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E 15. M A N

E A N

GENERAL VIEW

OF THE

AGRICULTURE

IN THE COUNTY OF

ESSEX:

WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OF ITS IMPROVEMENT.

BY

CHARLES VANCOUVER.

DRAWN UP FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

AND

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

1^ . LONDON:

PRINTED BY W. SMITH.

M.DCC.XCV.

Nk

H,

0l^«lSt53.lf

TO THE READER.

IT is requested that this Paper, as well as the former
account of the agricultural state of Essex, by the Mefs, Griggs
of Hill-House, may be returned to the Board of Agriculture, at
its Ofice in London, with any additional remarks and observa-
tions, which may occur on the perusal^ written on the margin,
as soon as may be convenient.

It is hardly necessary to add, that the Board does not
consider itself responsible for any faEt or observation contained
in this Report, which, at present, is printed and circulated, for
the purpose merely of procuring farther information, respeding
the Husbandry of this district, and of enabling every one^ to
contribute his mite, to the improvement of the country.

The Board has adopted the same plan, in regard to all
the other Counties in the united Kingdom ; and will be happy
to give every assistance in its power, to any person, who may
be desirous of improving his breed of Cattle, Sheep, &c. or of
trying any useful experiment in husbandry,

London, February, 1795.

INTRODUCTION.

XN colle6ling the neceflary information for the foilowing
Heport, the furveyor has been regulated by the fame line of con-
duit by which he was governed in the Agricultural Survey of the
.County of Cambridge. By thefe means, the fa6ts occurring in
each parifh are diftindly afcertained, and by the Table and JournaL
.of each rcfpeftive dillrift, are brought compleatly into view ; and,
are made to exhibit, by tiie average of their aggregate amount, the
general produce, and other circumftanccs refpefling the prefent
-ftate of the agriculture, and the probable improvement of fuch
diftridl. In doing thi5, particularly in the firft part, or journal of
the report, every polfible care has been taken to free it from thole
dull and tedious repetitions fo frequently occurring on a fubjeft in.
capable of change or variation ; and where at the fame time, it is
fo indifpenfible to prcferve and convey that clear and minute dc-
icription of the foil and fubftrata, fo material to the accurately un-
derftanding and rightly judging of the fubje6t, as well in refpefl: td
the agriculture of any particular parifli, or diftri(5l, as to that of the
ftock and hulbandry of the county at large.

The

( viii )

The rural economics of this county ^^'ith all their excellencies and
defe<5ls, are faithfully detailed in the journal; and the general obfer-
vations which follow thereupon, form the fecond part of the report,
included in which, is a brief fummary of the evils and defers under
which the agricultural improvement of the county at prefent labours ;
diftinguilhed under the feveral heads, of fuch as are incurable by
human means ; of thofe that may be removed by individuals, or
the co-operation of neighbours ; and of thofe again which cannot be
removed, or in any wife alleviated, without the power and authority
of parliament.

PART

PART I.

^oxixml

DISTRICT THE FIRST.

Temperate mixed foil, lying upon a gravel ; a /and, a
blue and white chalky clay, a brown tefider clay, or
brick earth ; and a tough Jlrong clay, or tile earth.

HE foil of the laud lying weft, north and caft of the
the village of HELION BUMSTEAD, is aftrong brown
earth, of a good ftaple, on a blue and white chalky clay.
To the fouth, the foil is of a more light and gentle nature,
of a fair ftaple, upon a gravelly loam. Proceeding thence
to HAVERILL and the hamlet of HAZARD END, the
land for the depth of two furlongs, northeafterly and fouth-
wefterly of the brook, confifts of a well ftapled gravelly
loam, upon a chalky gravel. Afcending the hill on both
fides the brook, and extending thence in the above direc-
tions, the deep tender foil is gradually lofl, in a thin wet
ftifF loam, upon a h\\\^ and whice clay. The open common
field land, compared with fuch of the inclofures as are
precifely of the fame nature, is from its peculiar circum-
ftances confidered of very inferior value.

B Two

( 10 )

Two crops and a fallow, is the generally prevailing fvflem
of huifbandry; though the mofl: intelligent farmer, will
fometimes vary this mode, by fowing clover with the barley,
which flands as an etch crop in the place of oats ; this is
either fed with iheep, or mown for hay; it lies for fheep
food dm-ing the next fallow feafon, is broken up in the
fpring following, and planted with peas or beans ; kept well
hoed during the fummer, and fucceeded by wheat in the
etch, or fecond crop field; it is then fallowed for barley:
this practice is found to anfwer extremely well, though in
the open common fields, it mufl: ever be confined to the
flock matters, otherwife their Iheep would feed upon the
green wheat until Lady-day, and fpoil the crop.

Weld is occafionally cultivated for the manufa£lure of
checque and fuuian; its culture is fimply that of tranf-
planting from the feed beds at Midfummer ; (lands all
winter, and is the fummer following, when in full bloom,
cut, dried, and laid up for ufe. The foil it favours moll,
is a ftiff flrong loam, moderately mohl, but not wet. The
price from four-pence to eight-pence per (lone. The raa-
nufadture abovementioned is carried on to a confiderable
extent, but the effe6l it has had oh the agriculture of this
parifh, by inviting a great number of fettlers, has been fo
far unfavourable, as to occafion a confiderable increafe in
the poor's rates wiiliin the laft five years.

The land lying fouth-weft, weft, and northerly of the
village of STURMER, Is a heavy ftrong foil, of a good
flaple, upon a blue, or on a brown clay. North-eafterly
from the village, and binding upon the brook, is a well
mixed gravelly loam, of a good flaple, upon a gravel.
Proceeding thence fouth-eaft, and northerly, on the Hopes of
the hills that rife on each fide from the brook, the foil in-
creafes in its fir ength, and rells upon a chalky clay. The

land

land binding upon the gravelly foil, lying north-weflcrly of
the brook, correfponds with that defcribed in the fouth-eaft,
or oppofite quarter.

The copfe wood or undergrowth here, is more valuable
than is the like produce in the preceding parifh, arifing from
the care and attention which is paid to the undergrowth when
young, and to the cultivation of alli for hop poles.

Turnips are fown, and anfwer extremely well upon the
light gravelly foils. Cabbages are here a new culture. For
this crop the land is ploughed into four furrow ridges, in the
furrows between which, are laid about 400 bulhels of long
dung per acre. The dung is then ploughed under, making the
furrows the ridges, on the tops of which, and at a yard apart
from each other, about a quart of water is poured down ;
thus marking out where the plants are to be fet ; this opera-
tion is followed by a boy placing the plants ready for the
dibber, who makes the holes, and prefTes the mould very
clofe to the roots of the plants ; a fecond watering imme-
diately takes place, pouring the like quantity of water OH

each plant. The planting is generally performed by a
gardener, as much depends on the plants being properly put
into the ground; ploughing the intervals, hoeing, and
moulding up the plants, follow in courfe. The drum-head
cabbage is preferred ; and the plants are always taken out
of the feed bed, for immediate tranfplantation into the
field.

The harveftmen are not boarded by the farmers here, as in
moft other places, but in lieu thereof, they each receive four
bufhels of malt and two lbs t)f hops, from which about
forty gallons of ftrong nourifhing drink is ufually drawn :
They alfo receive one Ihilling each on hiring, and five fliil-
lings per acre, for cutting and inning the whole crop ; ap-
portioning about thirleen acres to each man. The carts,

B z horfes.

( 12 )

horfes, and drivers, are provided by the farmers ; and when
the weather proves favourable, and the corn a fair (landing
crop, a man will cut, and in, fixteen acres of winter and
fummer corn in the courfe of a month ; as was the cafe in
the year 1793 ; previous to which time, and when the harveft-
men were boarded by the farmers in the ufual manner,
twelve acres per man were rarely known to be harvefted in
the fame time, from the fame land.

The foil in general in the pariOi of BIRDBROOK, is
extremely various; but the moft ftriking difference is found
along the courfe of the river Stour, where, from a quarter
to half a mile in width, a well ftapled gravelly loam pre-
vails. South and rifmg towards Whitley, the land becomes
heavier, and forms upon the higheft levels, a clofe cold
earth, upon a chalky clay, below which clay at irregular
depths, are found veins of pure blue clay, and fome gravel.
Thence foutherly, and defcending towards the principal
branch of the river Colne, a more gentle foil is difcoverable
upon a brown clay.

Soot has been tried, and found efFe£lual againfl: mofs, in
Baythorm Park : it is applied in Noveinber, at the rate of
forty bufhels per acre, the firfl coft of which is 6d. per bufhel.

The land in this parifh is particularly favourable to the
growth of oak timber; feveral fine ftandards are detached
through the paftures, one of which meafures at five feet
from the ground, eleven feet nine inches in circumference.
Poplar, maple and plane tree are common to the foil.
In Baythorne Hall garden, by the fide of the river Stour,
a clump of alders jultly CAcltc notice and admiration. The
largeft of thefe trees (and they run tolerably even) at five
feet from the ground, is feven feet four inches 'in circum-
ference, and is in height from thirty to thirty-five feet of

clear

' ( 13 )

clear timber. Some excellent Hawthorne hedges have been
lately raifed, by planting one row only arfix inches afunder,
rather than two rows nine inches or a foot apart. Thefe
hedges have not been cut down, nor do they require it, to
thicken their bottoms, as they are at this time a complete
proteflion againft hogs, and in other refpecls form a beau-
tiful and effecftual fence. Nothing can be more evident,

than that a row of plants fet thus fix

inches diftant from each other, muft form a more complete
and efFedtual fence at the bottom, than an equal number
planted thus .•.*.•.".•.• at a double difiance, and
occupying the fame length, but a greater depth of ground
upon the hedge row.

As the country rifes towards RIDGE WELL, the higher
parts of that parifii confifl of a deep, tender foil, upon a
chalky and a brown clay ; but on defcending towards Til-
bury, and the head branches of the river Colne, the clay is
loft; and in the low grounds, a light gravelly loam is found,
of a kindly nature, upon a gravel. Proceeding eaftward a
tender hazel coloured loam, of a good ftapje, upon a white
chalky clay, prevails generally through the parifh of
TILBURY, where, upon the fides of the hills, a few wet
fandy and gravelly fpots appear, but which in their prefent
(late are inapplicable to the culture of turnips. The lands
abutting upon the river Stour, from three quarters to a mile
in width, belonging to the parifhes of ASHEN, OVING-
TON, and BELCHAMP St. PAUL's, are a light fandy
loam, of a good ftaple, in which there is a mixture of fome
gravel, upon a brown tender clay and gravel. Thence
foutherly, and as the country rifcs, a clofe heavy foil is
found, but of a good ftaple upon a chalky clay.

Hollow draining at a pole apart, and at an expence of
about three pound per acre, has been pra6lifed with great

fuccefs

( u )

fuccefs in thefe parifhes ; and in thofe of BELCHAMP
OTTEN and BELCHAMP WALTER, where in general
the foil is an heavy moifl: grey loam, upon a blue and a white
chalky clay. This latter has been applied with very good
effedl upon fome of the lighter lands in thefe parifhes, at
the expence, and in the proportion following per acre, viz»

Stubbing or raifing 40 loads (containing 40 bulhels each)

at 2d. per load -- - __o68

Filling, at id. per load _. _ - 034

Spreading, at 6d. for every fcore loads 010

————— O II o
Allowance for fmall beer at 2d. in the fhilling on

the above — — -_ ____ _ oiio

To four horfes, two tumbrells, and one driver, at

fifteen (hillings, allowed to carry through thefe

pariflies twenty-four loads per day, will equal

for carting per acre _-_ ___ 150

To this add the ufual expence of hollow draining
per acre ____ — — — — — — -^

I 17 10

Making in the whole £.4. 17 10

The land in the parifhes of PENTLOW, FOXEARTH,
LYSTON and BORLEY, which abuts upon the meadows
that lie along the river Stour, is of a deep rich tra6lable na-
ture, upon a tender clay and gravel ; this charadler continues
for about a mile fouthward of the river. Afcending the higher
country, and proceeding towards the Belchamps, the foil
becomes of a heavier nature, more moderately flapled,
and lying upon a chalky clay. As the country falls to-
wards the fouth (forming the valley ihrough which the road
runs from Clare to Sudbury) the foil improves in its flaple,
becomes more free and gentle, and lefs difficult to manage,
either wet or dry. The little parifh of Lyfton very juftly

claims

( 15 )

claims the preeminence, being by far the befl: tra£l of land
in this part of the county.

The heavier parts of the parifh of BULLMER confift
of a well mixed loamy foil, upon a brown and a white chalky
clay ; and a fmaller portion of a lighter nature, upon a
gravel. South, and extending towards Wickham St. Paul's,
a wet cold thin foil prevails, lying upon a yellow, or wood-
land clay : this has been much improved by hollow draining,
at a rod apart, and at the expenceof 50s. per acre 210 o
Firft cod of eight waggon loads of chalk, con-
taining 90 bulhels each, at "98. per load is - 3 12 o
To this add filling, carriage, and fpreading, and

allowance for beer, 8s. per load — _ _ 340

per acre ^^.9 6 o
an expence which would be continued upon a much larger
fcaie, were it not for the uncertain tenure of the
tythes.

Upon the heavy lands in this neighbourhood, clover is
fometimes fown with barley, but the frequent failure of
the plant in the fpring following, prevents the culture of
that valuable grafs from being more general. The wheat
from the clover leys is efteemcd much fuperior to that fown
upon the fallows ; where, upon the deep rich lands, along
the courfe of the river Stour, it is very fubjecl to the mildew
and to be root fallen : the clovers however, are not fo liable
to mif-plant, or to perifh there, as on the heavier lands,
which are generally ploughed, in four furrow ridges.

*

Thofe lands which border upon the meadows in the
parifh of MIDDLETON, form a well mixed foil, of a
good flaple, upon a fandy loam and a chalk ; but, as the
country rifes from the river, and extends towards Great

Henny,

( i6 )

Henny, and Bullmer, the pure chalk is loft, and a heavy,
cold, foil prevails upon a chalky clay.

The valuable meadows along the river Stour, are much
injured by the pending up of the water by the mill dams.

Proceeding fouthward from Middleton, the country is
broken into hills ; but through the parifhes of GREAT
HENNY, TWINSTEAD and LAMMARSH, it is en-
riched with fome fertile vales, and a large portion of excel-
lent turnip land ; the underftrata of which, are a red and
white fand, and gravel, interfperfcd with feveral fmall veins
of brown clay. CrolTing the valley, and afcending from
Lammarfh, to ALPHANSTONE, the land changes to a
heavy cold thin foil, upon a red clay, or tile earth ; a
brown clay, or brick earth ; a blue and white chalky clay ;
and in fome places, a gravel. The ftiff heavy cling foil,
generally prevails through this parilh, and often requires
feven' or eight ploughings, before it is brought into a pro-
per {late to receive the feed of wheat, barley, or even of
black oats.

This variety of underftrata, in a great meafure forbids a
regular and even courfe of hollow draining, and has occa-
fioned the ufe of the land fail plough, which operates in
bringing the field to a more uniform level, by filling up the
fmall hollows with the earth removed from the higher
ground : by this means the open drains are cut upon a more
evenly inclined plane, and the furface water is carried away
with a greater, and more regular certainty : the earth
however, from the want of hollow drains, ftill retains
a confiderable quantity of water, which frequently periflies
the feed j and by the chill it produces (even in the moft
favourable feafons) greatly retards the powers of vegetation.

An

( 17 )

An hazel coloured flrong foil upon a red loam, under
which, at the depth of about eighteen inches, is found a
blue and white chalky clay, intermixed with a few veins of
gravel; is the prevailing character of the foil and fubftrata
in the parilhes of WICKHAM St. PAUL's, GESTIN-
TPiORPE, and LITTLE YELDHAM. Adjoining the
village of GREAT YELDHAM, the foil, a tender loamy
gravel, of a good (laple, upon a gravelly loam, which gradually
difappears towards towards Little Yeldham on the eaft, and
Toppersfield on the weft, where the land becomes of a colder
nature, and is much to be improved by hollow draining.

