pro THE EDITOR OP THE " spurs:oz.") Sin, — The writer 'of
the interesting article on "The Wessex 'Farmer" in the Spectator of May 7th is pazzled by the' term " Joiceman Shepherd," used of one who pastures his sheep for Pajment on other men's land. He admits that he is not certain how the name should be spelt. I should suggest that it might better be spelt " Joistman," and that it is connected with- "agistment,"—i.e., the coneumption of one man's herbage, or other "feed," by another man's stook for a payment of so much a head per week. In Lincolnshire they speak of " joisting " sheep on So-and-so's " tonnups," "joisting" being " Linkishire," as Canon Rawnsley re- marked the other day, for " agisting." as " tonnups " is also " Linkishire " for turnips. Kingsley's ancestor, Ralph Kingsley, was Ranger of Torporley Chase, and entitled— "In right of his bugle and greyhounds to seize
Waif, pannage, agistment and windfallen trees."
But the term is well known in its correct form, though it is only the Lincolnshire version of it which gives, I think, a clue to the meaning of your contributor's " Joiceman Shepherd."
—I am, Sir, &c., W. B. HOPKINS. Manland Cottage, Harpenden.
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