Climate, Soil, eigricultare.—Although this county, from its mono tainoua nature, is more interesting in a picturesque than in an agricul tural point of view, it contains some very fertile valleys, in which there are many well-enitivated farms. The climate is mild and moist in the valleys; the high bills condense the clouds which come over the Atlantic, and cause frequent and abundant rains, which keep the pastures green, but are not so favourable to the ripening of the corn. Much snow often accumnlates in winter.
The soil in the valleys is mostly a dry gravelly mould, composed of different earths washed down from the hills, and forming a coil well fitted for the cultivation of turnips, of which great crops are raised on some well-managed farms. Towards the east and north of the county the soil is more inclined to clay ; and, unless this be well drained, the land is too wet, in spring and autumn, to admit of clean and careful cultivation. Wherever the water has no sufficient outlet, basins of peat are formed.
There were formerly a great many small proprietors in Westmor land who were called 'Statesmen,' that is, 'Estatesmen'—men who held land of their own, either as freehold, or by a customary tenure, somewhat resembling copyhold, under some great landlord. With the exception of a fine or heriot on the death of a tenant or on alienation, they were held free. The proprietors of these very small farms were an independent set of men, wbo worked hard and lived frugally. They often joined the trade of weaver to that of farmer, and thus their whole time was usefully employed. The increase of wealth and conse quent luxury gradually led to a greater expense of liviog than the small farms, imperfectly cultivated, could support; and these small proprietors gradually decreased, their farms being absorbed into the greater estates which surrounded them. The larger farms are now usually let on lease for various terms. Of late years considerable im provement has taken place in the oultivatlon of the county. Draining the heavy lands has been mnch attended to; manuring is better under stood ; more carefnl rotations of crops have been introduced ; and better implements of husbandry employed; but much yet remains to be accomplished.
From Kirkby Stephen to Brough and Appleby and thence to Temple Sowerby the soil is a deep sand, which the moisture of the climate of Westmorland renders more compact on cultivation. Turnips and
potatoes grow well here, when plenty of manure is pat on. Near Kendal a great breadth of potatoes la planted for the supply not only of the immediate neigbourhood, but also of the adjacent counties, many thousand loads being annually sent into Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Grass-land being abundant and the climate favourable to pastures, a great portion of the soil is devoted to the maintenance of cattle. Good meadows let at a high rent, and are carefully manured. Great crops of hay are made in favourable years, and, as those who keep horses generally hire a meadow to make bay of, it. is seldom sold in the dry state. Young cattle are kept on inferior lands in summer, and have hay and straw in winter, with turnip. where these are raised : a few are fatted at three years old, but most of them are sold to graziers in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Scotch cattle are purchased in September, at the great fair at Brough-hill, held in that mouth : they are wintered In coarse pastures and occasionally in straw-yards ; the next year they are put on the beat grass and are fit for the butcher in October. A few horses are reared, but not to any extent. The sheep are of • hardy kind, fit for tho mountain-pastures; they are brought down to the valleys at the approach of winter and kept iu the inclosed grounds till April. The fattening of hogs and the curing of bacon and hams are well understood in Westmorland, and many hams are sent to other parts of the country. The breed is not large. The bogs are not made so fat as they are in some places ; the hams are snore delicate, and are very well cured and smoked. They are often sold as York hams, whereas the latter are much larger and fatter, the Yorkshire breed of hogs being large and fattening very readily.
The plantation/ are extensive in most parts of the county; they are chiefly of oak, ash, elm, beech, sycamore, Scotch fir and larch, which hat thrive best. Many ornamented cottages and villas have been built on the borders of the several lakes; and men of talent, reputation, and wealth, have taken their temporary and some their permanent abode there. This has tended to improve the immediate neighbourhood more rapidly than would otherwise have been the case.