Eaft, and fouthof the town of CASTLE HEDINGHAM,
the foil of which forms a light coloured loam of a fair ftaple,
a brown clay, has been much improved by hollow draining,
and by the application of white chalky clay, it the expencc
and in the proportion following per acre :

Four fcore loads of clay, filling and fpreading,

at 5s. per fcore _._-^---- loo
Allowance for beer upon ditto - «- - -034
Five horfes, four days work, at 2s. 6d. per horfe

per day - - - - - - ----2100

Wear and tear of two tumbrells, four days, at 6d.

each per day -- __-__ 040
Driver, four days work, including beer, at is. 6d.

per day - - - — - - 060

iC-4 3 4

To the northward of the town, the land becomes fuf.
ficiently light and dry to admit of the turnip hufbandry.
On the weft, the parifh is bounded by the river Colne ;
along whofe courfe is a confiderable trad of meadow and
rich hopland ; the culture and value of the produce per acre,
of the latter, taken on an average of ten years, is as fallows »

C The

( 18 )

2 10 O

8 o o

The Hop Ground per Acrl. Dr.

To intereft accruing annually
upon the firft coft of the flock
of poles, viz. 2,i;oo at 40s.
per hundred, being the value
of the poles at the third years
growth of the plant

To the annual fupply of 400 new
poles at 40s. per hundred

Labour by contraft, including
digging, dreffing, poking ,tye-
ing, hoeing, moulding, raking,
laddering, planting dead hills,
and harrowing dung

Manure — —

Picking 7 cwt. the average pro-
duce per acre of Caftle Hed-
ingham Marfli, for 10 years

Drying & bagging the faid 7 cwt.

Duty — —

Tythe at 5s. per cwt. —

Rent — —

Poor's rates los. other parifli
rates 3s. 6d. —

Three bags, weight 18 lb. each
at 2d. per lb. including the
making —

Intereft upon the firft coft and
annual fupply of bafketSjftools,
pitches,barrows, ladders, forks,
and other fmall implements o

Twitching and ditchinj^ o

10
o

4

2

10

3

o 13 6

o 10 o

5
5

Total annual expence per acre 35 7
Total annual net profit per acre 13 15

i-47 3 o

Cr.

Per contra
By 7 cwt. of hops at

61. 3s. per cwt. being

the average produce

and value per acre of

theCaftleHedingham

hops for the laft ton

years — 43

By 350 refufe poles at

63. per hundred - i
By old benes — o
By profit in felling bags

as hops — z

Total annual value of

the produce per acre ^^.47 3 o

I o

o

6

18 6

£A7 3 o

( 19 )

About forty acres of afli, and Spanifli chefnut, have been
very judicioully planted in this parilh, for hop poles; the
foil for the chefnut, is as well chofen as the country would
admit of, being that of a fandy loam. The afli upon the rich
m'oory land, promifes extremely well ; and the whole
ftrongly indicates the great care and fkill of the owner.

The roads in this neighbourhood have been greatly im-
proved by cutting down their fide greens, lowering the
hedges, and removing the pollards and timber trees from
the road hedge rows.

The blain, or a fwelling of the glands in the throat,
flipping calf, and the dug garget, are very troublefome
difeafes among the cow cattle in this and the adjoining
parilh of SIBLE HEDINGHAM, where the foil to the
north, eafl, and fouth of the village, extending to Maple-
ftead, and meeting the lands of Caftle Hedingham, forms
a fandy loam, upon a brown tender clay or brick earth. A
fimilarity in the foil, though fomewhat more wet, prevails on
the caft fide of GREAT and LITTLE MAPLESTEAD,
where the land is muCh broken, and the foil in general on
the fouth and weft of thofe villages, is of light and gentle
nature upon a fand and gravel. The veins of clay and
brick earth which are found difperfed through this quarter,
are always attended with good effeft, when applied in certain
proportions to the lighter foils.

The valleys are chiefly occupied in the culture of hops,
which is well underftood and pra<5lifed to advantage,
although the grounds are not fo produdive as they ar«
generally found to be, in the marfli of Caftle Hedingham.

There is no material alteration in the face of the country,
to the fouth of PINCHING FIELD, and the adjoining
parifhes of Weathersfield, Shalford, and Great Bardfield ;

C 2 though

( 20 )

#iough the ftmdlure of the hills is fomewhat different, con-
fiding of a fand, a gravel, and a blue and white chalky clay.

The Norfolk and Cambridgefhire fheep, with a crofs of
the Weft Country and Hertford are generally preferred ; and
as a great diverfity of opinion prevails, refpedling the fupe-
riority of the Norfolk and Southdown, it has led to the
following experiment by a very accurate and well informed
gentleman at Finchingfield. At Horringer fair, in Suffolk,
in September 1791, a lot of ewe lambs was bought in at
fix pound ten fhillings per fcore. At Lewes fair, SuiTok, in
the 0£tober following, a lot of Southdown ewe lamby
was bought in at thirteen pound per fcore. Thefe fheep
were depaftured together, and in every refpe<5l received the
fame treatment until the 25th of September, 1793; ^ fingle
flieep, which was adjudged to be the level of each lot, was
then taken out, and after both had failed twenty-fix hours,
weie weighed alive, the Southdown weighing ninety-fix
(^ pounds, and the Norfold ninety-five pounds ; they were

then flain and the' folio wing refulted from the experiment.

Southdown. Norfolk.

lbs. lbs.

52I carcafe -.- — -■--- 53!
8| fkin _-.___-_ y and horns
1 1 legs cut off at the ufual knee joints i|
4| call _-__-.-__ 3
4 blood _______^

7I head and pluck ----- 7f

2| gut fat - - - - - - - 2|

I2| entrails and their contents — — 14
2 loft by killing fuppofed to be urine i|

lbs. 96 lbs. 95

Irv

( 21 )

In favour of the Southdowii were

2| lbs. of fat, 4fd. per lb. o o lO
1 1 lbs. of flcin and wool 005

" o

In -favour of the Norfolk were

lib. of mutton - - - o o 5
and firft coft 066

o

6 II

Total difference in favour of the Norfolk fheep 058

It is to be obferved that neither of thefe ewes had had any-
young, but at the time of making the experiment, the
Norfolk was more than half gone with lamb, and the
Southdown had but jufl taken the ram.

The author of this experiment has conftrufted and ufes
a draining wheel of call iron, that weighs about 4cwt. it is
four feet in diameter; the cutting edge, or extreme circum-
ference of the wheel is half an inch thick, which increafing
in thicknefs towards the nave or centre, will, at fifteen
inches deep, fcore out or cut a drain half an inch wide at
the bottom, and four inches wide at the top. This wheel is
fo placed in a frame, that it may be loaded at pleafure, and
be made to operate to a greater or lefs depth, according to
the refiftance made by the ground ; which thus fcored out in
the winter, the wheel-tradls are either then filled with ftraw
ropes, and lightly covered over ; or left to crack wider and
deeper, during the enfuing fummer. The fifTures are then
filled with twifted ftraw or bulhes, and covered lightly with
fome of the mod porous earth that may be mod conveniently
at hand ; and thus upon the grafs or ley land, are hollow
drains formed at little or no expence, and which upon
trial have been found to anfwer extremely well.

( 22 )

A confiderable improvement has been made by the fame
gentleman by forming walking paths through the wet
wooodlands : foot drains, or thofc one fpit wide and deep
are there cut parallel to each other, and at the diftance of
from eighteen inches to two foot apart ; between thefe drains
the fods that are raifed are laid ; thus raifing a path-v/ay
above the general level of the wood, and at the fame time
forming drains which cfFe6lualIy relieve the wood of its
fuperabundant v/ater : hence a more durable undergrowth is
encouraged, and as oak timber is always found to flouriih
better in woods moderately moid:, than thofe that are wet,
there is reafon to believe that a due attention to this point,
in the wet heavy woodland counties, would prove highly
beneficial, and much promote the growth and durability of
oak and other valuable timber.

Potatoes are very generally. cultivated in the lighter parts
of this neighbourhood; their moft approved management
is, to winter fallow and prepare the land as for barley ;
ploughed into four furrow ridges, and planted with two rows
of fets at eight inches fquare upon each ridge. In the early
part of the fummer, the furrows are ploughed, and the
plants are moulded up as much as poflible. The crop is
gathered by firft fplitting down the ridges with a double
breafled plough; this with fubfcquent harrowing and houfing
will cofl about thirty (hillings; and averaging the annual pro-
duce at 300 bufliels per acre, may be readily fold at one
{hilling per bufliel in the field. This crop proves an excel-
lent preparation for wheat; but as early fowing is precluded,
it will be found neceflary to keep the land as clofe and as
much comprefTed as poffible during the enfuing fpring, to
prevent the Vv'heat from root failing.

The preparation for carrots is very fimilar to the above
for potatoes, and is generally reckoned to amount to about

fifteen

( «3 )

fifteen fliillings per acre. The feed is fovvn broadcafi",
ufing . lbs. per acre ; fucceflive hoelngs will coft

about four pounds per acre : and gathering, lopping, tail-
ing, and flowing away, will be about four pounds per acre
more. The average produce per acre, is flated at 650
bufhels, which readily commands fix-pence per bulhel in the
field. The befl: and moll healthy roots are fele£ted for feed ;
which are always fet out upon the heavicft and llrongeft
land ; and afford a confiderable fupply of feed for the London
market. This culture for feed, and for horfe food, prevails
very generally through this neighbourhood, but more par-
ticularly at WEATHERSFIELD; where the foil in
many places, (in addition to the former defcription) . is a
white wet loam (or what is called moor) upon a gravelly
loam ; red, and white fand ; and a heavier foil, upon a
white chalky clay.

The moory land is frequently mended with drift fand, in
the proportion of thirty loads per acre ; and the fandy lands
have been much improved by the application of chalky clay,
at an expence of 2I. gd. per acre, viz.
Stubbing, filling, and fpreading forty-five loads, at

8s. per fcore ____-----oi8o
One and a half days work for five horfes, at 2s.

per day each ____ _ _ _ — 0150

Driver, one and a half day, at is. 6d. per day 023
Allowance for beer to driver, and for Itubbing,

filling, and'fpreading ______ 026

Wear and tear of two tumbrells, one and a half

day, at one (hilling each, per day - - - 030

£■'2' O 9

which after a lapfe of three or four years is frequently re-
newed, by applying about one half of the fame quantity
per acre.

An

( 24 )

An experiment worthy of fome obfervation, was began la
this pariih about four years fince. A piece of wet heavy
land was fallowed in the ufiial way, laid into four furrow
ridges, two furrows upon which were fown, requiring about
one bufhel of feed wheat per acre. The crop was kept
perfedly clean with the hoe, and weed hook, at an ex-
pence of about fix fliillings ; and produced fixteen bufhels
per acre. The field was then hollow drained and under-
went a thorough winter and fummer fallow; after wh.ich,
the two furrows that had not grown the former crop, were
in like manner fown with wheat, hoed and kept clean, at the
ufual expence ; and yielded a produce of forty bufliels per
acre: at this time the whole of the field had been under
crop in three years ; the fucceeding year, the entire field
was fown broadcail with wheat, and which at prefent
(July, 1794) indicates a produce equal to that lafl: men-
tioned. The wheat was from the {lock of Taunton Dale
in Somerfetrtiire.

The foil through SHALFORD and GREAT BARD-
FIELD, confifts of a loamy fand and gravel, upon a white
and yellow fand, and a wet heavy loam, upon a brown
clay, or brick earth ; below which, at eighteen or twenty
inchies, is found a blue and a white chalky clay, which is
applied with very good cfFecl:, in ftrengthening the light
foils, in a proportion of 160 bufhels per rod, or 6400
bufhels to the acre. The white and yellow fand, is fuc-
cefsfully applied in the fame quantities to the wet heavy
foils.

The moft approved huibandry in the lighter parts of the
parifh of Great Bardfield, is to fow the wheat ftubbles
immediately after harveft %vith tares, or rye, Thefe are mown,
or fed off in the fpring, and the land dunged and prepared
iqx turnips. Twice hoed, fed off, and fucceeded with

fpring

( 25 )

fpring corn with clover. The young clover dunged,
mown or fed off as befl fuits, and Town the fpring follow-
ing with white peas, which are always off in very good time
to admit of a proper preparation for wheat; the ftubbles of
which are haulmed, and fown with tares, or rye in courfe.
Upon the heavy lands the routine of crop and fallow is oc-
cafionally varied, with fallow, barley, clover, wheat ; and
dung if poffible upon the young clovers.

A few years ago, as a gentleman in this parifli was walk-
ing through his wheat fields, when the corn was in full
bloirom, he was ftruck with the variety of hues, or colours,
which the blofToms affumed : at firfl he conceived it might
be owing to the different ftages of forwardnefs in the blof-
fom ; but on particular examination, and more mature re-
fle£lion, concluded, that they were certain figns of a fpecific
difference in the quality of the wheat ; impreffed with this
idea, he fele£led the ears of feveral different hues, and par-
ticularly marked eleven diftin£l numbers ; noting very
minutely, their chara6leriflic qualities and appearances in
the field : thefe he gathered and kept feparate when ripe,
and planted them apart from each other in his garden :
the fame charadlereftic difference was obferved to continue
upon the feveral numbers when growing in the garden, as
was obferved in the field the preceding fummer, and arc
as follow :

Firjl Tear in the Garden.

No.

1 A ftiff ftraw, thick ear, the rows or cherts in which,

fet clofer than in any other.

2 Dark ftraw, full blade, and large open ear.

3 A large long ear, ripened late, and well fet.

4 Full foilage, and a long open ear.

5 Straight handfome ftraw, large well fet ears, flag or

leaf fmall.

D , 6 Red

C ^6 )

6 Red rufty leaf before fpindling, red ftraw with little

leaf at harveO:, and fmaller ears than any.

7 Very like No. 6 in ftraw, the ears fmall but well fet.

8 Straw leafy at harveft, of a good colour, well eard,

and handfome.
" 5- Straw full of flag or leaf at harveft; ears fet wide.

II Very like No. 5.

Second Tear in the Garden.
No.

1 Short upright ftifF ftraw, thick well fet ear, and later by

four or five days than any of the others.

2 Very dark ftraw, upon which there remained a full dark

blade at harveft, long open ears.

3 Strong leafy ftraw, of a good colour, with a thick

long ear, well fet ; rather later than Nos. 5, 8, II.

4 Thick leafy brown ftraw with a fmali ear.

^ 7 Short handfome bright leafy flraw ears long, thick ;

land well fet,
II J

6 Long ftraw with a good deal of flag, ear ill fet, and open.
n Straw handfome, but fmall ears, and fubjed to root
falling.

9 7Long weak ftraw, very leafy, and fubjed to root
10 5f^lli"g'

N. B. The lemon coloured bloffbm was obferved to at-
tend Nos. 5, 8, and 11 ; but the colour of Nos.
I and 3, was not particularly remembered. Thefe
are the numbers which have been preferved, Nos.
5, 8 and ii, coming to the fickle about a week
earlier than Nos. i and 3; the produce of which,
when compared with the rejeded numbers, is an excefs
of from fix to eight buftiels per acre, and weighing
about three pounds more to the buftiel.

Proceeding

( 27 )

Proceeding fouth-eafterly and keeping the more elevated
country from Great Bardfield, through BARDFIELD,
SALING, GREAT SALING, and to PANFIELD,
the light gravelly foil continues intermixed with a brown
tender loam, of a good ftaple upon a chalky clay. Thence
towards BOCKING and BRAINTREE, the lands on both
iides the Blackwater, and alfo a branch of that river, are
found very much to vary, forming in the vallies a moor,
upon the fides of the hill, a loofe fpringy gravel; and upon
the higher country a thin compa6l grey loam, upon a chalky
clay. The valleys are generally under pafture and meadow,
with fome few plantations of hops.

To the weftward of the village of GOSSFIELD, and
extending towards Weathersfield, a well ftapled gravelly
loam : northward and eafterly towards Hedingham and
Halftead, and alfo to the fouthward towards Becking, a tender
clay or loam, of a good ftaple, upon a brown clay or brick
earth, below v/hich in fome places is found a blue and "white
chalky clay.

