with a smaller ridge, of the width of ten or twelve feet, between. On the lighter soils the ridges vary from fifteen to thirty, and even in some instances to forty feet.. On the strong lands four or five horses are used in ploughing, and these are yoked one before the other; but on lighter soils two-horse ploughs have been introduced, and on such lands they appear to be partially growing into credit and adoption. Our ancestors, with weak horses, and heavy, ill-constructed ploughs, found it necessary to use a numerous yoke; and the farmers of the present day, where they occupy the land of their forefathers in unmolested vegetative succession, will not readily be taught that when the breed of horses is improved, and the instrument of tillage is divested, by amended workmanship, of half its weight, a smaller number of horses must needs be sufficient. The horses of the plough-team perform the labour of the day at one yoking; and very few oxen are used for draught.

The drill husbandry obtains only among a few individuals, and does not appear likely to grow into greater practice. Wheat is the grain most frequently drilled; the crops more rarely submitted to this system are barley, beans, peas, and vetches. The horse-hoe has not yet been adopted by the agriculturists favourable to drillhusbandry; and we unwillingly observe that the whole process of weeding meets with too little attention from the generality of farmers. The crops usually cultivated are wheat, barley, oats, peas, beans, vetches, and turnips. The crops partially raised, but which are not admitted into the ordinary rotation of farms, are rye, potatoes, and flax.

From our notice of the soil prevailing in this county, it must be obvious that much of the land is well calculated for the cultivation of wheat; yet it is observed by the official surveyor, "that the culture of this valuable plant might be considerably increased, if a different system of husbandry were practised." After instancing several soils capable of such an improvement in rotation as would cause, with a security of permanent gain, a

more

more frequent recurrence of this golden crop, he observes, in support of his assertion, that "on the rich loams there is only a wheat season once in six or eight years, instead of three crops, which might be grown in the same period. On the poor sandy soils wheat is seldom attempted." The seed time necessarily varies with the soil; but wheat, unless after a summer fallow, is usually sown in the months of September and October. The red lammas is the kind usually preferred. Barley is principally cultivated "on the dry loams after turnips, the clay soils being more uncertain." The seed is put in the ground as early in April as is practicable; and a change from other counties is seldom procured. This, indeed, appears the less necessary, as the barley of Warwickshire is particularly weighty and good. The produce of this crop, on the soils best suited to its growth, is from five to six quarters per acre.-Various kinds of Oats are cultivated. The quantity usually sown, per acre, is five bushels; and the produce varies from three to eight quarters each acre.—The Gray Pea alone is raised by the farmer; and this crop is observed to thrive particularly on land that has lately undergone a course of lime.-Beans were formerly not cultivated in Warwickshire on a large scale: but they are now rising in esteem. The kinds sown are the common tick bean and the horse bean. spring Vetches are grown to some extent. is the customary quantity of seed. The produce is usually eaten off by sheep, or cut green for the use of farming horses; though some farmers plough it in for manure; a practice that seems only to have its simplicity of operation to recommend it.-Turnips, the most important introduction that English agriculture has yet experienced, find a suitable soil in nearly every division of the county, and they are cultivated with some success. If turnips are sown after wheat, oats, or barley, the land is regularly aided by manure; but the crop too frequently receives only one hoeing; a neglect most detrimental to the farmer's best interest. The Ruta Baga, or Swedish Turnip, is not much grown; a cir

Both winter and Two bushels per acre

cumstance

cumstance perhaps to be attributed to the natural mildness of the climate, and consequent early abundance of grass. Turnips are sown according to the broadcast system throughout Warwickshire, and are eaten off by sheep folded.

"It is supposed that the extent of land in permanent Meadow and Pasture Grass in Warwickshire amounts to 235,000 acres; and the quantity in artificial grass to about 60,000 acres, making together annually in grass 295,000 acres. Out of this quantity it is supposed 80 to 85,000 acres are meadows, and mown for hay annually; and of the artificial grass about 10 to 15,000 acres are eut green for horses and other cattle, and made into bay: the remaining 195 to 205,000 are pastured with sheep and cattle." The live stock thus employed by the grazing farmers is of various breeds; but the long-horned cow is the sort chiefly bred in the county. The Warwickshire sheep of the large polled kind have been judiciously crossed with the Leicester; and a breed has resulted that is certainly not inferior to the stock of principal request in any county of England.

