_Carucate of Land._--A case in point is given in the 33rd vol. of the
_Archæologia_, p. 271. The {76} carucate frequently consisted of eight
bovatæ of arable land; but the number of acres appears to have varied not
only according to the quality of the soil, but according to the custom of
husbandry of the shire: for where a two-years' course, or crop and fallow,
was adopted, more land was adjudged to the carucate than where a
three-years' course obtained, the land lying fallow not being reckoned or
rateable. The object would appear to have been to obtain a carucate of
equal value throughout the kingdom.