«

A ftraw hat manufadlory has lately been eflablifhed under
the patronage of the Marchionefs of Buckingham, which
affords ample employment for all the poor women and
children of the neighbourhood.

The Southdown breed of Iheep has been lately introduced,
and promifes to anfwer extremely well ; a preference however,
is ftill given by very good judges, to a crofs breed, between
the Southdown ram and Norfolk ewe; the produce from
which fattens well, and is much approved of by the butcher.

The land in general adjoining the town of HALSTEAD
is a deep fandy loam^ upon a brov/n tender clay: extend-
ing thence, in every dire6lion, an heavier foil, upon a gra-
velly loam, and a white chalky clay prevails; fome of the

D 2 hollows

( 28 )

hollows and fides of the hills are occupied in the culture of
hops, and the remainder in meadows and paftures ; thefe are
of an excellent quality, though greatly difproportioned to
the arable land.

The manufaflure of baize, fays, and lately of blankets,
in this town, has had a difadvantageous efFe6l upon the
agriculture of the parifh, by increafing the burthen of poor's
rates upon the farmer ; and which is alledged to be in no
wife compenfated by any convenience which the parifhoners
exclufively draw from the manufadory, by the afliftance of
labourers in hay-time and harveft, as the furrounding parifhes
equally participate in the advantage of procuring hands in
the bufy feafons, and are not contributory to the rates.

The higher parts of the Parifhes of PEBMARSH and
COLNE ENGANE may be defcribed, a brown tender loam
upon a brick earth, the greater part of which has been much
benefited by hollow draining. The fides of the hills are much
inconvenienced by fprings ; though the lighter lands that are
properly drained, aiFord excellent turnips. A very different
foil prevails through the parifhes of WHITE and WAKES
COLNE, being that of a ftrong compadl clofe clay, ex-
tremely retentive of water, and lying upon a tough red clay
or tile earth.

Much of this land has been hollow drained at a pole
apart, colling about a guinea per acre, but with fo little
cfFe61:, as in a great meafure to difcourage that important
pradlice. The means at prefent purfued to relieve the
land of its furface water, is to ufe the land-fall plough, and
to water furrow ; and though thefe operations are performed
in the beft poffible manner, the land is flill left faturated
■with water, and is m.uch later in the feed time and harveft
than the adjacent parifhes.

Tht

f 29 )

The land at FORDHAM, lying fouth-wefterly from the
church, and abuitins^ upon Coptford and Aldham, confills
of a light fandy and gravelly foil, abounding with fprings.
Thence north-wefterly and towards Little Horfeley, a mix-
ture of foil upon a chalky clay, which continijes without
any material alteration eaflerly, through WORMING-
FORD and MOUNT BUERS, where, binding upon the
river Stour, is a ftrong well flapled tender loam, upon a
gravel. The fides of the hills, though abounding with
fprings, are very apt to burn in dry feafons; and not un-
frequently are found in the fame field, a rank red fand,
white lafliy moor (/'. e. watery marl) firong heavy clay,
upon a tile earth, and rich found loam, upon a tender clay.

The mill dams, and the navigation from Maningtree to
Sudbury, by keeping the water in the river Stour too high
for the level of the adjoining meadows, prove very injurious,
as on the flighteft frefhes thofe lands are frequently inundated.

At EARLS COLNE the land in general is a well
working foil, upon a brown tender loam, intermixed with
fome good turnip land. The fame charader of foil is
continued through GREAT TEY and ALDHAM, but
after croffing the head branch of the Roman River, and
afcending towards MARKS and LITTLE TEY, the foil
is found to vary from a ftrong wet clay upon a tile earth,
to a grey tender loam upon a chalky clay, intermixed with
a few fpots, upon which turnips are occafionally cultivated,
though not without much injury to the fucceeding crop.

The land in the parifh of COGGERSHALL, forms a
fandy and gravelly loam, of a fairitaple, upon a brick earth,
a gravel, and a white chalky clay. This latter fubftance,
after hollow draining the wet fpringy Jands, is applied with
very good effedt, in _the proportion of fifty loads, and at

an

C 30 )

an expence of three pounds per acre, A fimllar foil is
found to prevail at PATSWICK, and STISTED.

Through BRADWELL and CRESSING, a wetbro^^'n
earth, upon a (Irong brown and a white chalky clay j through
which is interfperfed fome very fine gravel, that is continued
in a larger proportion through the parilhes of RIVEN-
HALL. CHEPPING-HILL, and KELVEDON. In
the lall mentioned parifh the foil is found chiefly to confift
of a light friable loam, upon a tender brown clay, containing
in a north-wefl and fouth-eafterly dire£lion, a vein of rich
marley clay : This has been applied with an equally good
effect, as well upon the wet heavy, as on the more dry and
lighter lands, in the following proportion and expence per
acre.

Stubbing, filling and fpreading fifty loads of forty

bufhels each, at ys. per fcore - - 0176

Five horfes, two and a half days, at 2s. per day

each - __ „_ _ 150

Wear and tear of two tumbrells, at is. per day

each - ___ _._ 050

Driver, two and a half days, at is. 6d. per day 040
Allowance for beer upon the mens labour, at 2d.

in the (hilling, 2is. 6d. - _ ** o 3 7

;C- 2 15 I

An expence which would be Incurred more frequently, but
from the dip ^n^ dire6lion of the vein, which will only
admit the parifh to be partially benefitted,

RAYNE, BLACK and WHITE NOTLEY, and
FALKBOURN : through thefe parifhes the land is very
much intermixed and broken, the higher parts confifting of
day, and the hollows and fides of the hills of gravel and
moor. The roads paffing over the hills are materially in-
jured

( 31 )

jured by the fprings which rife on their fides. Clover has
been fo generally fown in this neighbourhood, that the land
has in a great degree become tired of it ; and tares now fown
as its fublUtute, feem to encourage a well grounded ex-
peilation that the foil in a few years will again admit the
culture of that valuable grafs. The principal obfervatioii
refpeiting the clover fick lands is, that although at the time
of harveft, and during winter there appears to be a very fuf-
ficient plant, yet in the fpring it is always found to fail,
particularly on the tops of the ridges. Great benefits have
rcfulted in this neighbourhood from claying the light lands,
and correcting the natural defedls of the feveral foils, by
mixing the oppofites of each other together. From Fallc-
boarn acrofs to FAIRHEAD, a wet heavy cold foil, upon
a chalky clay, and very fubjedl to brambles, and to colts-
foot. Thence to TERLING the foil becomes lighter,
much intermixed, and very liable to burn in thofe parts
which lie near the gravel. Towards HATFIELD-
PEVERIL the foil is more uniform, being a fandy loam,
upon a Itrong bottom ; under which, in many places, are
found a deep rtrata of a white and a yellow fand. A fandy
loam, chiefly upon a gravel, forms the foil through Hatfield-
Peveril to ULTING, upon which, turnips are cultivated
to great advantage.

Towards WITHAM the land is heavier, forming a
tender mould, of a good ilaple upon a clay. In the parillies
of BOREHAM and SPRINGFIELD the land is of a
light and gentle nature, upon a gravel and tender clay. In
thofe of LITTLE and GREAT WALFHAM the fiail
is more varied, confifting of a gravelly and a brown tender
loam, upon a gravel and a brick earth, and a thin wet grey
loam upon a chalky clay.

The

( 32 )

The beneficial efFe6ls of this lafl fubftance, as a manure
v;hcn applied on the light lands, at the rate of fixty loads
(forty bufliels each) and at an expence of four pounds per
acre, is fuppofed, in this neighbourhood, to lad twenty
years.

A fimilar variety with the lafl: defcribed foil, feems to
prevail through GREAT and LITTLE LEIGH, where,
although the commons are very wet, they are not liable to
communicate any injurious efFeds to the fheep and cows
that depafture upon them. A light loamy gravel, of a fair
flaple, prevails through FELSTEAD, which, with a mix-
lure of brown tender loam, upon a chalky clay, continues
through .STEBBING.

The foil in the parifli of LINDSELL confifts of a brown
loamy clay, upon a blue and white chalky clay, a deep
binding gravelly loam upon a clayey gravel ; and a well
flapled fandy loam upon a gravel, and a brown tender clay.
This lafl defcription of foil prevails northerly to LITTLE
BARDFIELD, where the pleafure that is received by
palling through a beautifully diverfified, well watered, and
fruitful country, is greatly alloyed, by obferving fome of
the pafture land putting on a very rough and negledled
appearance.

The heavy lands under cultivation in the parifh of
THAXTED, have obtained a fair flaple, but thofe which
have long been in a flate of reft, are thought to have been
much Injured by compreffion. This obfervation applies
equally to thofe lands which have a white chalky clay
bottom, as to thofe which lie upon a tough red clay or
tile earth.

Great improvements might here be made by laying to-
gether the Intermixed property In the open field, which

would

( 33 )

wolild remove the prefent inconvenience attending its
management. By occafionally leading a part of the water
of the river Chehner over the meadows which lie along its
courfe, a confiderable improvement may be made thereon.

The varieties in this parifh continue very generally to
GREAT EASTON, where the leading charader of the
foil, is a thin tough cling clay, under which, at various
depths, are found ftrata of red and brown fand. Intermixed
with the clay foil, are found fmall portions of fandy loam,
which attend it fouth-wefterly through GREATand LITTLE
DUMMOW, where, in the higher parts of the country,
a thin grey foil upon a chalky clay, is gradually loft in ^
deep friable mould, on the fides of the hills which hang to*
wards the meadows that abut upon the river Chelmer, Pro>
ceeding thence foutherly, crolling the valley, and afcending
towards BARNSTON, a well mixed deep mould upon t
brown and a chalky clay, and a thin light gravelly foil upon
a gravel.

There are various modes of cropping purfued in this dif-
lri£t; the firft of which upon the heavy land, is to fallow the
wheat ftubbles for barley, fow fourteen pecks to the acre j
then fallow the barley ftubbles for wheat, fow ten or elevea
pecks to the acre, and always dung upon the fallows fof
barley. Upon the more temperate lands, the ufual routine
of crops are, firft, fallow for oats or barley ; fow of the
former, from fixteen to eighteen pecks ; of the latter, from
twelve to fourteen pecks, and with either fourteen pounds
of red clover to the acre. This is mown or fed oif as beft
fuits the conveniency of the farmer, and fucceeded with
wheat, after once ploughing the clover ley, fowing from
nine to eleven pecks per acre; part of the wheat ftubbles
are occafionally fown with tares ; the land is then fallowed
in courfe for fpring corn. In this feries it is alwajs judged

E beft

( 34 )

beft to clung the young clovers rather than the fallows for
fpring corn, or the clover leys for wheat. When the lands
of this temperament are in very good condition, the wheat
bubbles are dunged, and fown with beans upon three-foot
ridges, two furrows upon a ridge; fpringed or put in with
a hand drill ; ufing for feed of the fmall Eifex bean, about
ten pecks j and when every furrow is fown, about fourteen
pecks to the acre. The beans are hoed and kept clean, at
an expence of from eight to ten fhillings per acre, and fuc-
ceeded with wheat, fowing from ten to eleven pecks per
acre. The wheat ftubbles are haulmed, fown with tares for
fpring food, and then fallowed in courfe for oats or barley.

Upon the lighter lands, (and where turnips can be cul-
tivated to advantage) firfl: fallow, and dung for turnips, fow
one quart of feed to the acre ; hoe once or twice as the crop
may require, cofting from five to eight Ihillings per acre.
The turnips are partly drawn, and partly fed off, and fuc-
ceeded generally after once ploughing, with oats or barley ;
ufing the fame quantity of feed as is required by the fallows
on the teinperate land. With the fpring corn is fown the
ufual quantity of clover, which lies one year, it is then, upon
once ploughing, fucceeded with wheat, fown broadcaft ten
pecks to the acre, and harrowed in. The wheat ftubbles
are ufually fown with tares or rye, for fpring food; the land
it then dunged and prepared for turnips, and the fame courfe
repeated with little variation, if we except only the occa-
fional culture of a fmall portion of colefeed, which generally
ftands for a crop.

The refult of this management requiring the feed ftated
above, and aided by the application of manure, as fet forth
in the Journal, produces, according to the index table, the
following average :

AVERAGE .

( 35 )

AVERAGE QUANTITY OF SEED REQUIRED
pecks bufhels pecks

Of Wheat per acre 10.2 producing 22 3 per acre
Of Rye

Of Barley ditto 12 . 4 producing 34 2 ditto

Of Oats ditto 17.0 producing 33 o ditto

Of Peas ditto 15 . o producing 20 o ditto

Of Beans drilled ditto 12 . o producing 21 o ditto

N. B. It mufl: be obferved that the average on wheat is
ftruck upon the fmall red and white wheat. Where
rivet or bearded wheat is cultivated, an addition to
the average may be made of five or fix bufhels per
acre: at the fame time it may be noticed, that the
r*vet wheat is in general fix-pence per bufhel lefs in
value than the fmaller or Kentilh wheat.

By reference to the table, a difference of five fliillings
and ten-pence per acre will appear in the annual rent or
value of the open common field, and the inclofed arable
land. Of twelve fhillings and two-pence per acre, between
the partially improved paftures, and thofe of the firft quality.
Of five fhillings and nine-pence per acre, between the half-
yearly meadow land, and that which is in feveralty. Of
eight fhillings per acre, between the annual vaj.ue of the
coarfe and negle6led inclofures, and the average rent of the
arable and pafture land, when the fame are let together,
and without diftindlion of price. That there are two hun-
dred acres of wafte foreft land, which by inclofure, may
be improved to the proprietor in its annual value fifteen
fhillings per acre. That there are one hundred and forty
acres of common, that by inclofure, may be improved eleven
fhillings and fix-pence per acre per annum. I'hat the pre-
fent compofition for the great and fmall tythes, is three fliil-
lings and nine-pence farthing, and that the fame has rifen
within twenty years one fhilling and two-pence three-

E 2 farthings

( 36 )

farthings per acre ; and finally, that the poor's rates cal-
culated on the prefent rack rents, are four (hillings and
four-pence halfpenny, and that they have increafed one
fhilling and fixpence fari;hiug in the pound within the laft
ten years.

The average price of provifions, value of labour, and
fervants wages tlirough this diftridl, iray be ftated thus :

Beef and mutton 4|d. perlb. — veal and freih pork 5|d, per lb.
— pickled pork 7|d. perlb, — butter lofd. perlb — cheefe 6d.
perlb. — flour 23|d. per peck — potatoes I3|d. per bufliel —
Stated price of daily labour in the winter 7s. 6d. in the
fummer 9s. per week. Threfhing wheat 28|d. per quarter ;
barley i6|d. per quarter ; oats I4|d. per quarter; peas 27d.
per quarter; beans I4d. per quarter. Head man's wages,
with board and lodging 81. los. per annum; boy's wages,
with the fame, 40s. per annum; women's wages, with
board, wafhing, and lodging, 4I. per annum 5 girl's, with
the fame, 45s. per annum.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE FIRST— Te/npcafe mixed soil.

Piefent Rent, and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Annual

'rrxluce

Tylhes
great&fmall

Poors
Rales.

NJMES

Arabic
per aci-c.

per acre.

.M.rlhii
|,cr Krc.

Meadows
per .ere.

Ar.atGrat

lakcn
logcther.

3.

Woods.

Forcd).

Commons.

per acre
ill buflicis of

1

J

a:

,2

c3

i

s

1

1

0:

5

PARISHES.

1

1

=

0^

i

s-

10 0
J4 0

16 0

!0 0

• 6 c
Jt 0

10 0

JO 0

0 0

0 0
n c

0 0

1 0

iO 0

13 0

30 0

30 0
30 ..

'

IJ 0

20 0

JO 0

JO 0
IS 0

-)

'5

lAl
ir,-

\ed)

6.VV

i

11 0
'i 0

14 0

JO 0

:=•

.60

> 0
0 0
0 0

4 0

IQ 0

'i '

15 0
i(. 0

it>6
10 0
10 0

.3 6

JJ Q

'3 0

> t °

il c
10 c

14 c

- A
1/ (I'
Uvi.

