been tempted to purchase it, that it possesses very little nourishment; and that in fact, it is much inferior to the hay that is grown on the meadows near Cobham, though the latter does not look nearly so good.

"This curious fact is attributed, and probably with justice, to the different nature of the waters at Bagshot and Cobham: near the former place, the water is evidently very strongly impregnated with iron: this must injure the hay: whereas, about Cobham, the water from the Mole is as evidently calcareous; this probably is beneficial to the hay."

782 GRAZING GROUNDS.-P. 391. "Perhaps the greatest extent of pasture land lying altogether, is to be found on the Duke of Norfolk's estate, in the parishes of Newdigate and Charlwood, in the Weald of Surrey. On this estate, tad cattles are taken in to graze, from the beginning of May to the beginning of October: the price paid per week Independs upon the size of the cattle: the smallest size pay

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1s. 6d.; the largest, 2s. 6d. per week. The land is generally stocked at the rate of one ox to each two aeres; but as there are, almost every week, some taken out, and others put in, it is not easy to ascertain precisely what number per acre the land carries through the summer."

DAIRY GROUNDS.-P. 392. "With regard to dairy grounds, there may be said to be none in Surrey; though there is reason to believe, that at least a small part of the butter consumed in London was formerly supplied by it, at a time when the access to the metropolis from more distant dairy lands, was not so easy and expeditious as it is at present."

CHALK DOWNS.-P. 480. "These are to be found on every part of the chalk-hills of Surrey except the eastern and western extremities: at the former, the chalk-bills are extremely broken into vallies, across nearly their whole breadth; at the western extremity they form merely a narrow ridge, steep on both sides: at both these extremities, as well as on the more precipitous southern side, the chalk-hills are almost entirely under the plough, so that the principal and most extensive Downs, lie either on the flat or on the northern slope. The most remarkable Downs are those of Bansted, Epsom, and Clandon: the first was formerly noticed for its sweet mutton, the last is now considered as affording better feed than any of the other Downs: probably because it is not stocked

so hard."

"LAYING LAND IN GRASS."-In a section, so entitled, we find the arduous task of revivifying old grass lands spoken of at extraordinary length. The Reporter calls in a friend, Mr. BERKBECK (see Rape Herbage aforegoing) to his assistance. But after employing nearly a sheet of paper, in that difficult service, they leave the matter, as a practical subject, where they found it.-One passage, however, must not be suffered to pass unnoticed.

P. 404. "On the quantity of manure for new lays, the following directions are given by Mr. Birkbeck, of Wanborough.

"Turf may be restored to its former fertility; and for this purpose it is only necessary to observe one simple rule, viz. let manure equal to the whole exhaustion incurred during the course of tillage, be replaced on the grass." (!) "To ascertain this, an accurate account should be kept of the straw and grain produced by each crop. The same weight of grain and oil-cake consumed by horses, cattle, or hogs, littered on an equal quantity of straw, will furnish an equivalent in manure sufficiently exact for our purpose.

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Had due attention been paid to this circumstance, the plough needed not to have been so scrupulously excluded from our old pastures. In fact, this is the essential point.'

"There can be very little doubt with those who have considered the subject attentively," (!)" that the rule laid down by Mr. Birkbeck is of essential importance, and if it were carefully and accurately attended to, it would go a great way towards restoring a good and permanent turf on land laid down to grass."

Of the many thousands of acres of rich grazing grounds, dairy grounds, and productive bay grounds, that have been violated, and despoiled for a length of years; through the ignorance and rapacity of men of trade turned country gentlemen; the wrongheaded speculations of men of genius without judgment; and the self-interest and artful persuations of designing men,-during the last twenty or or thirty years;-how many have been laid or attempted to be laid in grass"? to be renovated and returned to their former state? And how many years of plunder did the few, on which attempts may have been made, un dergo? Say ten or twelve, fifteen or twenty.-Set down the medium-fifteen.

An "accurate account" of produce might doubtlessly be kept, during that or a much longer term. But where could the "manure equal to the whole exhaustion" be procured? Or, if raised on the farm, where could it be stored, without losing its essential virtues, during that period of time? Even if it could be replaced on the grass," and the infant crop should be able to rise under it, it would still be fifteen or twenty years before the "TURF" would "be restored to its former fertility."

The mere impracticability of "the one simple rule" "the essential point," on which the whole machinery of regeneration is proposed to turn-might have been passed over with a smile;-but not so its evil tendency. It is, in truth, a DANGEROUS DOCTRINE;-and right sorry I am that it has been preached up, before the Board of Agricul ture; as, there, it is to be feared, it would find listeners. It might be reckoned cleverness and deep policy, in a tenant to broach such a doctrine; but it were folly in a landlord to drink of it*.

