Journal entry – John Grey – 3 May 1834

Saturday 3d



Took a long ride today through the Farms in Whittonstall, making arrangements with the Tenants for procuring the Lime to be allowed them by the Hospital, with a Check Book to show every Lead brought from the Kiln, which I or Mr Hunt at any time see and compare with the Lime laid in the fields in heaps of 3 Loads each.  Also taking a survey of the farm buildings and of their management generally.  And justice compels me to state that in spite of the disadvantages in point of climate & soil, which they have to contend with, they are as a body the best farmers upon the property, whereas those occupying the good Lands of Dilston are the very worst. This may perhaps be accounted for by the experience of the former, teaching them that poor Soils, unless well cultivated, will yield them no produce, while the latter act upon the mistaken principle, that their good soils will produce tolerable crops, though neither well worked nor well cleaned, not considering how well they would be paid by the additional produce, for the application of more labor and the adoption of a better system.