>ii
4 -

1

1

1.

5.

-1

1

n

u

>

2
6

1

1 -

5.S

5

1

li
1^

J

«

1

2

0

i

i

• 1 HF.IJOM BU.MSTEAD .
: HAVf RILL

3 STURMER

4 BIRDBKOOK,

(, RIDGEWIvLL

iy TILBURY

7 ASHEN

8 OVINGTOM

9 BKLCHAMP Sr. PAULS

10 BKLCHAMP OTEN . . .

11 BELCHAMC WALTER

11 PENTLOW

n FOXEARTH

,4 LISTOM

,j BORLEY

ih BULMER

17 MIDDLETON

iS GREAT HENNEY . . - ■

,g TWINSTEAD

,o LAMMARSH

,1 ALPHANSTONE ....
„ WICKHAMSt.PAUL'i. .
tr GESTONTHORPE ....
.; LITTLE YELDHAM . .
iT GREAT YELDHAM . .
«6 CASTLE HEDINGHAM
tj SIBLE HEDINGHAM . .

15 GREAT MAPLRSTEAD
1, LITTLE MAPLESTEAD

10 FINCHINGFIELD ....

11 WEATHERSFIELD . - •

ji SHALFORD

1, GREAT HAKDFIELD . .
H BARDFIEI.D SALIVG . .
K GREAT SALINff

16 PANFIELD

17 BRAINTPEE

jt BOCK.-NG

j.( GOn-IF.I.D

43 K'U.STEAD

41 PEBMARSH

,i COI.NF. ENGAIN ....
4.1 WHITE COLNE

-* 4A WAKES COLNE

4; FORDHAM

, 4f> WORMINGFORD . . . .
^— 47 MOUNT BURES . . .

4a EARLS COLNE

4.> ORl-.AT TAY

S^ ALDHAM

SI MARKS TEY

Si LITTLE TEV

Sj COGGESHALL

?4 PAISWICK

js STI.STED

!Ci BRADU'ELI

W CRESSING

58 RU'ENHALL

S.J CHEPPINHILL

I'O KELVEDON

ftr R\YNE

Tl.
ij a
14 0
14 Q
■ • 6
14 0

.3 0
M 0

13 0

14 0
14 0

14 0
IJ (.

14 0
ir '>

14 0
IJ 0

4 0

4 0

% «

4 ^
+ «
14 0

14 0
'i 0

': °
16 0

14 0

i; 0
II 0

\M
.46

■3 6

15 0

!'3 »
M n
IJ 0
"+ 0

10 0

H "
H »

14 0

,GE

a

\ c

.. J.

S 6

1

10

onvi

1, ./

6 0

6 c

S -^

7 '»
I 0

/. d.

. .1

- -

I. ./.

: .

i3 0

rj 0
r; 0

ij 0
14 0

7
i

1

i
u

i!

i

r8

fi
tI
i!

T»,
i

.'8

: :
I JO

40

JC

30 0
JO 0

1' 6
So 0
30 0
0 0
30 0
30 0
to 0

30 0

io 0

30 0

20 0

10

'4

;i

H

IZ

• 4
'4

'S

110
no

100

iSo

130

9S

140
140

160
160
170

: :

1. -/

: :

: :

aer r.

: :

;. ,7.

■ -

• -

=4

24
II

24

31

24

»4
14

»4
H

3d

'4

:S
18

:6

'4
>4
24

18

/,,*.

3«
2S

3°
36
.1+

3'

if-
3f

i^

5^
,6

»o
3 =

3"
3;

%

34

34

i;

36
30

.30

3S
3'

15

16

iS

^4

38

l6

40
40

30

31

Mh.

16
18
16

24

24

^4

14

H
16

ro
30
=4

»4

3 3

11

? c

4 0
3 9

2 6

3 6
3 b

3 f-

5 c

4 °

3 '"

5 0
4 °
3 °

','

3 6

3 ■>

4 9

1 6

;. A.

= 3
I 0

0 8
3 0

» S

1 3

' 9
' 3

J6
3 ■>

! 0

3 »

4 0
6 6
3 3

3 3

4 0

3 3
6 0

4 6

4 0

5 0

' A

4 •!

6 0

5 °

S '^

3 'J

4 0

9 0

5 «

M

1 b

0 9
3 0

1 6

1 6

'otatoK 170 buflicU per acre.
Tythes part free

J Poor's Rates very high-*unceilam

7
7

7

V'El
rl r,

lAG

hte

'i-

T

E J
IS"
P'-'J

30 e

; ;

i; 0

)

■rflii

tit 0

\'t»

'J J

the

\"
1"

,3 6

13 0
IS 0

14 0

tall,
romi

i'<
1^

i
i

H

i%

r?
}
i

A

I

r as
rag

-
•

-

40

rfgo
are
■iciii

|0 0

ns'i
mpt
ura
3J 0

13

12

'S

'4

"4

■.6-

''able

iiite
'3

130

ISO

160
180

>

pa
rep
i;o

■aiing

200

\ \

S 0

: :

tbe
V im

is d
5 0

lO 0

proc
)rov

ftria

10 0

s»

no
KM.

d, c
140

4 6
7'

of a

r vf
6 0

14 c

e ar

!>•■:

1- 6

^4

2-1

*4

24

24

11

'4

23

33

26
26

*4

'4

>4
'4

Me,

tog

and
tbcr

36

3>
34
3'
30
3"

40
3'

4'
3"

3'

3»

3S
3j

3'
26

16
3'

3°
3'

■j.vH

342

'36"
3*

3'

.='
4°

4!

I
3-'

vrcnc
flic

33 0

ao

> ma

JO 0

10

24

*t

JO

;o
14

•alii

cria

3 0
3 '
3 '
4'

31'i

3 f)

2 6

b,h
infi

3 9:

4 0
4 9

to

4 0
4 6
4 6

"40

veen
rma

06

^ '_

1 0

0 ,,

0 .)

1 2

Ibcl
ion

! 9

36

3 "

4 0
3 °
3 6

3 0

4 0

5 0
4 0
4 0

3 0

3 0

3 0

3 0
2 6

4 0

6 0

5 "

;?

4 6
! o

loug
(as

4 4.'

0 g

2 0

1 6
0 6

0 6

1 6

bed,

t w

1 6i

I 63

Tythci part fre>.-

6i BLACK NOTLEY ....
63 WHITE NOTLEY ....

(■,4 FALKBOURNE

6; FAIRHEAD

66 TI-.ftLING

67 HATFIELD PEVERJLL

ft.) WHITHAM

70 BOREHAM

71 SPRINGFIELD

r- LITTLE WALTHAM .
7j CJRF.AT WALTHAM . .

74 GREAT LEIGH

75 LITTLE LEIGH

;6 FELSTEAD

77 STUBBING

73 LINDSELl

79 LITTLE UARDFIELD .

So THAXTEAD

Hi GREAT EASTON . . . .
3i GRE.Vr DUNMOW . .
Si LITTLE DUNMOW.. .
S4 UARN&TOX

Genetal AvcMRf

OiH-n field, pni'iblljr imnrotcil .1
walle land

Average Rent of new-Ic.ifed Firmi 1 1 1. per ae
The inferior pa (lure improvable to sis.perac

tbe woods, and tbe grafs land ; and
IS pojftblc to obtain, and to be tbus

1-1 -.1 1 1

■ 1i_V -il.

,j_o

140

II (>

• -18 oriveiorbcarcledwhcai

'III

' y '

r rr> ty

){ii 'iL

c;

4.1

f'

( 37 )

DISTRICT THE SECOND.

Light mixed foil, upon a gravel, a /and, and a
brown tender loam.

Beginning at west bergholt, where th«

land, binding upon BURES and FORDHAM, is of a
heavier nature than that to the eaftward, and abutting upon
the heath, which is found to lie upon a fand and gravel, and
forms excellent turnip land.

The meadows upon the river Colne are much injured by
the keeping up of the water for the fupply of the mills.

Proceeding northward towards GREAT HORSLEY,
a great deal of excellent turnip land, which continues to
the parifh of BOXTED, where the land upon the river
Stour forms a light tender hazel coloured earth, of a good
ftaple ; but afcending foutherly, a fleeter foil ; and near the
tops of the hills, a few fpots of very heavy land : with thefe
exceptions, the whole may be advantageoufly employed in
the culture of turnips. A fimilar defcription of foil will
apply to LANGHAM, faving that in the higher parts of
that parilh the ftaple is not equally good. CroHing the
Black Brook and proceeding foutherly towards ARDLEIGH,
a ftronger and deeper ftaple is found, of a cooler nature, and
more certain corn land. Returning northerly through
DEDHAM, the foil is of a fimilar nature.

By the failure of ihe baize manufa£lure, which flourilhed
in this parifh fome years ago, the expenfive burthen of the
poor has been confiderably increafed.

The

( 38 )

The foil of LAWFORD, BRADFIELD, WRABNESS,
and MISTLEY, is well adapted to the culture of barley
and turnips. Wheat is fometimes fown, but the foil is not
generally fuited to the culture of that grain. Thence to
RAMSEY, DOVER COURT, and HARWICH, a deep
•well mixed friable earth, upon which turnips, clover, and
mofl grains and graflfes may be cultivated to advantage.

In this neighbourhood the ufual mode of manuring per
acre, is to mix one waggon load of London muck, with
about five times the quantity of frefli foil colleded from
the road and hedge greens. The cofl; of the London muck
at the wharf, is fifteen fliillings per waggon load; the car-
riage of this, and mixing it with the earth heap, will cofl:
4s. 6d. per load of forty bufliels each, twelve of which
applied to the acre, equals - — — 2 14 o

Carting from the heaps into the fields, 6d. per load 060
Filling and fpreading at i|d. per load — 016

Driver half a day, including allowance for beer
io|d. allowance for beer upon filling and
fpreading, at 2d. in the fliilling, 3d, in all 01 i|

I'Z '^ Ik
which expence in mending, is fuppofed to be annually in-
curred on about one-fixth part of the land that comes in
turn for manuring; together with occafional light top dref-
fings of foot, aflies, &c. upon the wheat and young clover.

From Ardleigh to LITTLE BROMLEY, a deep well
working foil, and very judicioufly, employed in the culture
of turnips.

In this neighbourhood brank or buckwheat, has been fown
and ploughed under for manure, when in full blofibm : this
is generally a preparation for wheat, but has not anfvvered
fufficiently to induce a continuation of the pradlice.

Through

( 39 )

Through ELMSTEAD, FRATING and WI VENHOE,

the foil produces very good turnips, nor is any material diffe-
rence difcoverable till you approach the broken country about
ARLESFORD, where the fand and gravelly hills improve
towards the marfhes, which border upon the river Colne.
Crofling that river, and proceeding weft towards FINGER-
INGHOE, EAST and V/EST DONYLAND, the foil
is of a dry and mellow nature, and applicable to the culture
of turnips^ upon a general and extenfive fcale. Proceeding
thence foutherly, beyond the Roman River, towards LAYER
DE LA HAY, GREAT and LITTLE BIRCH, a light
fand and gravelly foil, which gradually improves northerly,
and at COPTFORD forms a deep tradable hazel coloured
loam, upon a brown tender clay, with a fmall intermix-
ture of gravel. A vein of blue chalky clay has been worked
in this parilh, and is applied in the following proportions
and expence per acre, viz.

Stubbing, filling and fpreading fifty load?, at 3d.

per load __________ 012 6

Four horfes, and two tumbrells, two and a half

days, at I2s. per day — — — — — __iioo
Driver two and a half days, at is, 6d. per day 030
Allowance of beer upon ftubbing, filling, fpreading,

and the driver's wages 15s. 6d. at 2d. in the

fhilling - ----___-_o27

£• ~"T

which drefling is fuppofed to remain in force for twenty
years.

From Coptford, north to STANWAY, a light gravel
and fandy loam upon a dry fliarp gravel, which foil much
improves towards LEXDEN. Thence northerly through
MILE END, and the other villages furrounding, and
attached to the Borough of COLCHESTER, a deep hazel

coloured

( 40 )

coloured loam, upon a gravel and brown tender clay/through
which are inter fperfed fome very good paftures, and a fmall
fkirting of tolerable meadows upon the river Colne.

In the corporation of Colchefter, which comprehends'
fifteen pari flies, and of which, Greenftead, Bere Church,
or Weft Donyland, Lexden, and Mile End, are the four
out pariflies, and annexed thereto ; about one-third of the
arable land lies in half-yearly common fields, the inclofing
of which, and throwing it into feveraUy, is much defired by
the moil intelligent perfons in that neighbourhood.

The hulbandry which prevails moft generally through
this diftridl, is to fallow, dung and prepare for fowing
turnips broadcaft, about Old Midfummer ; ufing from one
quart to three pints of feed to the acre. As the land may
be more or lefs foul, or the crop may be found to require
it, the turnips are hoed once or twice, cofting from 5s. to 8s.
per acre. The turnips are generally fed off with fheep, and
the land fown with barley upon once ploughing, ufing from
twelve to fourteen pecks of feed, and the fame number of
pounds of red clover to the acre. The clover is mown or
fed off, and fucceeded by wheat upon the ley, about twelve
pecks of feed to the acre ; a portion of the wheat ftubbles
are generally fown with tares or rye for fpring food, and
then prepared for turnips in courfe. The wheat ftubbles
are fometimes fown with peas or oats, and then fucceeded
by a preparation for turnips, and when the clover miflTes
plant, brank or buckwheat, four bulhels to the acre is fown,
ftands for a crop, and is fucceeded by wheat in like manner
as upon a clover ley.

Buckwheat has been ploughed in for manure when in full
bloffbm, but is not found to anfwer.

The expence incurred in the firft: coft arid application of
manure, noticed in the journal of this diftridl, applies very

generally

DISTRICT THE SECO'^T)— Light mixed soil.

NAMES

of
PARISHES.

Prefent Rent^ and Value ; wrth probable increafe thereon.

Arable
per acre.

Pafture
pel acic.

Marfhes
I per acre.

1 WEST BERGHOLT .

2 LITTLE HORSLEY .

3 GREAT HORSLEY .

4 BOXTED

5 LANGHAM ......

6 DEDHAM

7 ARDLEIGH

8 LAWFORD

9 MISTLEY

10 BRADFIELD ....

11 WRABNESS

12 RAMSEY

13 DOVER COURT . .

14 H.JiRWICH

ij LITTLE BROMLEY .

16 ELMSTEAD.

17 FRATING

18 ALLESFORD

iQ WIVENHOE

20 GREEN'STEAD ....

21 MILE END

Si LEXDEN

J3 WEST DONYL.\ND .
=4 EAST DONYLAND . .
-5 FINGERIN'GHOE . .
sfi L.^^YER DE LA HAY

27 LITTLE BIRCH . . .

28 GREAT BIRCH ...

29 COPTFORD

30 STANWAY ......

42 COLCHESTER includin;

13 panflies

General AverSge

Open field, partially improved

and wafte land
Difference

W

s. d.
16 o
■ S 6
'4

'?

18 0
16
'5
'4
7

18 c

14 o

14 o
IJ o

J. d.

25 o

14 o

15 0
II 6
1;

16

12 O

i. d.

r. d.

a.

i. d.

14 o

6 o

14 0
25

32 0

!0 C

'3 c

Meadows
per acre.

- 30

30

Ar.&Graft

taken
together.

Hop

Land.

+0

40

i6 0

171.

Woods.

Forefts.

yean

13

•4

80

go

E

Commons. -

Annual Produce

per acre

in budiels of

60

160

300
360

~d.
5 °

° —
a, 2

E

46
5

360

5°

80
80
170
130
aoo
260
26
26

77
230

6

3 6

's. d.

16 o

14 o
i; o

biilh.\bujh.

16 o
■5

16

16

14 c
14 o

12

■4
5

14
1?

1 1
'5

'4

bulh
32
40
28
24
32
32

3'

36
32

3'

bujh.

