Horses. Assen. CHAP. 4. county by several persons, and the late Sir Sitwell Sitwell, bart. of Renishaw,* the late Sir Henry Harpur, bart. of Swarkstone, the Duke of Devonshire, and a few others of the nobility and gentry, have at different times kept considerable establishments for training these horses. The race-course at Derby is on a fine flat, more than one mile in circumference, with a handsome stand, and all the requisites for this fashionable amusement. Its central situation might render it one of the most frequented in the kingdom. The Ass is an animal much used by the colliers and potters of this county. Little attention, however, has been paid to the improvement of an animal which is very serviceable in many situations. Asses are used in under-ground coal works, for dragging the corves of coal from the banks or faces of work to the bottom of the drawing shaft, and have been found capable of enduring the choak-damp in the pits, better than horses or men.t Rabbits, poultry, &c.—There are few rabbit-warrens in this county. The Griffe-warren, near Middleton, produces a valuable species much in request at the tables of the luxurious. There are other warrens at Brassington moor, Alderwasley, Rowsley wood, Sudbury park and some other places. On account of the depredations of these animals the breeds are much discouraged. Rabbits, Poultry, &c. Increase of Vegetables. At Pleasley, on the borders of Nottinghamshire, there is a fine breed of black-fowls. Game-fowls are kept at Wingerworth, Buxton and other places.-At Brailsford, Mr. E. S. Cox has a breed of very large reddish brown American turkeys, which were brought from that country by his brother, Mr. Roger Cox. This breed is considerably spread among that neighbourhood. The flocks of geese have certainly decreased in this county since the enclosure of the large commons, but cottagers and farmers still keep them in considerable quantities, in the wide lanes, small wastelands, and on the fields adjoining their farm-steads. Lord Scarsdale has a valuable breed of geese, with black heads and wings.-Ducks, pigeons and other farm-yard fowls are kept here, as in other counties. Bees are kept in considerable quantities, about Darley in the Dale, Heath, Lullington and many other villages. Increase of Animals and Vegetables.—We shall add a short memoir on Animals and this subject, as a matter of curiosity and some utility; tending to show how soon a new breed of animals, or variety of vegetables, may be introduced and extended, by application and perseverance. The cattle species, though not very rapid in increase, will be four-fold in 8 years, beginning with 1 bull and 1 cow, 2 8 32 128 512 2048 and continue in that proportion, though slaughtered at eight years old. The famous racers, from Sir Sitwell Sitwell's stud, were, viz.: mares, Hyale, Goosecap, Goosander, &c. Horses; Clinker, Moorcock, Clasher, Pepeline, &c. At Riddings and other collieries, where asses are used under ground, I have been much amused, at seeing these animals drawn up on the Saturday evening, in order to graze on the surface until Monday morning: which they seem, from habit, to expect; and when let loose, testify their joy, by the most frantic braying, running and kicking up. The contrast is striking, on seeing them driven to the pit-head, and having the sling-chains wrapped round them, and expecting to be caught up, and suspended high in the air, before they are let down the shaft to their labour. Farey, Vol. III. page 162. Sheep.-Suppose the ewes each rear annually one lamb only, over and above losses, the young ewes to bring forth at two years old, half males, and the old stock cut off at five years old, all the others preserved, One ram and one ewe at first, CHAP. 4. Animals and 2 3 8 20 Swine.