"GENERAL VIEW OF THE AGRICULTURE OF THE COUNTY OF CORNWALL. DRAWN UP FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. By G. B. WORGAN. 1815."* THIS REPORT has been brought out to public view, under peculiar circumstances. Mr. Worgan's manuscript having been deemed unsatisfactory, the Board appointed three men of " long experience in practical agriculturenatives and inhabitants of Cornwall",to revise it. The subjoined extract forms the close of an address to the Board, by the revisers; giving a plain and appropriate Report of the trust reposed in them. P. viii. "We beg to add, that we believe Mr. Worgan to have been very diligent in collecting materials for his Work. It happened however unfortunately, that he was obliged to perform the greater part of his Survey during winter, by which he not only endured much hardship, but was also forced to take many things upon trust, of which at a more favourable season, he might have been an eye witness. We have taken great liberties with his manuscript, and generally suppressed what was deemed redundant; but after The Survey was taken in 1807-8: a prefix to the Report, by Mr. Worgan, is dated, "Bodmin, November, 1808"; and a revision of it, in May 1810. In what year the book was printed and published is doubtlessly known to its printer and publisher. The title page of the copy which I received, in March 1816, is evidently younger than the rest of the book. † Amateurs of a superior class, probably, rather than professional men. after considerable erasements, alterations, and additions, a large portion of the original is preserved; and to obviate the inconvenience of notes and references, we have in some measure identified ourselves with Mr. Worgan in the body of the Work; taking care that wherever we have made observations, or stated facts, for which we alone are answerable, the initials of our respective names are subjoined. We are, Gentlemen, with much respect, Your obedient humble Servants, Cornwall, May 1, 1810." ROBERT WALKER. JEREMIAH TRIST. CHARLES VINICOMBE PENROSE. Mr. WORGAN'S QUALIFICATIONS are not so fully set forth, as are those of his judges. By incidental expressions, it appears that Mr. W. was, or recently had been at the time of his Survey, an occupier in the County. He rarely, however, brings his own practice, or his own opinions, forward; -appearing to be most desirous to give a faithful account of the best practice of the County; which is, I conceive, the true principle and business of Report. His MODE of COLLECTING INFORMATION appears to have been, principally, by a pedestrian tour through the County; -the fatigues and privations attending which are not passed unnoticed. To his own observations he has fortunately been able to add much valuable intelligence,liberally furnished by professional men of the higher class, and well informed amateurs. Fraser's original Report is not once named! The number of pages, of the body of the book, one hundred and eightyeight, with an index. The number of engravings fifteen, together with some wooden-cut diagram. The plates are neatly done; and are doubtlessly intended, in those picture-fancying times, "to sell the book",-by raising its price from five (its letterpress value) to twelve shillings. A map of soils; properly distinguished by the graver; not by colors. NATURAL ECONOMY. EXTENT XTENT.-See the original Report. SURFACE.-P. 5. "The whole county of Cornwall, with a very few exceptions, is remarkable for inequality of surface; ascents and descents follow in rapid succession. Some of of the hills are very steep, and tediously prolong a journey. The great post-roads being carried many miles together, over rugged, naked, and uncultivated beaths and moors, the traveller is impressed with a more unfavourable opinion of the county than it deserves." CLIMATURE.-P. 3. "The general character of the cli.mate of Cornwall, like all other peninsulated situations lying far to the southward and westward, is inconstancy as to wind and rain; and mildness as to heat and cold. Nor is it so subject to thunder storms as some inland counties are." "The cause of more frequent rains in Cornwall than in other parts of England, is, that for three-fourths of the year the wind blows from the intermediate points of the west and the south, which sweeping over a large tract of the Atlantic Ocean, collects and brings with it vast bodies of clouds, which, being broken by the narrow ridge-like hills of the county, descend in frequent showers: but it may be remarked, that the rains in Cornwall, though frequent, cannot be said to be heavy or excessive, and perhaps the quantity may not exceed that of other counties." P. 5." Snow seldom lies more than four or five days on the coast; and a skaiter may sometimes pass a winter in Cornwall, without being able to partake of his favourite amusement. A kind of languid spring prevails through the winter, which brings forth early buds and blossoms, raising the farmers' and gardeners' expectations, to be too often disappointed by blighting north-east winds, in March, April, and even sometimes so late as May. "With respect to the effects of the climate on the human race, it may be said to be particularly healthy and genial, and there are numerous instances of longevity." WATERS.