40

40

40

bulh.

24
20
20

i^y/j

28

V-

Tyt/ies
great &fmall

Poor's
Rates.

c

u

»:

^

Q.

c

0

a.

0

G,

0

)

0

U

d.

u d.\

2 3
7 0

• -

.. d.

3

"3 6

3 3

3 3
3 °

3 ^

3 ^

3 6

I 6
o 6

3 o,

4 3

3 ° - -, ■

3 6 - - ■ o

3 6

4

3 6
6

3%
5 9
3 6

4 6
46

i. d.

1 o

0 6
I

1 o

2 c

3 0

I

o 6

4S.\Vheat; Barley, Oats and Peas 3s- 3s. 3^. round

GENERAL AVERAGE deduced from tbefaregoing Tabic, fiexving the produce of the arable, and difference of value between the ploughed, the woods, and the grajs land ; and
annual rent and value of fucb of the latter as are improved, partially improved, or xvajle : together with fucb material information (as it ivas poffibk io obtain, and to be thus
conveyed) touching the prefent and former agricultural inienfls of Ibis diftricl.

14 6 10 62; o'i6 o -

10 ft

4 o

9 o

"9

530 35 034 0
- - - -,=5 o

53^

-90

'3 187 6;

I

2829 3 iij

2829 - •

14 521 320 0
311I

io5i

30 2

35 020 2

2; o

3 }i

4 ^i

I 1

I 'J

( 41 >

generally through the adjacent country, where the diflancc
from the wharf, or landing-place, does not abfolutely forbid
it; and which from the management ftated above, produces
on an average through this diftrift

21 bufhels 3 pecks of Wheat

2o bu(hels of Rye

30 bufhels 2 pecks of Barley

35 bufhels of Oats

20 bufhels 2 pecks of Peas

25 bufhels of Beans.

By reference to the table from which the above general
average is taken, it will further appear, that the average rent
of the inclofed arable land is 14s. 6d. of the open field arable
lOs. 6d. confequently a difference of 4s. per acre lies againft
that very land, which in this, and in the preceding diftrifl,
is generally of a fuperior quality to the arable that is inclofed.
That the paflure land of the firft quality is fuperior in its
annual value to that of the fecond clafs 9s. per acre. That
there are 530 acres of fait marfli capable of being
highly improved, by embanking from the fea. That the
mofl: valuable meadow ground in the diflri6l, is half-yearly or
Lammas ground ; and that its average annual rent is 34s. ex-
ceeding that which lies in feveralty 9s. per acre. That there
are 2829 acres of common, which by inclofure, is capable of
being augmented in its prefent annual value los. 5|d. per
acre. That the prefent compofltion paid for the great and
fmall tythesis 3s. 3|d. and that the fame has increafed within
twenty years is. i^d. per acre. That the poor's rates upon
the prefent rack rents are 4s. 2|d. and that the fame have
increafed within the lafl ten years is. i|d. in the pound.

On fumming up the minutes taken in this diftricfl upon
the value of labour, fervants wages, and price of provifions,
they are found to tally fo nearly with that ftatement in
the preceding diftrid, that they may very properly be re-
ferred thereto.

F DISTRICT

( 42 )

DISTRICT THE THIRD.

Temperate mixed folly upon a gravelly loam, a fartdy,
or a fine gravel; a brown clay, or brick earth', and
a red clay or tile earth.

Beginning at little oakley, through which

parifh, and that of GREAT OAKLEY, is a ftrong, well
mixed deep foil, interfperfed with fome veins of gravel, upon
which turnips are cultivated to advantage. The pafture grounds
through this neighbourhood, afford very excellent herbage*
which continues without any material alteration to WICKES
and GREAT BROMLEY, where a ftrong well mixed foil
prevails, upon a red and white fandy gravel, under which,
in many places, lies a brown tender clay or fandy loam.
In this dillarice the land is found very flat, difficult to drain ;
and where from the loofenefs of the underftratum (unlefs
the work is executed with great care) the hollow drains will
require to be renev»'ed every eight or ten years. Proceeding
foutherly to LITTLE BENTLEY, the foil and under-
ftrata continue the fame ; but thence towards TENDRING
and GREAT BENTLEY, the country is a good deal
broken, the fides of the hills abounding with fprings, and
with all that variety of foil and fubftrata (the chalky clay
excepted) fo frequently noticed in the courfe of this journal.
Weft from Great Bentley, and crofling a branch of the
river Colne to TORRINGTON, the foil is chiefly a deep
brown loam, upon a gravel and a brown tender clay. Thence
weftward to BRITHLINGSEA, a well mixed foil, of a
fair ftaple upon a gravel. The fides of the hills would be
very much annoyed with the fprings, were they not gene-
rally

( 43 )

rally carried off, (though at a confiderable expence,) by
hollow drains.

The greater part of the embanked mnrfhes feem to owe
much of their prefent inferiority to neg1e6t and mifmanage-
ment.

The land in the parifhes of St. OSYTH, GREAT
CLACKTON, and LITTLE HOLLAND, which is
bounded on the fouth, by a level of embanked marlhes,
and the German Ocean, is well adapted to the culture of
grafs and corn, and in particular parts, to tfiat of turnips.

Thence north, and towards LITTLE CLACKTON
and WHEELY, a ftrong foil upon a brick earth, throligh
which are found fome veins of fandy loam upon a gravel.

The deep ftrong lands in the parifh of GREAT HOL-
LAND, have been much improved by hollow drains filled
with fhingle, brought from the fea beach, and fifted gravel.
Thefe drains are made thirty inches deep, from three to four
inches wide at the bottom, and about nine inches wide at
the top: labour 3d. per rod, and materials about 3d.
more; averaging through the neighbourhood where the land
is clean drained, and the drains made at a rod apart, about
4I. per acre.

Eafierly through FRINTON, the foil is formed of a
ftrong deep hazel coloured mould, which at WALTON
becomes fcmewhat lighter, and affords a few fpots of very
good turnip land. The fides of the hills hanging down to
the fait martlies in this pariih, might be much improved by
a due attention to hollow draining. Thence wefterly through
KIRBY, a ftrong compact loam upon a brick earth, and
a deep hazel coloured fandy loam upon a gravel. This latter
foil prevails very generally through THORPE, upon which,

F a turnips

( 44 )

turnips would be more frequently cultivated, but for the
great difficulty in getting them from off the ground. Nor-
therly from Thorpe, and afcending the country at BEAU-
MONT, a well mixed ftrong hazel coloured loam upon a
brick earth, and a thm wet heavy foil upon a red tough clay.

The embanked marfhes in this quarter, are greatly incon-
venienced through the want of good water in fummer; and
although in the higher parts of the country there are fome
fprings, yet their water is fo bad (though beautiful to the
eye) that in a fhort time after it has been drawn from the
well, it becomes extremely offenfive, and is rendered totally
unfit for domeftic ufe. Tanks or refervoirs of rain water,
feem the only fucceedaneum for relief; but this important
convenience is rarely to be met with.

The following is the expence per acre at which manure is
generally applied through this diftridl, when the land to be
improved, lies tolerably convenient to the wharfs, or landing
places :

One. waggon load, containing 90 bufhels of London

muck, delivered at the wharf, for — — o 15 o
One ditto of chalk ditto — — — — oioo

Carriage of both ditto to the earth heap at 7s. per load 0140
Digging or ftubbing about 220 bufhels of road or
hedge greens — — — — — — 030

Twice turning and mixing the fame, two days work

for one man, at is. 6d. per day — — -030
Filling and fpreading at 4s. per fcore loads - 020
Carting upon the field at 6d. per load - —050
Half a day's work for the driver gd, and allowance of
beer upon flubbing, mixing, filling, fpreading and
driving, in all 8s.^. at 2d. in the fhilling - o i 51-

Total 1.1 13 51

Which

( 45 )

Which expence is fiippofed to accrue annually, upon about
one-fourth part of the fliift of arable land, which comes re-
gularly in courfe for manuring ; and which the home-made
manure, or that produced from the farm, is not fufficient to
afford to that proportion of the farms a proper drefTing. This
calculation is ftated on a fuppofition that the wharf where
the foreign manure is delivered, is within diftance of making
three turns in a day, with a waggon and five horfes; where
the team makes but two turns in the day, and where in-
deed one load is a compleat day's work, the above expence
muft be proportionably augmented.

The hufbandry mofl: generally practiced in this diftrift is
to make a thorough fummer fallow for oats or barley, and
to fow about one half of the fpring corn land with clover,
dunged when young, and fucceeded by wheat upon the clover
ley. The oat and barley etches which are not filled with
clover, being previoufly dunged in the winter, are fown
early in the fpring with beans, drilled or broadcaft, kept
well hoed through the fummer, and fucceeded by wheat.
The wheat ftubbles are haulmed immediately after harveft,
and a part of them are fown with tares, which are either
fed completely off, or only partly fed, and then left to (land
for a crop ; the land is then fallowed for fpring corn and
the fame courfe repeated. This management is found to
be more efficacious in eradicating the black grafs, than any
other at prefent known or pradifed ; and aided by the foreign
manure annually expended in the diftridl, produces according
to the prefixed table, the following average crops per acre,
viz.

Wheat

24 bufhels

Rye

Barley

33 bufhels

2 pecks

Oats

38 bufhels

i| peck

Peas

19 bufhels

I peck

Beans

27 bufhels

I peck

In

( 46 )

In addition to the above, the fame table fhews that the
average rent of the arable land through the diftrid, is 14s.
5|d. the paflure land 14s. 9|d. and the marfti land lis. id.
per acre. That there are 1700 acres of fait marfhes, which
may be embanked from the fea to advantage. That the
undergrowth of the woods is cut once in twelve years, and
fold at the flub for 4I. per acre. That there are 170 acres
of thicks or forefts, which by inclofing, may be improved
8s. per acre; and that in like manner there are 265 acres of
common that may be improved los. per acre. That the
compofition at prefent paid for the great and fmall tythes
is 3s. 5id. and that the fame has increafed within twenty
years lod. per acre. That the poor's rates upon the prefent
rack rents are 3s. 2|d. and that the fame have increafed lod.
in the pound within ten years.

The value of labour and price of provifions are to be
referred to the firft diftrid.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE T RlRT>~-remperate mixed soil.

NAMES

of
PARISHES.

Prefent Rent and ^'alue ; with probable increafe thereon.

Arable
per acre.

Pafture
per acre.

LITTLE OAKLEY . . .
GREAT OAKLEY . .

WaCKES

GREAT BROMLEY . .
LITTLE BENTLEY . .

TENDRING

TORRINGTON . . . .
BRITLINGSEA ....

St. OSYTH

GREAT CLACKTON
LITTLE HOLLAND .
LITTLE CLACIvTON

WEELEY

GREAT HOLLAND .

FRINTON

WALTON

KIRBY

THORPE

BEAUMONT

General Average

Open field, partially improved

and wafte land
Difference

r. </.

14 o
14 o

14 o
'S o

5 '^

15 o
12 o

14 o

15 o

'5

If o

15 o
■5 o

I. </.

14 c
i; o

S

5

14 o

15 o

15 ■:

i; o
15 o

Macflies
per acre.

</. 1. d.

- -120

- -'12 o

- -'11 6

- -100

- -100

-Iio o
-10 o

-10 0

100

500

600
500

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.&Grafs

taken
together.

,1's. d.

14 0

15 o

i; o

14 o

15 0

15 o
15 0
15 c.

3 3

S O

a. ^
? ^

Hop
Land.

Woods.

Forcfts,

Commons.

Annual Produce

per acre

in bufnels of

2
acrts

ia o 170
So o! - •

6 o

s.d.

14 o

acres s. J.

4 o

5 0

14 r

15 o

iu//?. biilh.

'mjh.b,

hulh

16

H

buOi.

32

Tythes
great &rmall

Poor's 1
Rates.

'^

u
u
CI,

0

Q,

E

0

u

.2

"0

£

0

re

0
.5

!;

a

n
Pi

"V-

0

re

s. d.

3 6
3 "^

3 6

3 8
3 6
3 °

3 6

J S
3 2
3 0
3 f^

J. ^.

J. d.

0 q

1 0

I 2

I 0
1 0

0 6
0 6

0 9

s.d.

46

4 °

2 6

3 9
2 6

2 6

1 6

3 6
i 4

2 6

3 6
3 6

3 6

4 6

0 9

1 (•

0 t

1 0

I 0

0 fl

GENERAL AVERAGE deduced from ibc foregoing Table, fhewing the produce of the arable, and difference of value between tlje ploughed, the ivoods, and the grafs land ; and
annual rent and value of fuch of the latter as arc improved, partially improved, or ivajle : together with fuch material information (as it ivas pojftblc to obtain, and to he fbnj
conveyed) touching the prefent and former agricultural interefts of this diJlriH.

26;

'45

'495 -

1700

1700

'49i

170

170

60140
6 0

3 o

64164
6 4

24

•i

33 2

38 I

19 1

27 I

3 ?i

^

0 10

0 10

3 2i

010-i

( 46 )

( 47 ) .

DISTRICT THE FOURTH.

MERSEA ISLAND-^rempcrate mixed foil

X H E Ifland on the fouth, on the eafl, and to the vvcftward,
exhibits a ftrong bold fhore; northerly the Ihore becomes
flat and fhelving, and is fkirted by a large extent of fait
marfh, about looo acres of which, would pay extremely
well for embanking from the fea. The Ifland is divided
into the two parifhes of Eafl and Weft Merfea, the higher
parts of which, confift of a dark coloured friable mould,
upon a fandy and a gravelly loam ; and a deep hazel coloured
ftrong earth, upon a brown tender clay or brick earth. The
firft of thefe foils is advantageoufly employed in the culture
of turnips, barley, and clover, the laft in that of beans and
wheat. This highly favoured fpot is well fupplied with
excellent fprings; and it might be rendered far more pro-
dudlive than it is at prefent, were the inclofures enlarged,
and many of thofe thick and ufelefs hedge-rows deftroyed,
which at prefent encumber the middle of the Ifland, and
render its air and climate lefs falubrious and wholefome
than it otherwife would be. The ftrong heavy highland,
and the old embanked marfhes, have been greatly benefited
by the application of chalk, in the proportion of about
eight waggon loads to the acre, firft coft of which los. 6d.
per load, befides carriage. The highland grafs and arable
is rented on an average, at 17s. per acre; the marfhes at
I OS. 6d. running the whole together, and taking the produce

through

( 48 )

through the Ifland on an average of five years, it may be
ftated thus:

Wheat

28 bufhels per acre

Barley

40 ditto

Beans

32 ditto

Oats

40 ditto

The failure of the oyfter trade, which before the prefent
war, was carried on to a very confiderable extent, has
fubjedled the principal occupiers of the Ifland to an in-
creafed burthen in the poor's rates of from 2s. to 4s. in
the pound. The tythes, great and fmall, including the
embanked marflies, are compounded at 3s. 6d. per acre.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE FOURTH— Mersea Island,

General Average

Arable
per acre.

7 o -

Prefent Rent, and Value ; w itli probable inc»eafe thereon.

Pafture
per acre.

JIarflies
per acre.

it i. ^. s. d. acre-
- - -106 1000'

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.&Grafc

laken
together.

■ '7

Hop
Land.

Woods.

<" -s S I

ISJ^

■ O bO'

— rrl ,

rtt/VJj J. d. ycilil

>

Forefts.

o ^

1. d.

Commons.

"A
acres

-3
£ —

E

r. rf.

Annual Produce

per acre

in buOiels of

buih.
28

bufh: bulh.

■ -! 40

o : &

hJT: huib.
40 i- -

Tythes ■ Poor's

great ivifinuU Rates.

OJ

y

«

^

•2

n

■^

0

e

^

I*

»

n

■^

K

.'^

C^

.=

0

o.

0

n

"u,

«

0

0

^

c

<^

y

l-H

'-'

^«y/A

J. -/.

J. ,/. J. ,/. J. d.^i. d.\

32

3 '•

'

40

2 0

( 4S )

( 49 )

DISTRICT THE FIFTH.