The farms of Warwickshire are in general far from large; but the system of consolidation appears to be rapidly growing into favour with the great landholders. In the opinion of Mr. Wedge, average size of Packington, 150 acres are at present about the of farms throughout the county. Few leases are granted; but the rent of land, with the exception of such districts as border ou great commercial towns, is assuredly moderate. Mr. Murray supposes that the average rent of the whole county would not amount to more than 29s. per annum.

According to an estimate formed about ten years back by Mr. Wedge, the waste land of this county, including roads, then amounted to 120,470 acres. The commons and common field he placed at 57,000 acres. Since the period of this calculation many acts of enclosure have been obtained, and only a small portion now lies uncultivated. The chief unenclosed tracts consist of heaths

• Murray, p. 128.

keaths and commons, of an indifferent quality, on the north and

west.

The principal Woodlands of this county are still to be found in the neighbourhood of its former great forest, in the middle, western, and northern districts; but nearly every divison is interspersed with valuable and ornamental timber. Oak, matured and grand, conveying the story of former ages, yet likely to flourish in the days of succeeding generations, is attached to almost every residence of hereditary consequence. The estate of Mr. Leigh, of Stoneleigh, near Coventry, is situate in the most luxuriant part of Warwickshire, and is particularly affluent in oak timber of the largest and most valuable description. At Merevale; at Ragley, the seat of the Marquis of Hertford; and at Charicote, the estate of the Rev. Mr. Lucie, are likewise woods thick with stately and venerable oak. Elm, in the most flourishing condition, is abundant; and in no part are to be seen finer trees of this species than in the grounds belonging to the gentleman last mentioned. Nor does the county entirely depend for its wealth in woodland recesses on the liberal providence of past ages; the recent plantations are numerous, and carefully attended.-There are also many Coppices, cousisting of oak, ash, hazel, alders, birch, and beech. Concerning the management of these nothing peculiar occurs. They are cut in regular allotments, so as to admit of a fall in every year. As coals abound in this county, the wood is seldom consumed as fuel, but is used chiefly for hurdles, hoops, rails, &c.

Warwickshire is watered by numerous streams, which impart richness to large spreads of pasture, and add much to the pictorial charms of the county, though (with an exception of the Avon,) they are of a character too trivial to bestow important facilities on commercial interchange. Of these the principal are the Avon, the Tame, the Leam, the Rea, the Stour, the Alne, the Arrow, the Anker, the Blythe, the Swift, the Cole, and the

Dove.

The River Avon (termed the Upper, or Warwickshire, Avon,) claims particular notice, from its affluence of waters, and from the interest attached to its picturesque and ornamented banks. This river derives its soarce from a spring in the village of Naseby, Northamptonshire, and enters the county of Warwick at Bensford Bridge, being joined at the village of Brownsover by the river Swift, a stream that rises in Leicestershire, and is memorable for having borne far abroad through its narrow channel the violated ashes of the great Reformer, John Wickliff. Proceeding in a south-west direction, but with devious and dilatory windings, the Avon reaches the town of Warwick through valleys which conspicuously increase in beauty as it approaches that venerable place. Passing close to the base of Warwick Castle, whose lofty towers so finely decorate its course, our river expands in some places to the breadth of two hundred feet as it pursues its track through the grounds attached to this princely residence. It now, with a flow too gentle, and a course too devious, for the warm anticipations of the examiner, draws towards the neighbourhood which imparts classic immortality to its name. It passes Fulbroke; and, in the park formerly attached to a mansion here, Shakspeare is said to have committed his great youthful irregularity, and to have condescended to become one of those who, with unhallowed licence, "gored, in their own confines. the round haunches of poor dappled fools." It looks boldly on Charlecote, the former residence of Sir Thomas Lucie, condemned to everlasting fame as Justice Shallow; and then, after making a large sweep towards the north, washes the border of the town of Stratford.

On quitting this favoured town the Avon proceeds, with no deviation of striking interest, to Bidford, a spot not to be passed

with

After the bones of Wickliff had remained thirty-one years in quiet sepulture, they were removed by order of the Council of Sienna, and were burned, and then thrown into the river Swift. See Beauties, &c. for Leicestershire, p. 463.