-P. 14. "Nature has been bountiful in her supplies and distribution of this blessed lement in Cornwall, sufficient for every purpose of life. Springs are abundant on the high, as well as the low grounds, which, gliding away to the vallies, unite, and form numerous streams, rivulets, and some not inconsiderable rivers. "The most considerable are the Tamar, the Lynker, the Looe, the Fowey, the Camel or Alan, and the Fal." SOILS.-P. 8. "The soils of Cornwall may be arranged under the three following heads: "1st, The black growan, or gravelly. "2d, The shelfy, or slaty. "3d, Loams differing in texture, colours, and degrees of fertility. "To attempt to specify these soils severally, with their endless combinations and adventitious differences, would be Mm after considerable erasements, alterations, and additions, & large portion of the original is preserved; and to obriate the inconvenience of notes and references, we have in some measure identified ourselves with Mr. Worgan in the body of the Work; taking care that wherever we have made observations, or stated facts, for which we alone are answer able, the initials of our respective names are subjoined. We are, Gentlemen, with much respect, Your obedient humble Servants, Cornwall, May 1, 1810." ROBERT WALKER. JEREMIAH TRIST. CHARLES VINICOMBE PENROSL Mr. WORGAN'S QUALIFICATIONS are not so fully set forth. as are those of his judges. By incidental expressions, it appears that Mr. W. was, or recently had been at the time of his Survey, an occupier in the County. He rarely, how. ever, brings his own practice, or his own opinions, forward; -appearing to be most desirous to give a faithful account of the best practice of the County; which is, I conceive, the true principle and business of Report. His MODE of COLLECTING INFORMATION appears to have been, principally, by a pedestrian tour through the County -the fatigues and privations attending which are not passed unnoticed. To his own observations he has fortunately been able to add much valuable intelligence, liberally for nished by professional men of the higher class, and well in formed amateurs. Fraser's original Report is not once named! The number of pages, of the body of the book, one hundred and eightyeight, with an index. The number of engravings fifteen, together with some wooden-cut diagram. The plates are neatly done; and are doubtlessly intended, in those picture-fancying times, "to sell the book",-by raising its price from five (its letterpress value) to twelve shillings. A map of soils; properly distinguished by the graver; not by colors. NATURAL ECONOMY. EXTENT. XTENT.-See the original Report. SURFACE.-P. 5. "The whole county of Cornwall, with a very few exceptions, is remarkable for inequality of sur face; ascents and descents follow in rapid succession. Some 樓 as asements, original y y Dotes and seives with ofthe hills are very steep, and tediously prolong a journey. The great post-roads being carried many miles together, over rugged, naked, and uncultivated beaths and moors, the traveller is impressed with a more unfavourable opinion care that rig of the county than it deserves." facts, for CLIMATURE.-P. 3. "The general character of the cli.mate of Cornwall, like all other peninsulated situations. respective mans! men, with an lying far to the southward and westward, is inconstancy as to wind and rain; and mildness as to heat and cold. Nor is it so subject to thunder storms as some inland counties are." Ir obedient te ROBERT JEREMIAE CHARLEST "The cause of more frequent rains in Cornwall than in other parts of England, is, that for three-fourths of the year the wind blows from the intermediate points of the west and the south, which sweeping over a large tract of the Atlantic Ocean, collects and brings with it vast bodies of clouds, which, being broken by the narrow ridge-like hills of the county, descend in frequent showers: but it may be remarked, that the rains in Cornwall, though frequent, cannot be said to be heavy or excessive, and perhaps the quantity may not exceed that of other counties." ns to give it P. 5." Snow seldom lies more than four or five days on the coast; and a skaiter may sometimes pass a winter in Cornwall, without being able to partake of his favourite. A kind of languid spring prevails through the winter, which brings forth early buds and blossoms, raising the farmers' and gardeners' expectations, to be too often disappointed by blighting north-east winds, in March, April, and even sometimes so late as May. "With respect to the effects of the climate on the human race, it may be said to be particularly healthy and genial, and there are numerous instances of longevity." WATERS.-P. 14. “Nature has been bountiful in her supplies and distribution of this blessed element in Cornwall, sufficient for every purpose of life. Springs are abundant on the high, as well as the low grounds, which, gliding away to the vallies, unite, and form numerous streams, rivulets, and some not inconsiderable rivers. "The most considerable are the Tamar, the Lynker, the Looe, the Fowey, the Camel or Alan, and the Fal." SOILS.-P. 8. "The soils of Cornwall may be arranged under the three following heads: "1st, The black growan, or gravelly. "2d, The shelfy, or slaty. "3d, Loams differing in texture, colours, and degrees of fertility. "To attempt to specify these soils severally, with their endless combinations and adventitious differences, would be M m |
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