-This species may increase five-fold annually, at a very reasonable calculation: suppose ten at one or two litters brought forth by each dam annually, half males, half females, and the old stock annually cut off,— Rabbits are still more prolific, and would, if permitted, soon increase in numbers sufficient to overrun the earth. It seems to be in the system of nature, that a large proportion of animals should be prematurely cut off as food for others; otherwise, their tendency to increase would so exceed their means of subsistence, as to occasion a general scarcity of food. Vegetable increase is still more rapid than that of animals. It is providentially ordered, that animals as the food of man, should have a tendency to increase faster than man himself; and vegetables as food for both, have a tendency to increase faster than either, insomuch as in a very short time to cover the whole surface of the earth by their natural power of accumulation. We shall conclude these theoretic calculations by the often-repeated example of the increase of a grain of wheat in a ten-fold proportion: Farm which is more than six times the superficies of the whole earth and sea. The farm buildings in Derbyshire are similar, in general, to those of other counties: but there are some of peculiar excellence, that demand our particular notice. At Bretby, the Earl of Chesterfield has in his park one of the most complete farming establishments in this part of England. The condescension of his lordship, and the kindness of Mr. William Martin, his lordship's architect and builder, have enabled us to lay before our readers a more correct plan and elevation of these buildings than have previously been presented to the public. Reference to the Plan of the Farming Establishment of the Earl of iii A Lord Chesterfield's or dairy parlour. 13 Stairs to cheese room. Bailiff's sitting room. 14 Wagon shed, with cheese room above. Bailiff's kitchen. 15 Bull stalls. Cream dairy, fitted up with marble. 16 Cart house. Entrance passage. 17 Staircase. 18 Cheese dairy. Dairy scullery. Salting house and pig cistern. Dairy court with covered way. Bakehouse. Water closet. Roosting houses. & 23 SS Laying and sitting houses for poultry. 20 22 25 Gateway, with granary above. 27 Poulterer's shop. Aviary for pheasants and birds. V Duck and goose houses. Water cistern. Passages. Loose stall. Implement house. Hay bin. Cow shed for ten cows. Cottage for a farm labourer. Stable for eleven wagon horses, with hay loft over it. Stable for two horses. Calf house, fitted up with stalls and racks. Stairs to hay and straw chambers over Cow shed for twenty cows. Covered shed for horse race to ditto 10 20 30 40 50 100 150 CHAP. 4. Farm WEST ELEVATION OF THE FARM BUILDINGS. Gardens, SOUTH ELEVATION OF AVIARY, POULTRY HOUSES, AND The farm buildings of Abraham Hoskins, esq. at Newton Solney, are both extensive and complete.-The farm-premises at Locko park, Chaddesden park, Calk park, &c. are built in a very commodious and elegant manner. The Moscow farm buildings, near Duffield, in the estate of Messrs. Strutt, are fire proof, being built with brick arches. They contain a milk-house in the centre. There are two wings, each of which contains stalls or standings for twenty-five cows and a bull, a calf house and open sheds for barren cows. Every requisite for such an establishment is complete. The cow-sheds are so contrived that space is left for a person to walk round each beast to fodder and milk it; and the conveniences for feeding and watering the cattle are highly commendable, as well as the facility with which the stalls are ventilated. These buildings were erected by the late Henry Strutt, esq. about the time of the destruction of Moscow, from which circumstance they derive their name. The farm contains about one hundred and seventy acres of land, equal to any in the county: and has recently been let, on a lease of fourteen years, to Mr. Henry Turner, at about £500. per annum; who, at the same time, contracted to furnish the manufactories of Messrs. Strutt at Belper and Millford with eighty gallons of milk daily, at 8d. per gallon. The stock of Mr. Turner consists at present of twenty-seven prime, short-horned dairy cows, and he is increasing the number. He rents also of John Balguy, esq. of Duffield, seventy acres of similar land, and may boast of holding more than two hundred and forty acres, that require as little trouble and expense in the cultivation as any similar number of acres in the kingdom. Mr. Turner, who is an experienced grazier, gives a decided preference to the Woodland sheep, and to the Kyloe or mountain cattle. The gardens, orchards and other plantations for fruits and vegetables, are numerous in the southern districts of this county. Those belonging to the gentry and nobility are as productive of early culinary plants as the garden-grounds of other more southern districts. The principal gardens are those attached to the seats of the Duke of Devonshire, the Earl of Ches |