Strong heavy mixed foil upon a brown clay, or brick
earth, a gravelly loam, and a tough red clay or
tile earth.

Beginning at ABBERTON, where the land lying
fouth of the church, and hanging towards LANGENHOE
and PELDON, confifts of a (Irong heavy foil upon a tile
earth, which has been chalked with very good efFeil in the
proportion, and at the expence following per acre:
Eight waggon loads of chalk, firft coft los. 6d.

per load at the wharf, or landing-place - 4 4. o
Carting and fpreading at 7s. per load — 2150

^.6 19 o

The efFe6l of which, as a manure is thought to operate for
fifteen or twenty years, during which time, and for a con-
flderable period after, the land will remain more tradable
and eafier managed. From Peldon to LITTLE and
GREAT WIGBOROUGH, the foil is fimilar to the laft
defcribed, but much the ftrongeft round the church upon the
hill at GREAT WIGBOROUGH. At VIRLEY and
SALCOTE the land in general forms a ftrong deep good
ftaple upon a brick earth, which gradually fleetens as the
country rifes towards TOLESHUNT KNIGHTS, LAYER
BRETON, and LAYER MARNEY, where the foil
confifts of a thin cold clay, upon a tile earth, and a Hmilar
foil, though fomewhat better ftaplcd upon a gravelly loam.

G The

( 50 )

The courfe of hufbandry through this diftri£t, is to make
a thorough fummer and winter fallow for oats or bar-
ley, with a fmall proportion of which is fown clover,
dunged when youn^, and after lying one year, the ley is
fown with wheat upon once ploughing. The wheat etches
are often dunged in the winter, and drilled with beans in
the fpring following, two rows upon a four furrow ridge,
kept well hoed during fummer, the bean etche well cleaned
in the autumn, and fown again with wheat: a fmall portion
of thefe etches are occafionally fown with tares, which are
fed off, or left to fland for a crop, and in either cafe the
land is fallowed again in courfe for fpring corn. The black
grafs through this diftridl is extremely troublefome, and
without winter fallowing, it is alledged to be utterly im-
polfible to keep it within fuch bounds as would admit any
reafonable chance for a crop of wheat.

The quantity of feed ufed in this diftrift (through the
heavier part of number feven, and the whole of number
ten, is much the fame, and) maybe ftated thus, viz. wheat
from eleven to twelve pecks — barley from fifteen to fixteen
pecks — oats from feventeen to nineteen pecks — tick and
horfe beans, when drilled, two furrows upon a three-foot
ridge twelve pecks; the fame drilled every furrow fixteen
peck?, and clover fixteen pounds to the acre, producing
upon an average through this diftridl as per the index table.

25 bufliels I peck of wheat per acre
32 bufheis I peck of barley
38 bufheis 3 pecks of oats
32 bufheis of beans

The circumflances of this diftri<3, which are further ex-
plained by the faid table, are, that the average rent of the
arable land is 15s. per acre: that the fuperior pafture is

2IS.

DISTRICT THE "FIFTH— Heavy mixed soil

Prefent Rent, and Value ; vvitli probable increafe thereon.

Tythes

Poor's

Annual Produce

per acre

in budiels of

great &fmall

Rates.

NJMES
PARISHES.

Arable
per acre.

Pafture
per acre.

Marflies
per acre.

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.&Graf;

taken
together.

Hop

Land.

Woods.

Forefts.

Commons.

re

I,

o

1
W

J. il.
IS 0
j6 0

I 1 0

-3

c

o

77.

CO

13
JJ

O

•-

~6

>
p

"re

a;

Rent per acre.

Proportion
under plongli.

t

r:

d

P5

S Si

p M

Si

>

0

rt

0

6

-a

0
d

>

1

•T3

J

«"

re
pq

0

C

.2

a

c
0
0

a,

1

g.

E
0
0

re
'*>
u
c
1—)

m
pi!

c
0
Pi

I. ^.

1

I ABERTON

J. ./.

J. ^/.

^(VC

J. ,/.

.r. ,/.

s. ,i.

acrei

s. d.

years

s.

acres

S. iJ.

.^.

rtofi

i. </.

/. ,/.

^«/-!..

(i»//A

bulh.

bujh.

h„lh.

b«Jh.

J. ,/.

J. ,/.

J. d.

2 PELDON

- -

- -

i6 c

- -

lO 0

300

- -

'5 ° -..-

- -

- -

- -

~ -

_

- -

- -

30

6 0

16 0

24.
24.

: :

36

40
40

~

32
32

4 0

3 f'

~

3 °
2 3

3 LITTLE WIGBOROUGH

iO 0

Tl

4 GREAT WlGliOROUGH

5 YIRLEY

1 1 c
I 6 c

- ■

- -

u c

- -

8 6

100

- -

1 1 0

7%

- -

" ■

- -

- -

- -

- -

24

- -

30

32

3^
36

'

2S
28

4 °

4 °

■

I c
1 c

I 0

3 ^

,

6 SALCOTE

"

7 TOLESHUNT KNIGHTS

^

8 LAYER MARNEY ....

9 LAYER BRETON ....

i6 t

" "

1; 0 1

" "

"

'7

<)0 ~ -

~ -

-

- -

- -

26

- -

V-

40

-

- -

4 0

- -

2 C

4 ^^

I 0

10 LANGENHOE

" "

"

"

"

"

-

- -

3"

8 0

'i °

2b

C,2

40

- -

- .

, 6

- -

I c

4 c

"

- •

"

"

•

■

■

-

2S

- -

32

40

■ -

40

4 0

- -

I c

2 0

0 6

General Average ....
Open field, j)artially improved an

wallc land
Difference

GENERAL A^'ER AGE dcdi/ccd /rem tbefarcgoivg Table, Jlnwing the produce cf the arable, and difference of value between the ploughed, the woods, and the grajs land- i,
anniuil rent and valve of Juch of the latter as are improved, partially improved, or xvajie : together with foch material information (as it was poffiblc to obtain, and to kth
conviyed) tciicbwg the prefent and fnmer egricultural interefls of this diJlriB.

1; o

d -

■|2I 0

• 14 O

70

14 o| - - 10 6I1370

I.-7-

14 0

'....'

17 90

- -

"

- -

.'°.

7 0

15 6
7 °

2; 1

- -

32 1

38 3'- -

32

3 "

- -

1 4l

2 10

0 9

"

- . . .

- -

- •

60

- -

8 6

- -

- -

■ -

- -

' 4I

■ - 0 9

1 ■'"

( 5t )

2 IS. the pafture of the fecond quality 14s. coiifequently a
difference of 7s. per acre in favour of that which is properly
improved. That the old embanked mar flies are los. 6d.
per acre, and that 1370 acres of fait marfli might be ad-
vantageoufly embanked from the fea. That the average
rent of the highland grafs and arable, when let together and
without diftindlion of price, is 14s. per acre. That the
undergrowth in the woodlands, cut once in feventeen years,
fells at the ftub for 4I, los. per acre. That there are fixty
acres of common, which by inclofure, are capable of being
augmented in their annual value 8s. 6d. per acre. That the
compofition at prefent paid for the great and fmall tythes is
3s. I id. and that the fame has increafed is. 4|d. per acre
within twenty years; and finally, that the poor's rates
upon the prefent rack rents are 2s. lod. and that they have
increafed gd. in the pound within ten years.

The price of provifions, and the value of labour, in this
diftriifl, and in Merfea Ifland, are as follow : beef and mutton
4|d. per lb. — veal and frelh pork 5d. per lb. — pickled pork
7d. per lb. — butter lod. and cheefe 6d. per lb. — flour 2s.
per peck,- and potatoes is. 3d. per bufliel — Stated daily
labour winter and fummer is. 6d. per day. Threlhing wheat
2s. 6d. — barley is. 4d. — oats is.— peas 2s. 4d. and beans
IS. 2d. per quarter, befides allowing as much fmall beer as
the thrafher choofes to drink. — Head man's wages 81. with
board and lodging ; boy's wages, 45s. per annum, with the
fame; maid fervants 4I. with board, wafhing, and lodging;
-girl's 40s. per annum with the fame.

G 2 DISTRICT

C 52 )

DISTRICT THE SIXTH.

Temperate mixed foil upon a gravel, a fand, a browft
tender clay, and fame Jlrong clay, or tile earth.

J3EGINNING fouth, and proceeding wefterly of the
village of PEERING, where the land upon the fides of
the hills which hang towards the Blackwater river, confifts
chiefly of a light gravelly foil, abounding with fprings, and
ufually denominated hollow bottomed land, that frequently
fubjeds the wheat to the mildew, and to be root fallen.
The fpringy-" places have been much relieved by hollow
draining, as has alfo the wet heavy lands in the north
quarter towards Coggershall, Earls Colne, and Little Tey:
adjoining the village on the eaft, a light grrvelly foil; but
extending thence towards EAST THORP, and MES-
SING, a brown tender loam, of a good ftaple, interfperfed
with fome very fair turnip land.

On the fides of the hills through INWORTH, GREAT
and LITTLE BRAXTED, and abutting upon the mea-
dows which lie along the Blackwater river; the land is
chiefly of a loofe hollow nature, but in which are found veins
of flrong found land, upon a brown tender clay; thence
wefterly and binding upon Tiptree Heath, a tl-in dry foil
upon a harfh gravel. This general chara£ler prevails with-
out any material alteration through the parifhes of WICK-
HAM BISHOP, LANGFORD, and HEYERIDGE,
forming upon the higher parts of thecountry,very good turnip
land, upon the fides of the hills, a confiderable mixture ;

and

( . 53 )

and along the courfe of the Blackwater river, a beautiful mar-
gin of excellent meadow land.

From Heybridge to LITTLE TOTHAM, a deep rich
foil upon a fandy and a gravelly loam, through which are
interfperfed fome luxuriantly rich paflure, and fome tolerable
turnip land. The foil of GREAT TOTHAM confifts
of a deep hazel coloured earth upon a brown clay, and a
light gravelly foil upon a fand and gravel. The deep loamy
foil has been much improved by clean chalking, at the fok
lowing expence per acre :
Six waggon loads of chalk, ninety bufhels each,

at 1 2s. per load at the wharf - - 3 I2 o

Carriage, filling and fpreading ditto at 8s. per

load - -- - - - 280

^.600
Which drelTing is fuppofed to laft twenty years ; nor is it
allowed by the advocates for this pradlice, that with fair
farming the land can ever be fo completely impoverifJied
as it feemed to be before the chalk was applied. In many
parts of this neighbourhood a fecond chalking has been
tried, but with fo little efFe£f, as entirely to difcourage its
repetition.

The land in the pariflies of TOLESHUNT MAJOR
and GOLDHANGER, forms a deep rich mould upon a
gravel, in which are found fome fprings that occafion a
difficulty in getting the turnips from off the ground. The
marihes which were formerly under grafs, are now very
generally under the plough. Chalk has anfwered a very
valuable purpofe upon thofe lands, particularly when applied
in fufficient quantities (/. e. eight waggon loads per acre)
and left to melt and moulder upon the furface for three or
four years before it is ploughed in, it will then intermix and
incorporate very minutely with the foil, and is efteemed by

fat

( 54 )

far the befl: mode of firft bringing 'into a6lion, and after-
wards by good hufbandry, of preferving the enriching quali-
ties of thefe lands.

In the parifhes of TOLESHUNT DARCEY and
TOLESBURY, the foil confilts of a heavy compa6l earth
upon a (trong retentive tough clay, where little benefit has
as yet been derived from hollow draining; and a foil of a
more light and gentle nature, upon a loamy gravel, where
turnips are fometimes cultivated, but always prove very
detrimental to the fucceeding crop.

A confiderable improvement has been lately made in the
rough marfhes here, by removing the ants hills ; the operation
is performed by chopping round the hills with a heavy adze
or grubbing hoe, the cutting edge of which is circular, and
ten and a half inches wide ; the depth of the blade, including
its neck to the eye (or where the handle is faftened) is eight
and a half inches ; from half a dozen to half a fcore ftrokes
will belt the largeft hill, and loofen it from its feat, which
is always left lower than the adjoining furface of the marfh,
to receive and hold the rain water, by means of which, the
ants are more completely deftroyed. Boys follow the grubber,
and carry the ants hills into the rills, and low places in the
marfh, and thus a confiderable increafc of furface is obtain-
ed, that in the courfe of a year becomes profitable by getting
coated with grafs, and at an expence which feldom exceeds
15s. per acre.

Thexulture of coriander has been much attended to in this
neighbourhood, and is thus managed: old ley ground is
ploughed in the beginning of March, and after the furface
is completely pulverized, the feed is fown fourteen pounds
to the acre; thrice hoeing and fetting out the plants four
inches fquare, will coft one guinea per acre. Average pro-
duce locwt. per acre, I2s. per cwt. This is confidered to
be a very good preparation after once ploughing for wheat,

and

( 55 )

and as the land is generally ploughed in two-yard ridges, or
fketches of eight-furrows wide, a row of beans is generally
planted with the coriander on each fide of the open furrows
between the fketches, and are ufually harvefted at the fame
time.

When carraway is fown with the coriander, from the
care and attention neceffarily beftowed in diftinguifhing the
plants, the hoeing feldoms cofls lefs than one guinea and a
half per acre ; but the carraway is not regularly fet out for a
crop till after the coriander is harvefled, at which time a
very expenfive hoeing becomes indifpenfably necefTary.

Teazel is fomtimes cultivated in the fame field, the feed
being fown with the coriander and carraway ; but as neither
the carraway or teazel come completely and regularly the
fecond year, both crops are ufually allowed to ftand for the
third fummer: this isefteemcdgood management for old coarfe
pafture grounds, which, after three ploughings, is commonly
fown with wheat, and then clean chalked at the following
expence per acre : ,

Eight waggon loads of chalk, ninety bufhels each,
at IIS. 6d. per load at the wharf, or landing-
place - - - - - - 4120

Carriage and fpreading, three turns per day, at

7s. per load - — — t — ai6o

This expence occuring upon frefh lands, or where it has
not been chalked before, will, with good hufbandry, be quite
fufficient, . without any intermediate mending for twenty
years.

The land belonging to the BOROUGH of MALDEN,
varies from a flrong well ftapkd earth upon a brown tender
clay, to a light gentle foil upon a gravel j upon the former
a great deal of colefeed is fown for foil ; mown and carried

off

( 56 )

off" to the cattle by the end of February, and fucceeded with
oats or barley. Upon the lighter land the culture of tares,
turnips, and other green crops is very generally attended to.
From Maiden wefterly towards WOODHAiM WALTER,
a thin ftapled light foil upon a gravel, under which a variety
of ftrata of red and white fand, gravel and brick earth ;
this land is particularly fubjcil to burn in fummer, and from
its great drynefs, the culture of turnips is rendered extremely
uncertain. The colefeed in this neighbourhood is generally
fed off", not growing fufhciently high to admit of mowing,
as at Maiden.

At WOODHAM MORTIMER the foil confrfts of a
ftrong heavy clay upon a tile earth, a brown loam of a good
ftaple upon a tender clay, and a light hollow foil abounding
with fprings upon a gravel, and which are generally drawn
off" by hollow drains, at an expence of about 3I. per acre.
Of this improvement, a gentleman in that neighbourhood
has done fome hundreds of acres, and very juflly conceives
it to be the firff, and moft eflcntial point in the improve-
ment of this kind of land. Chalking the wet heavy lands at an
expence of 5I. per acre, is very general, and found to anfwer
fo well, that with fair cropping, the land will require little
or no dung, or other manure, for a period of twenty years.

At HASELEY the foil is formed of a deep hazel coloured
loam upon a bfown clay, and a more open and tender foil,
upon a loamy gravel. Thence wefterly, and afcending the
country towards DAN BURY and LITTLE BADDOW,
a thin dry foil upon a gravel, affording little means of im-
provement from natural manure ; unlefs the veins of white
pipey clay which are found interfperfed through thefe
parifhes, fliould on trial be found to anfwer.

