Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ma S 16 : Report of Mr Thomas Huskinson recommending enclosure of Laxton, 1862
The Estate is all held in yearly tenancies.
The Soil throughout the Estate is generally a surface of Clay and Loam resting on a substratum of Sandstone, varying very much in depth, strength and fertility, and comprising every degree of quality and texture between rich friable Loam and very strong Clay. There is no Land in the Parish which can be called Sand Land.
This Character of Soil is naturally adapted for either Arable or Grass Land, and the Estate contains some of high quality in both kinds.
The Arable Land comprises a large proportion of strong Loamy Soil of ample depth, good staple, of considerable natural fertility and capable of growing all kinds of Root and Grain Crops common to English Agriculture, but only a small part admits of feeding the Root Crops on the Land by Sheep in the Winter. - The remaining portion of the Arable is a strong Clay Soil, heavy and expensive to cultivate, unsuitable for the growth of Root Crops and yeilding but scanty Crops of Grain in ordinary seasons, though generally of good quality.
The Arable Land in Open Fields subject to Common Right containing 627 acres, comprises the best portion of the Arable Land and is generally of milder texture and greater depth of Soil than the inclosed Lands. If freed from Common Right and renovated by a course of alternate seeding, with Buildings in suitable positions, these Lands would form next to the Grass Lands near the Village the best portion of the Estate.
