before this desirable circumstance could have been obtained. An object well worth imitation, in all countries where it can possibly be adopted; and, perhaps, there is no single, local circumstance, that contributes so much to the excellence of the dairy system of this district, as the general convenient situation of the lands round the houses, as a common center; so that the dairymen are able to drive all their cows home to milking, and, thereby, to put all their milk together of an equal temperature; and, by beginning their work much earlier in the morning, they can make cheese twice a-day during the whole season.

"This is impossible to be done, where servants must be sent to milk cows in detached and distant inclosures; as is too frequently the case in many dairy countries, and particularly in the county of Somerset.

،، Good butter is made in every part of the kingdom, because the process is simple, and known every where; and if the same methods were practised in making cheese, in other countries, as are used in this, there seems no good reason why cheese, of equal goodness, might not be made in many other countries.

"As Mr. Marshall has so fully detailed the methods used by the North-Wiltshire dairy-women, it is unnecessary to repeat them here."

GRAZING CATTLE.P. 119. " But although the dairy has from time to time, made great inroads on the arable lands of this district, that has likewise, in its turn, lost ground and particularly on the most fertile lands, by the rage for grazing.

and

"The rich and the lazy find this a pleasant resource; the dairy, though much inore profitable, is obliged to give way to it.

"Even those who are professedly dairy farmers, can seldom resist a propensity of applying a little of their best land to the purpose of grazing their own dry cows, and of fatting a few sheep in winter, or taking in stock sheep to winter for the down farmers.

، It may, therefore, be fairly asserted, that notwithstanding the strong natural predilection of this country to the dairy, and the peculiar excellence of the dairy-women in the making of cheese, at least one-fourth of the grass land in this district is applied to grazing."

P. 123. " The cattle consists chiefly of long-horned cows, turned off from the dairies, and of oxen

bought

bought from different countries, particularly from Devonshire. They are usually bought-in very early in the spring, so as, if possible, to be finished with grass; but the largest and latest are taken into the stalls, and finished with dry meat, chiefly hay.

"Corn is but little in use for fatting cattle in this district; of late, potatoes have been introduced for winter fatting, dressed with steam, and mixed with cut hay or straw, as is mentioned in the description of the south-east district, and found to answer. Bath takes off many of the fat cattle of this district; many are sold at Salisbury market for the consumption of Hants, and the adjoining counties, but the greatest part go to Smithfield."

SWINE.-P. 122. "Pigs are looked upon to be a necessary appendage to every dairy farm; a great number are bred) with the whey and offal of the dairy, and many fatted; barley-meal, mixed with the whey, is the general fatting food; pease are not so much used as formerly."

How delightful the task of reviewing the work of a sensible experienced man, writing in his own profession; and where, of course, the unpleasant service of censure is little, if at all, required.

NORTH

NORTH SOMERSET.

THIS portion of Somersetshire partakes of Glocester

shire and Wiltshire, both in soils and agricultural management. It includes calcareous heights and vale lands. The dairy produce is similar to that of the rest of the Western Department. Even its cattle are of a kindred nature:-very different,—a distinct variety,—from those of South Somerset, and the other parts of the Southwestern Department

The natural line of separation is given by the marshes and sedgemores of the Brue and its branches; which, now, doubtlessly occupy what was, heretofore, an estuary or arm of the sea, that more determinately separated those two natural districts from each other, and the damnonian peninsula from the main land. Hence, not only the Mendip hills, but their southern skirts, form parts of the district under notice. The towns of Axbridge, Wells, and Shipton Mallet stand on its southern verge.

North of this line, grass land produce is principally applied to the CHEESE DAIRY; to the south of it, it is chiefly appropriated to GRAZING, or the BUTTER DAIRY.

For further particulars, relating to this natural and agricultural line of demarcation,-see the RURAL ECONOMY of the WEST of ENGLAND,-district the seventh, and minute sixty five.