The woodlands in the higher parts of this country are
found very much to favour the growth of an inferior dwarf

oak

( 57 )

oak, and hornbeam, though in Danbury Park, which hangs
to the fouth, and is fituate about midway of the hill, by
far the largefl: and beft growth of fweet chefnuts are to be
feen of any in the county.

Defcending towards SANDON, a blue and white fub-
foil appears to unite with, and continue through tender well
ftapled corn lands, that are bounded by the meadows which
lie along the River Chelmer. Southerly from the church of
Sandon, and abutting upon South Hanningfield, a ftrong
heavy loam upon a brick and a tile earth ; but weft, and
adjoining Great Baddow, a more free and gentle foil, chiefly
upon a gravel. The blue and white clay in the parifh of
Sandon, has been applied with the moft fenfible effedl upon
thofe lands which have a brown tender bottom, rather than
fuch as are gravelly, or pofTefs a tough tile earth ; the propor- *
tions and expence per acre, are as follows :

Stubbing, filling, and fpreading forty loads of forty
bufhels each, at 7s. per fcore, including an
allowance for beer — — — — o 14 o

Three days for a team of four horfes and a driver,
including the wear and tear of two tumbrells,
and allowance of beer to the driver, the whole
at 15s. per day. - - - - 250

Where no clay is to be had (which through this neighbour-
hood is extremely fcarce) lime is mixed with earth and dung,
and applied at an expence of 5I. per acre. The clay how-
ever is elleemed by far the moft preferable, being thought
equal in its operation, and far more durable; not only in-
creafing the quantity, but greatly improving the quality of
the wheat, and other grain with which the land may be

afterwards cultivated.

H By

( 58 )

By the moft fkllful and induftrious farmers, hollow drain-
ing is very generally attended to upon the heavy lands, and
at an expence of from three pounds to three guineas per acre.

The bufinefs of butter-making has been in a great meafure
relinquiflied in this parifli, from the want of good fpring
water, and a fmoaky tafle, which is communicated to the
butter, when the cows feed upon fome particular paftures,
or when foddered with the hay which is mown from them.
This has hitlierto baffled every means of cure or prevention.
When the cows are fed upon tares, other grafs, or hay, very
good butter is readily obtained ; and even when fed upon
turnips, cabbages, or that they gather up the fallen leaf;
by proper care and attention, the difagreeable flavour in the
butter is prevented.

Thefe obftacles to the making of good butter have led to

the more general pra6licc of fuckling, which bufinefs feems

to be very well underftood in this parifh. For this purpofe

the breed of cows from South Wales are moft generally

preferred; though the calves which they produce are often

found weak and unhealthy, and feldom fat fo kindly, or

pay fo well, as thofe bought in from dairies. To promote

the torpor, and quick-feeding of the calf, a ball weighing

about two ounces, compofed of the powder of fennugreek,

wheat-meal, and a fmall quantity of powdered chalk, blended

together with mild ale, is given morning and evening juft

before fucking ; this lulls and difpofes the calves to fleep,

thereby advancing their fattening, which is generally accom-

plifhsd in about twelve weeks, paying 4s. 6d. per calf per

week, during the whole time : This nutriti\e opiate is alfo

fuppofed to have a very good effect in whitening the veal.

A crofs produced from the South down ram, upon the
Welch ewe, is held in high eftimation. The grazing, of a

fheep

( 59 )

fhcep is generally allowed to the men fervants in lieu of
wafhing : This is found to anfvrer a good purpofe in
calling their attention more frequently to the flock, by which
means many of the accidents to which that animal is liable,
are often obferved in time to remedy, or entirely to prevent.

Afccnding by the courfe of the river Chelmer to GREAT
BADDOW, the fame charafter of foil is found as was de-
fcribed in the north quarter of Sandon. South, and extend-
ing towards eaft and wefl: Hanningfield, a deep loamy foil,
which to the weft ward, and abutting upon WIDFORD,
and a part of Chelmsford, becomes of a moift and heavier
nature, and refts upon a marly, or rather upon a chalky clay.
North, and binding upon the meadows which lie along the
Chelmer, the fame tender well ftapled foil defcribed on the
eaft, and in the fame diredlion through Sandon.

The chalky clay has been applied very fuccefsfully
upon the gravelly foils in this parifh, thirty loads of forty
bufhels each to the acre.
Stubbing, filling, and fpreading the fame, at 6s.

per fcore — — ________ 090

Four horfes, two tumbrells, and a driver, five days,

at 15s. per day - -- - __2i5 0
Allowance for beer upon flubbing, filling and

fpreading - __ _ _ __oi6

Ditto for the driver - — - __oi3

^ £-^ 6 9

The land in general adjoining the tow-n of CHELMS-
FORD, is found to confift of a deep rich tender loam, in-
termixed with fome veins of gravel. The fandy loam ex-
tends eafterly to Springfield and Boreham ; the gravelly,
foutherly to Great Baddow; thence wefterly, an heavier
foil upon a chalky clay : Towards Writtle the light gravelly
foil again appears, which at Broomfield is again loft in a

H 2 deep

( 6o )

deep, rich, grey loam, upon a tender brown, and a white
chalky clay.

The average annual produce, and value per acre for the
laft feven years of the hop cultlire in this neighbourhood
(lands thus :
6 cwt. 2q. 1 8 lb. per acre, at fix guineas per cwt.

or I3id. per ib. equals - — ----40190
Refufe poles 300 at 7s. per hundred _ _ _ i i o
Old bines - -- - ___--- 050

42 5 o
Average annual expence per acre, every poflible

ciiarge included — _______ 29 58

Total net profits per acre for feven years £-i'2. 19 4

The face of the country through WEST, EAST, and

SOUTH HANNINGFIELD, is very much broken into

hills, and confequently compofed of all that variety of foil

fo generally prevalent in fuch afpedls. From South Han-

ningfield to RUNWELL and DOWNHAM, the land is-

equally broken, and to the varieties of foil obfervable

through the Hanningfields, is to be added a larger portion of

loofe hollow bottomed ground, which by a due attention to

hollow draining, and the application of clay, may be very

highly improved. This general character continues wefterly,

and forms the foil of the land lying eaft of the church, in the

parifti of STOCK. Thence foutherly, and abutting upon

Burfted. and Mountneyfing, a ftrong foil upon a brown

clay, under which, in feveral places, are found veins of a

perfedlly pure blue, and a yellow woodland clay. The fame

foil and fubftrata continues wefterly through BUTTSBURY,

MOUNTNEYSING, and INGATESTONE ; but thence

northerly, and binding upon MARGRETTING, the

country gets more hilly, the foil in general more varied, and

of a heavier nature.

The

( ^I )

The foil of GREAT and LITTLE BURSTEAD (io-
cluding the hamlet of BILLERICKY) confifts of a deep
rich loam upon a gravelly loam, and a brick earth, a thin
heavy foil upon a tough red clay, and a deep friable mould
upon a gravel.

Li this neighbourhood the cows are particularly liable to
flip calf, which is generally afcribed to an infe£\ious effluvia
proceeding from the firft falfe birth, the ill effe£ts of which is
fuppofed to be in a great meafurc prevented from fpreading,
by immediately burying the abortion, burning ftraw diredlly
over the place, and fmearing the hind parts of the cow with
tar; but above all, keeping her feparate, and as far apart
as poffible from the other cows, ought never to be negle6led ;
various reafons are alligned as the caufe of this accident,
but none that appear conclufive, or fatisfadlorily explained.

The courfe of huflaandry practiced upon the lighteft lands
in this diftridl, is to fallow and prepare for turnips, fucceeded
by oats or barley, with rye grafs half a bufliel, and trefoil
ID lbs. or one half peck to the acre ; this lies one and fome-
times two years, and is then fown broadcaft upon the flag,
■with white peas, from fourteen to lixteen pecks to the acre.
The pea etches are well cleaned, dunged, and fown with
wheat upon once ploughing, ten pecks to the acre: part of
the wheat etches are fown with rye for fpring food, and then
prepared again in courfe for turnips.

Upon the heavier land, fallow occafionally for turnips, or
for colefeed for fpring food; but mofl: generally for oats or
barley, with which fow clover from 141b. to 16 lb. to the
acre; part of which is dunged when young, and followed
with wheat the enfuing autumn upon the clover ley. The
etches of that wheat, which was fown upon the undunged
clover land, are dunged in the courfe of the winter, and
fown with beans, two furrows upon a yard-wide ridge ;

Thefc-

( 62 )

Thefe are kept well hoed through the fummer, and agam
fown with wheat upon once ploughing. Where the land is
in high condition, a crop of oats will fometimes be taken,
but the more general pradice is to fow a few tares for fpring^
food, and then make a thorough fummer fallow for fpring
corn.

From this management, and the aid of fuch foreign
manure as can be conveniently obtained, this difl:ri6l averages
according to the index table,

23 bufhels 2 pecks of Wheat per acre

34 ditto 3 ditto of Barley

35 ditto 2 ditto of Oats
20 ditto of Peas
23 ditto 2 ditto of Beans

The faid table alfo further fliews that the average rent of
the arable land is 14s. 6d. per acre. That the paflures of
the firfl: quality equal 26s. ']d. thofe of the fecond quality
14s. 7d. a confequent difference of I2s. per acre, between
thofe which are partially, and thofe which are perfedly im-
proved. That the average of the meadow land is 30s. 3d.
per acre, and that where the arable and paflure are run
together, and let without diftindion of price, thofe lands
average 14s. 7d, per acre. That the hop land is 30s. per
acre. That the under woods are cut down at eleven years
growth, and that they fell at the flub for 3I. los. per acre.
That there are 3770 acres of wafte commons (including Tip-
trpe Heath) which by inclofure, are capable of being improved
IDS. 4d. per acre. That the compofition at prefent paid
for the great and fmall (ythes is 3s. 55d. and that the fame
has rifen, within twenty years is. 2|d. per acre; and laftly,
that the poor's rates upon the prefent rack rents are 3s. 7|d.
and that the fame have rifen io|d. in the pound, within

ten years.

Upon

01

JJl STRICT THE S I XtH— ^^"^/^'^''^''^ mixed soil.

Prefent Rent

and Va

tic ; with probable increafe thereon.

'

Annual Produce

Tythes
great &rinall

Poor's
Rates.

1

per acre

C

KiMES
TAR I SUES.

Ar.ible
p;r acre

Paliiue
per acre.

Mai-flies
pel' acie.

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.&Grals „

taken ""P
together. ^^"'^•

Woods.

Forefts.

Commons.

in bufiiels of

US

0

c
0

0

■-

n

>.

0
t\

C

a:

2

0

.5
0

-3

"rt

"r;

"r;

>
c

>
p

a.

0

ortion
plough.

acres.

0

i 1'

c

^

^

Ji

J

re

>

-3

> Ji

p _=

c

^

S

c
re

S. (

a

0

s. (i

CT

ca

!. ,/

1
1. J.

a,

c

•^1 :2

i. d.

3 tr

-■5

->

0
d
2

Sh
t. li

S ll

0
d

a. 5

bulb.

bulb.

bujh

0

bulk

0^

bulb

buJh.

S
0

u

E

0

J. «<

c
I. H.

B

S.J.

0

J. ,/.

'. s77i

. ;. </

I. ,1

's. J

ncrci

acres

I FEERIVG

14 t

_

'coc

-

1 . .

, .

-

.

12

75

•_

, .

22

. .

32

28

. .

^4

3 "1

- .

1 0

4 0

0 6

= KAST THORPE

3 MESSING

1 ? <:

13 c

n 0

fi

,,

'4

2 6

0 C

4 '-

I c

4 IMVORTH

5 GREAT BROXTED . . .

,

^4

12

9fi

1

_

4 '■

_

4 6

6 LITTLE URO.XTtD . . .

7 WICKHAM BISHOP . ..

'5 >■

- -

- -

- •

20 0

_

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

■ -

- ■

jODo

.6

10 0

- - 32

3-

- -

• -

3 <^

4 6

I 0

riie -^ooo ntres nf cim'rion Is fippoW
cover the whole of T:ji;rw I-u-uih

« LA \(; FORD

<j HEYBRIDGE

lo I.TTTLE TOT HAM . . .

II GREAT TOTHAM . . .

1 ? f.

20 0

D

24

ifi

^ .

4 0
4 0
4 0

'* c

4 &
4 C'

I 0

12 TOLESHUNT MAJOR. .

12 0

12 0

_

- 12 0

13 GOLDHAVGER

14 TOLESHUNT U.-\RCEV .

18 0

- -

- ■

18 0

.

- -

'

- -

- - 18 0

1#

- -

'

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

^b

- -' 4<"

45

- -

-4

- -

1 c

4 6
4 0

4 0

5 6
4 6

1 5 TOLESRURY

16 MALDEN

,7 WOODHAM WALTER .

16 c
1,- c

- -

20 0

■ (^ r,

"

1 1 c

- -

] I

*_

16 0

_

X

a

- -

- -

- -

; ;

_

: :

_ _

z 6

- -

24
28

- -' 4;

- - 3"

40

}\

3 6

3 6
3 6

- -

- ■

0 9

18 \VOODH.\M MORTliMER

1." Z

"

'

-

-

- -

- -

- -

22

35

"

-

•

" "

ig HASELEY

.5 ^

i^ 0

100

3 '-^

15 0

-M-

- -, 3^

40

:o DAN'BL'RY

21 LITTLE BADDOW . . .

14 0
14 0
16 c

1

.. SAN'nON

33 GREAT BADDOW . . .

z± WiDI-ORU

2; CHELMSFORD

- -

50 0
40 0

[ \

- .

- -

- -

j6 0

- -

- -

to

7

- ■

J

- -

- -

- -

170
300

S "
's6

14 0
16 0

24
24

- -1 40

- -! 40

46'
48

- •

24

3 b

3 ('

I c

3 "

1 0

2 9

0 6

Tythes 65. per acre on all tlic crops of com

7 c

increaled is. withrn 20 years.

j6 WEST HANNIKGFIELD

" "

' '

- -

-

i

- •

30 0

- -

-

• -

- -

- -

SO

5 b

16 0

24

- -

y-

32

20

20

! ■=

- -

2 6

4 0

0 9

;; EAST HANNINGHELD.

i8 SOITTH HANNINGFIELD

=9 RUNWELL

30 DOWNHAM

31 STOCK.

4 f^

- -

.46

- -

- -

- -

- -

,46

11

- -

- -

10

6s

_

"

, .

. .

. _

.

22

32

.

2 0

. .

. .

.3 0

32 BUTTSBURY

2 0

"

"

"

~

"

T

- •

-

- -

- -

- -

■

- -

100

2 6

10 0

24

- -

/!4

34

- -

3 6

- -

0 6

2 b

33 MOUNTNEYSING . . .

S •:

1

"

" "

' "

■

-

-

■ "

- -

- -

- -

- -

24

- -

34

34

- -

- -

,3 0

- -

I 0

S 0

34 INGATESTONE ....

-i "

~

■

"

■

"

-

- -

- -

- -

-

- -

- -

26

. -

28

36

- -

20

3 "

- -

1 0

I 8

35 MARGRETTING . . .

<!6 GREAT BURSTEAD . 1

6 c

fi r

16 0
,1^ ^

37 LITTLE BURSTEAD . . i

6c..!

6 0

1' 1

"

?

"

-

'1 '

• -

50

2 6

12 0

20

- -

36

36

- -

24

.3 c

- -

-

3 6

i

■ "'" "

*i "

*

- .1 . -1 . .

20

- -

3-^

3"

• -

24

4 '

- -

I 6

3 0

GENERAL^ AVERAGE deduced from the foregoing Table, Jhewing the produce of the arable, and difference of value between the ploughed, the woods, and the grafs land ; ad

ioumo^ nm ana value ofjucb oj the latter as arc improved, partially improved, or wafle : together with fuch material information (as it was pojiblc to obtain, and to be tbu,
conveyed) touching the prefent and former agricultural intercfls of this dijlridi.

neiieial Average ........ i

4 6 - .t

6 -

.

Open field, partially improved and
wafte land

- -

4 7

4 'i

- -

- -

jU 3

- -

+ 7| ' ■

- -

- -3

0 0

II

70

- -

. .

