TO THE READER.

IT is requested, that this Paper, may be returned to the Board of Agriculture, as soon as may be convenient.

It is hardly necessary to add, that the Board does not consider itself responsible, for any fact or observation contained in these Reports, which, at present, are printed and circulated, for the purpose merely of procuring additional information, and of enabling every one, to contribute his mite, to the improvement of his country.

February, 1794.

To Sir JOHN SINCLAIR, Bart. President of the Board of Agriculture.

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SIR,

In compliance with your request, we have surveyed the West Riding of Yorkshire, and from the annexed Report, we trust the Board will receive satisfactory information, respecting the stock and husbandry of that important district.

During our survey, we used every means in our power, to ob tain accurate information of the different systems under which the practice of husbandry was carried on, and made particula inquiries, into the mode by which estates are managed, as wel as the nature of the connection that subsisted between landlord and tenant. It is possible, that from the extent of the Wes Riding, and the comparative shortness of time we could conve niently devote to this business, that some parts of the country and some practices prevailing in it, may have escaped our atten tion. These circumstances, will, we hope, be duly considere by those, who peruse this Report. Any mistakes we may hav inadvertently committed, we trust to the candour of the pro prietors and farmers, to excuse and to rectify.

It gives us pleasure to acquaint you, that, in the course of ou survey, we experienced every possible politeness and attention all ranks in a manner vying with each other, to promote th public undertaking entrusted to us. Agreeable to your desire, return is herewith made, of those persons who gave us assistanc and information.

As very little has been written upon the general state of this disstrict, and still less upon its agriculture; these circumstances rendered drawing up the Report, more difficult than it would otherwise have been. Mr. Young, in his Northern Tour, made several excursions in the West Riding; but the time since elapsed, makes his work, however valuable in other respects, of little use upon the present occasion. Mr. Marshall's Treatise upon the Yorkshire Husbandry, is almost wholly confined to the East Riding. No other agricultural writings, relative to the district, have come toour knowledge; but it is proper to acknowledge, that some information about the geographical and natural history of the Riding, is drawn from a publication called Magna Britannia, as well as from the Histories of Knaresborough and Halifax. We are also indebted to several respectable individuals, for a variety of local information, which we gratefully acknowledge.

As no interested motives can influence us upon this occasion, so we hope the causes we have stated as obstacles to improvements, and the remedies we have suggested for removing them, will be impartially considered by the inhabitants of the District; and if this Report in any shape contributes to promote their prosperity and happiness, we will account the time spent in making the survey most beneficially employed.

We are, with great respect, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servants,

Haddington, East Lothian,

January 24, 1794.

GEORGE RENNIE,

ROBERT BROUN,

JOHN SHIRREFF.

INTRODUCTION.

THE West Riding of Yorkshire is situated nearly in the centre

of the kingdom, and although an inland District, yet from its numerous rivers and canals, it possesses all the advantages of a maritime province. It is 95 miles in length, 48 in breadth, and 320 in circumference: contains 2,450 square miles, or 1,568,000 statute acres, and about 400,000 inhabitants.

The West Riding is bounded on the East, by the river Ouse; on the North, by the North Riding; on the West, by parts of Westmoreland, Lancashire, and Cheshire; and on the South, by the counties of Nottingham and Derby. It is divided into nine Wapentakes, or Hundreds, and contains 28 Market-towns, the chief of which are Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, Halifax, Doncaster, and Rotheram, besides a very great number of populous villages.

The face of the country is in many parts strongly irregular. In the western and northern divisions of the District, a considerable portion is hilly and mountainous; but in these situations, it is intersected with numerous vales, carrying grass of the richest quality. The remainder is chiefly a flat, with no more risings than serve to variegate the prospect. The whole District is almost completely inclosed with stone dikes and hedges, which are kept in the most perfect condition; and there are few open fields, except where the ground is common or waste.

The nature and quality of the soil in this extensive District differs materially. There are all sorts, from the deep strong clay, and rich fertile loam, to the meanest peat earth. It is impossible to say, without an actual mensuration, which particular kind most prevails. Vicinity to great towns and superior culture have, no doubt, rendered a considerable part, that was originally barren, fertile and productive. In general it may be said, that a large moiety is of a quality naturally favourable to the purposes of

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husbandry; and under a proper system of management, will amply repay the farmer for his trouble and expence.

The climate is, in general, moderate. In the eastern parts of the Riding it is not esteemed so healthy, being subject to fogs and damps, from its low situation. The harvest over the greatest part may be styled early, commencing usually by the middle of August, and, except in backward seasons, is finished by the end of September. In the western parts, which are upland and hilly, the harvest is nearly a fortnight later than about Pontefract and Doncaster; and, from their vicinity to the Irish Channel, a great deal more rain falls than in the eastern parts of the Riding.

The West Riding is eminent for the number of its great and navigable rivers. 1st. The Ouse, which takes this name at York, being formerly called the Eure, and in its course to the Humber receives all the other rivers that run through the District; adly, The Don, or Dune, which is navigable nearly to Sheffield, and of great advantage to the trade of that neighbourhood: 3dly, The Calder, which flows along the borders, betwixt this Riding and Lancashire, and running east the country, falls into the Aire, five miles beyond Wakefield: 4thly, The Aire, or Air, a large river issuing from the mountain Penigent, which, with the aid of canals, is navigable to Leeds, Bradford, and Skipton. This river holds on a long course quite across the Riding, and falls into the Don near Snaith. 5thly, The Wharfe, which has its rise at the foot of the Craven hills, and after a course of more than 50 miles across the Riding, keeping a great way at an equal distance of 10 miles from the Aire, discharges itself into the Ouse. Besides these principal ones, there is a number of rivers of less importance.

The establishment of manufactures in the West Riding has been the principal cause of its present wealth. It is difficult to ascertain the period when they were first introduced, but there is reason to suppose, it was about the beginning of the fifteenth century. Camden, in his Britannia, fixes the introduction of manufactures to have been during the reigns of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth. This æra may, however, be suspected;