SOMERSETSHIRE, at large, was reported, originally, in 1794, and published in a reprinted form, in 1798,-by Mr. BILLINGSLEY;-a man of considerable ability and information. His GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS, as a Reporter of rural concerns, will be most aptly considered in examining his Report of the principal part of the county,—as a portion of the SOUTHWESTERN DEPARTMENT.

By the extracts that will, here, be adduced, the reader will perceive that Mr. Billingsley's experience, in agriculture, has arisen (in one particular, at least) from an ex

tensive

tensive practice. It will likewise be apparent to professional occupiers, that Mr. B's strictures are those of an improver, rather than of one who has long been in the habit of paying personal and close attention to the minutie of practice. It is to be observed, however, that, in many respects, a mind accustomed to consider the outlines and general economy of an art is more likely to afford a comprehensive view of it, than a mere practitional professor;-who, on the other hand, is better qualified to describe existing practices, so as to convey them intelligibly to the minds of other practitioners. How seldom do we find the two qualifications united!

In some "preliminary observations," Mr. B. (it is proper to mention, here) has obligingly favored his readers (contrary to the usage of most other of the Board's Reporters) with some information concerning the work he was offering to the Board and the public. The close of the statement is the only objectionable part of it.-P. ix. "The following remarks on the present state of agriculture in the county of Somerset having been made without an actual survey, those readers who are conversant with the subject will be able, no doubt, to point out many defects, errors, and omissions.

"The writer, however, presumes, that though he may not have specifically and expressly touched on all the practices and improvements of the best farmers, yet that no kind or class of these matters has been absolutely overlooked.

"He does not profess to have given a complete detail of the various branches of rural management, but to have discussed the most important ar icles belonging thereto; and he has done his utmost to treat the subject in such a manner, and to express his meaning in such a language, as might be best adapted to the understanding and comprehension of common farmers."

NATURAL ECONOMY.

CLIMATURE, SURFACE, and SOILS.-P. 17.

"The

surface of this district being very irregular, and intermixed with lofty hills and rich fertile plains, the climate is consequently exceedingly varied. On the western side, in

cluding

cluding the hundreds of Winter-Stoke and Portbury, the soil is, for the most part, a deep and rich mixture of clay and sand; being originally a deposit by the sea, which, in antient times, flowed up a considerable way into that part of the country." *

FOSSILS.-For Marls, see the ensuing head, Manures. MINERALS.-Lead.-P. 20. "The Mendip hills are famous for their mines, particularly of lead and lapis calaminaris. The former are nearly exhausted, or at least the deep working is so incumbered with water, that little can he done, and in all probability millions in value may re main concealed in the bowels of this mountain, 'till spirit enough be found in the country to perforate it by cutting a level, or audit, through its base, namely, from ComptonMartin to Wookey-Hole.

"The distance is about five miles, and the depth from the surface about one hundred and fifty yards; such a tunnel would not only convey off all water, but the driving it, or the sinking of the shaft or perpendicular pits, might lead to a discovery of veins of lead hitherto unexplored, and perhaps as valuable as that now at West-Chewton, which, tradition, says, yielded 100,000l. within the space

of an acre."

Lapis calaminaris.-P. 21. "In the parishes of Rowberrow, Shipham, and Winscomb, there are valuable mines of lapis calaminaris. This mineral is sometimes found within a yard of the surface, and seldom worked deeper than thirty fathoms. Between four and five hundred miners are constantly employed in this business, and the average price is about five pounds per ton. In the parishes of Compton-Martin and East-Harptry are also many of a similar nature, and a considerable number of men are constantly employed therein."

There are other parts of the Mendip district in which this fossil is found.

I cannot withstand the temptation to insert, here, the following curious notice.-P. 22. "The general method of discovering the situation and direction of these seams of

ore

*Mr. Billingsley speaks, at some length concerning the improvement of these marsh lands; and inserts in his work an engraving con cerning them. But their nature, and the mode of their improvement, being similar to those belonging to the central parts of the county (already in a state of improvement) Mr. B's plan will, hereafter be considered, with better effects, when the county more at large shall come under consideration.