a very good malting sample. The best results are obtained when barley follows wheat : white wheat is much more grown than red, and is usually a capital sample of good weight and a fine plump berry. The straw, too, is singularly free from mildew, bright and good, and generally sells at a very good price. Clover is usually sown with a proportion of rye- grass, and is then known as ' mixture,' and it may as a rule be depended upon to give a good return every eight years. The proximity of London causes both hay and straw to be sold in large quantities off many farms, and it is to be feared that the manure to compensate this wastage of the land is very frequently not forthcoming.
The implements used on the farms are of the kind common to all counties. Many of them on the smaller holdings are extremely old- fashioned, but in general they are fairly up to date. The plough used more than any other in the hill districts, and known here as the ' swing' plough, has two equal-sized wheels in front with a stout iron standard springing from the axle, which works free in a loop on the end of the beam, thus forming a sort of fore-carriage. It is claimed for it that it gives much more freedom of action, and does better work on the side of the hills than the ordinary two-wheeled ploughs. It is in common use on the light lands in Suffolk, and is there known as the ' gallows ' plough. The ' one-way ' or ' turn-wrest ' plough is coming more into favour, and is useful for turning the furrows all down-hill in steep land. It is, however, somewhat cumbersome and looks unhandy. On the large farms the steam tackle is much used in the autumn for breaking up both corn and clover stubbles and is a distinct saver of labour. The various proprietors are kept very busy when the weather is favourable. The usual price for medium sized lots is about 12s. an acre for plough- ing, 12s. an acre for cultivating twice, and 3s. an acre for harrowing. Mowing machines and self-binders are everywhere used for the hay and corn harvests, and the light and handy American horse-rakes are much appreciated. The light-running local waggons are used in preference to carts for carrying the hay and corn, much skill being displayed by the drivers in clearing some of the steep fields, while accidents very rarely happen. The corn is all thrashed by the travelling thrashing machines, a very costly process by the time everything is paid for. The cheerful sound of the flail in the fine old barns is no longer heard, and the fixed thrashing machine has quite disappeared.
The land was at one time in the great majority of cases held by leases of five, seven, or fourteen years, but a great deal of it is now held by yearly agreements. The landlord apparently does not like to alienate his property for any length of time in case values should improve, and the tenant fears that there may still be a lower depth of depression to be reached, and consequently does not care to risk a lease. Michaelmas entry is practically universal, and the valuations of tenant-right are taken in the usual way. The outgoing tenant thrashes his own corn and markets it, the incoming tenant takes the hay and straw. There is no hard and fast rule as to terms : on some estates they are taken at market-
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