BREAKING UP PERMANENT GRASS LANDS.-Again, we find the Reporter and his friend engaged in the work of deterioration.

*The above remark could not be written to offend Mr. BIRKBECK'; as I am entirely unacquainted with his rank in society.

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deterioration The section Breaking up Grass, Land, which is not very long, is chiefly filled with the praise of “ paring-and-burning : " = an operation which most effectually prevents the return of well herbaged sward, for a length of time, indefinite:-thus completing, in a masterly way, the work of spoliation. Not only the foots, but the seeds, of former herbage are, by that promptly destroying process, annihilated. Whereas, if perennial grass lands be broken up with the plow, and subjected to no other opera tions than what belongs to tillage, some of the roots Fand seeds may remain alive in the soil-a few years-and assist nature, IN RESTORING THE TURF.

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P. 408. "Paring and burning is an operation so well adapted to the purpose of converting grass land to a porary course of tillage, in every view of the subject, that I have no hesitation in proposing it as the first step, in all soils and situations."t

After many an ingenious conception and chemical conjecture! we are boldly led on to this logical inference.P. 412. "It seems clear, that the acquisition, however obtained, will be as the quantity of vegetation; therefore land which has been pared and burnt, producing larger crops, will acquire more than fallowed land, to compensate for the loss sustained in the process."

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The Writer, however, does not say how long the "quantity of vegetation," so acquired, can be induced to, continue, under his compulsory process.-Nor what length of years will be required,-when the accumulated treasures, which a suite of CARBONATED GRAZING GROUNDS contained, have been thereby dissipated,- before the exhausted lands can be again enriched, and brought back to their former state of fertility;-even for the purposes of ARATION;-nor how many centuries it would take to raise them to a state of permanent profit, as PERENNIAL PASTURE GROUNDS:-such as the measures, above recommended, effectually tend to destroy.

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LIVESTOCK.

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1837

- Surrey, as Middlesex, is thinly stocked; and the scanty number it contains are mostly brought into it, from distant £ 2.019 Counties. 3 gride * Query, had Mr. VANCOUVER those mischievous ، Directions in his mind's eye, when he drew his admirable inference, concerning me PRINCIPLES of IMPROVEMENT?—See p. 351, aforegoing, sing

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†The above, as well as the following extract, is taken Trom Mr. BIRKBECK'S COMMUNICATION to the BOARD of Aescului; from which almost the whole of Mr. Stevenson's section}}" Breaking 1 cup Grass Lands," is copied.

counties. Not very long ago, scarcely a cattle or a sheep was bred within it; excepting a few diminutive long-horned cattle (qre. aboriginal?) and some mean native sheep,which were seen on the heathlands, in the western part of the County.

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CATTLE-P. 619. "From the account which has already been given of the application of the ground in Surrey, it will be evident that of the live stock to which attention is here paid, cattle form a very inconsiderable part. In deed, if we except the cows that are kept around the metropolis, for the purpose of supplying it with milk; and those that are kept in the more remote parts of the county, for the purpose of suckling calves for the London market, cattle seldom form a standing, regular, or considerable part of a farmer's stock."

Milked Cows.-P. 519. "On the subject of cows that are kept for supplying the metropolis with milk, Mr. Middleton, in his Survey of Middlesex, has treated so amply, and with such abundant sources of information, that it is impossible to add to what he has said, and difficult to advance any thing which will not appear to be taken from his work."

Suckled Cows.-P. 520. The rearing" (fatting) "of calves for the London market, was once a very favourite and profitable employment in the central parts of Surrey, about Esher, Cobham, Send, and Ripley. The famous Mr. Duckett, of Esher, used to carry it on to a great extent; but from various causes, this practice is on the decline; or at least, is now not carried on to a very great extent, or with much spirit, any where, except in the more retired and distant parts of the county, about Chobham and Bagshot, and in some parts of the Weald."

P. 521. “As each cow brings up more calves than one, it is evident that there must be a great demand for calves: this has given rise to calve-merchants, who attend the different fairs, and purchase calves for the Surrey farmers: the fair at Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire, is particularly resorted to, as the calves bought there are considered as fattening more kindly, and producing more marketable veal, than the calves from most other places."

Family Cows.-P. 520." For gentlemen's families, the Jersey, Alderney, and Suffolk breeds are often kept ; and by the farmers at a distance from town, the Welsh, Devonshire, Sussex, and Staffordshire: the last in many places are very common, and much esteemed."

Fatting Cattle.-P. 523. "Many of the gentlemen and farmers in Surrey occasionally fatten a few oxen; but none of them carry it on with more regularity, nor to a greater extent, iban Mr. Adam, of Mount Nod, and Mr. Coles,

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