!77o

3 0

'3 4

3 0

10 4

'3 2

. .1

34 3

3S 2

20

23 2

3 5^

- -

. 2|

3 71

oio|

Piffcrence ,

- -

"

- -

- -

- -

• -

- .

. .

. .

3770

.

^

- -

iTi

OIOj

- y -1

__

( 63 )

Upon fumming up'the feveral ftatements of the value of
labour, and price of provifions through this diftri(fl, they
ftand on an average thus : beef 4|d. per lb. — mutton 5d.
per lb. — veal 5|d. per lb. — frelh pork 6d. per lb — pickled
pork 8|d. per lb.— butter io|d. per lb. and checfe 6d. per lb,
— houlhold flour 2s. per peck, and potatoes igd. per bufliel.
Stated day-labour in the fummer 9s. 6d. in winter 9s. per
week. Threfhing wheat 2s. 6d. — barley is. 8d. — oats is.
3d. — peas 2s. 4d. and beans is, 2|d. per quarter. Head
man's wages, board and lodging included, lol. 13s. boys
3I. per ann. with the fame; womens wages 4I. 13s. board,
wafhing, and lodging included; girls 2I. per ann. with the
fame.

DISTRICT

( 64. )

DISTRICT THE SEVENTH.

Temperate and heavy mixed foil, upon a brown tender
clay, a gravelly loam, a brick and a tile earth,

JBeGINNING at PURLEY, where the foil in general
confifts of a ftrong deep loam upon a brick earth ; and where
hollow draining has been done at fix and eight yards apart,
but with fo fmall an effedl, as in a great meafure to difcourage
that important pradice. From Purlcy to MUNDEN, a
level country, with a deep rich loam upon a brick earth ;
this continues foutherly towards LATCHINGTON, where
the land lies well for draining, and forms an excellent
wheat foil upon a brown tender clay. Proceeding eafl to-
wards MAYLAND andSTEPLE, the foil admits of little
variation, forming on the higher parts of the country, a flrong
heavy clay; which northerly, and inclining to the embank-
ed marflies that border upon the Blackwater, is loft in a foil
of a more free and tradable nature upon a deep gravelly
loam. Thence north-eaftcrly through St. LAWRENCE,
extending to, and through BRAD WELL, a deep hazel
coloured loam upon a brown tender clay, and a rich friable
mould upon a gravel. Returning thence fouth, through
TILLINGHAM, the fame rich friable mould prevails,
forming at ASHELDON, a lighter mixture upon a gravel,
which at DENGY is agreeably varied with feveral fpots of
very good turnip land.

At SOUTHMINSTER the land eaft of the village,
and abutting upon the embanked marfhes, confifts of a light
hollow gravelly foil, abounding with fprings that are conveyed

from

C 65 )

from off the land at a confiderable expence through hollow
drains.

Thefe drains are made three feet deep, and two indies'"
wide at the bottom, filled two feet deep with (hingle
brought from the fea fhore, or fifted gravel — taking labour,
and materials, equally into the account, they will cod: two-
fhillings and fix-pence per r(jd, and is an expence very gene-
rally incurred upon thefe kind of lands.

Upon land where the fides of the hollow drains are not
liable to crumble or fall in, the drains are made in the
ufual manner, filling them with wood andftraw; and at
an expence for labour only of 3s. 6d. per fcore rods. Weft-
ward from the village is a deep white fandy clay; thence
northerly, a ftifF heavy tough clay, upon a tile earth.

The embanked marfhes, which are here very produflive
and extenfive, confifl chiefly of a deep hazel-coloured loam,
upon a very fine fea faad or filt. This property is extremely
valuable; and would be much more fo were it poifible to
command a fupply of water during the dry feafon : fo long
as the fprings are flufh upon the higher country, the water
continues tolerably abundant and wholefome; and is diffufed
through the different levels with great equality, judgment
and oeconomy : but when thofe refources fail, which unfor-
tunately is too often the cafe in the fummer feafon, the
diftreffes in thefe marfiies for drinking-water, and for
fencing, are very great indeed.

A confiderable expence is annually incurred through this
neighbourhood in chalking the ftifF heavy lands, and of

I which

( 66 )

which the following account may be taken as the average
per ann.

Eight waggons of 90 bufhels each, cofting at the

wharf, or landing place, lis. per load - - 4 8 o

Carting, filling, and fpreading the fame at los. 6d.

per load ___».--.-.-.__ 440

/.8 12"^

Which drefllng is fuppofed to z6t with an almoft unabating
force for the firft twenty years, following a lapfe of three-
years (which time is allowed for the chalk to melt down and
incorporate with the foilj from the time that it was firft
applied or fpread upon the ground. The fame expencc
frequently occurs in chalking the marfhes; but its effeds
there, are neither fo obfervable, or fo permanent, as upon
the ftronger higher lands.

The culture of carraway, coriander, teazel, white muf-
tard and colefeed, is occafionally attended to and anfwer
very well upon fre{h land, where the depredations of the
Aug, and the wire tvorm, are the almoft certain deftrudlion
of the firft crops of grain.

The foil and other circumftances of BURNHAM arc
very fimilar to the above, faving that at Burnham, there is
a greater convenience of water carriage to procure foreign
manure, or to fhip the produce of the farm at a lefs expence
for market.

A thin gravelly foil prevails on the eaft fide of CRICK-
SEA church. Thence foutherly, the foil varies from a
ftifF clay upon the hills, to one of a more gentle nature,
abutting upon the marfhes; wefterley towards Althorne, a

ftrong

( 67 }

ftrong heavy clay upon a tile earth ; but thence nortli, and
binding upon Southminfler, a more temperate and tradtabie
foil upon a fandy loam. At ALTHORNE, the foil in
general is formed of a ftrong heavy compadl clay, thinly
ftapled upon a tough retentive tile earth. Hollow draining
has been lately introduced, and is now practiced with very
good efFeS, upon the wet heavy lands in this parifli ; the
drains are from eight to twelve feet apart, and coft (labour
and materials included) from 3I. to 3I. 12s. per acre. The
foil of NORTH FAMBBRIDGE is a deep tender loam,
upon a. brown clay ; which, with a confiderable part of the
embanked marfhes that are under the plough, has been much
improved by the application of from feven to eight waggon
loads of chalk per acre; this is obtained with great con-
veniency by means of the river Crouch, which affords an
opportunity of its being landed (together with any other
foreign manure) upon all the different farms through the
parifh.

Whilfl the marfhes remain in pafture, their herbage is
very indifferent, and incapable of fattening a beaft of more
than twenty-four fcore ; and even not that, in a dry fum-
mer. Small WeKh runts, and Norfolk ewes, are the fiock
ufually grazed; but the latter muft be kept upon the clovers
during the early part of the fummer, or the lambs will not
thrive. The Southdown breed are now trying upon the
marlhes, but as the experiment is quite new, no report can
be made thereon.

As the country rifes northerly towards COLD NORTON,
STOW MARYS, and WOODHAM FERRERS, it
breaks into hills, which are covered with a wet heavy foil,
upon a brick and a tile earth. South from Woodham Fer-
rers and towards Hockley, the foil becomes of a more gentle

I 2 nature,

( 68 )

nature, affording a fmall portion of turnip land, lying upon
a gravel. Towards RETTENDEN the foil alfo varies;
but through the higher parts of that parifh, a clofe wet
heavy foil prevails, upon a tile earth : here a confiderable
inconvenience is often experienced through the want of
water, there being no other dependance than pits, which
are generally dried up in fummer, and only two fprings (and
they not conftant) fit for domeflic ufe in the whole parifh.

The accident of flipping calf, which through this neigh-
bourhood was very prevalent fome years ago, is now thought
to be very much checked by the pradlice of bleeding the
cows when they are about one-third of their time gone
with calf.

An evident want of cottages through this diftridl occafions
that fcarcity of hands which encourages a fpirit of difobe-
dience as well among the natives as among thofe trampers,
upon whom the labour of the county in a great meafure
depends ; even thofe who have the care of the teams, feem
totally diverted of that pride, (in feeing their horfes look
well) which fo flrongly charadlerizes the fame defcription
of fervants in moft other places. The mafter's eye, late
and early, and his conftant attendance in the ftable, becomes
as indifpenfible as in any other department of his bufinefs.
Thus adding to his other toils and anxieties, a duty, which
in moft places of the kingdom, the farmer's life is ufually
exempt from.

The hufbandry of the more temperate foils in this diftrift,
is to fallow and manure for turnips, or colefeed, the latter
in general fed off, though it fometimes is allowed to ftand
for a crop. The turnip, or colefeed land, is fown with oats
or barley ; together with fixteen pounds of red clover to the

acre.

( 69 )

Rcre. The clover ley fown with wheat eleven pecks to the
acre. The wheat ftubbles dunged, and drilled with beans,
two rows upon a four-furrow ridge ; kept well hoed, and
fucceeded with wheat, which is fometimes followed by oats,
though more generally fown with tares, fed off in the
fpring, and then thorough fallowed again for fpring corn.

Upon the heavier land firfl: fallow for oats, with which
fow clover dunged when young, and the ley fown with,
wheat. The ftubbles of which are thorough fallowed,
dunged, and fown with beans, which are kept well hoed,
and again fucceeded with wheat. The wheat ftubbles arc
fown with oats ; and then fallowed again in courfe for oat§
or beans. This pradicc, aided by the foreign manure an-
nually expended in the diftridl, produces according the pre-
fixed table

24 buftiels I peck of Wheat

35 buftiels 2 pecks of Barley

41 buftiels of Oats

24 buftiels of Peas

24 buftiels of Beans per aCrc.

Which table alfo further ftiews, that the average rent of
the arable land is 14s. id. per acre ; that the prime pafturc
is 20s. the partially improved 13s. Qd. confequently a diiFe-
rence in favour of the more perfedlly improved paftures of
6s. 3d. per acre. That the inclofed marfties average 14s.
per acre. That where the highland grafs and arable are let
together, their average annual rent equals 13s. lod. per acre.
That there are 450 acres of wafte land, which by inclofure
may be improved above its prefent annual value lis. 4d.
per acre. That the compofition at prefent paid for the
great and fmall tythes is 3s. 3|d. and that the fame has

increafed

( 70 )

increafed within twenty years is. 3d. per acre. That the
poor's rates upon the prefent rack rents are 2s. iid. and
that they have increafed within ten years is. |d. in the
pound.

The value of labour, fervants wages, and price of pro-
vifions, may be referred to the preceding diftriil.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE SEVBlSiTK— Temperate and heavy mixed soil.

NJMES

of
PARISHES.

H
:6

18
»9

I'URLEY

MUNDEN

LATCHINGDON . . .

MAYLAND

STEPLE

ST. LAURENCE ....

BRADVVELL

TiLLINGHAM

ASHELHAM

DENGY

SOU! HMINSTER . . . .

EURNHAM

CRICK.SEA

ALTHORNE

NORTH FAMBRIDGE .
COLD NORTON . . . .
STOW MARY'b ....
WOODHAM FERRERS
KETTENDEN

Prefent Rent, and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Arable
per acre.

W

General Average

Open field, partially improved and

wade land
Diffsience

14 6
4 o

13 o

15 o

5

14 o

5
12

13 6

14 o

Pad lire
per aero.

J. d.
18 o

s. t>.

14 6
'S "

'3 °

'3 9

12 o

3 6

i. d.

Mardies
per acre.

i. ,/.

5 c

5 <:

15 <:

15 <=

14 c

15 '

Meadows
per acre.

■H I

J. d.

Ar.&Grafv

taken
tooether.

P _H

14 o

15 o

,3 C

Hop
Land.

s. d.

Woods.

years

Forefls.

p ^

J. ,/.

acres
60

Coiiimons.

40
35°

6 o iq o

7 6
7 6

20 o
20 o

Annual Produce

per acre

in budiels of

Tythes I Poor's
great &fmall Rates.

20
26
26

24

24
24 -

-5ft//;.

i«//A
24

36

32

32
46

44

i„/h.

bujh.

24
26

24

n

24

3 0

3 9

5 o

2 6

3 3
3 o
3 °

O

s. d.

4 3

4 o

S?

M

4

3 °
3 6

I 2' 2 o
203

I 6

1 1

I S

6

2 6

2 6
2 o
I 9

i. //.

0 6

Tythes of the marfties viiider a modus of 5s.
per huudi'ed acres.

3606
3 o| I 6|

GENERAL AVERAGE dcdtiad /ran the foregoing Tabic, Jhe'joing the produce of the arable, and difference of value between the ploughed, ibewoods, and the grafs land ; and
annual rent and value of fuch of the latter as are improved, partially improvid, or xvafle : together ivitb fiich material information (as it was poffibk to obtain, and to be thus
conveyed) touching the prefent and former agricultural intercfls of this diJlriSl.

14 1 - -20 o

- -r -'3 9

3 9

4 o

-1310

- 450

45'

7 o

■ 8 4
7 0

24 '

- -

35 2

4'

24

24

3 3l

- -

I 3

..4

- -

- -

- -

- ■

- -

- -

- -

' 3

' I

C 71 )

DISTRICT THE EIGHTH.

Temperate mixed Joil, upon a gravelly loam, a graveh

and a brick earth.

Beginning at WICKFORD, whence eafterly to
RAWRETH, the foil is of a mild and tradable nature,
well ftapled and lying upon a brown tender clay ; continuing
the fame courfe through HOCKLEY, the foil and fubftrata
are very fimilar ; but thence to SOUTH FAMBRIDGE,
a ftrong and heavier foil, upon a brick earth, through which
are found fome fmall veins of gravel. Eaft of Fambridge
church, and binding upon Canuden, the fame charadler of
foil prevails, the gravelly veins affording winter fprings ;
which too frequently fail, or intircly vanifli, in the dry fea-
fon. South, and binding upon Afheldon, the foil is of a
tender nature, upon a gravelly loam. Part of the embanked
marflies (which are here of confiderable extent) are under
the plough, and are ufually chalked with thirty-five Grave-
fend cart loads, of thirty bufhels each, per acre : delivered
at the wharf or landing place at 3s. 7d. per load 655
This will make about twenty-fix tumbrel 1 loads of
forty bufhels each ; the carting of which upon
the marfhes, including the driver, equals about
6d. per load - — _ __ _ oit6

Filling, fpreading, and allowance of beer upon
the fame, at 2d. per load - - _ 044

£'1 z z

The land fhould be well cleaned before the chalk is applied,
and which, at all events, fhould be laid upon the ley or

grafs

( 72 )

grafs ground for a few years, in preference to that which
is ploughed or broken.

The greater part of the parifh of ASHELDON confifts
of a ftrong heavy wet foil, upon a tough clay or tile earth,
and a foil of a more tradable nature, upon a gravelly loam.
In aeither of thcfe are there any living fprings, fo that
water through the greater part of the year is brought from
Rochford, four miles, for domeftic ufe ; and as the ponds
that are formed for fupplying the cattle are often dried up
in the fummer feafon, inconveniences and expcnces are con-
tinually accruing that are almofl inconceivable.

Afcending foutherly towards RALEIGH, the foil is
formed of a deep tender loam, upon a brick earth, which
has derived very confiderable advantages from hollow drain-
ing ; but as the country is a good deal broken, it is ftill
found neceflary to grip, or water furrow, at about two poles
diftant, upon the fides of the hills, to break the fall of the
furface water, which otherwife would grind and wear the
land into gullies, by wafhing the loofer foil into the lower
grounds.

Defcending eafl from Raleigh towards HAWKESWELL,
a deep mellow loam, upon a tender clay, under which, in
many places, at the depth of about two feet, are found
veins of red and yellow fand. In this diredlion were ob-
ferved fome excellent turnips. The deep free foil continues
to ROCHFORD, where it forms a rich friable mould,
upon a fandy loam^ and gravel abounding with fprings,
that are not only confiant, but furnifli an ample fupply of
wholefome water to the adjoining neighbourhood, in the
dryeft feafons. Colefeed is frequently fown and fed ofFgreen
with hogs, and then left to Hand for a crop, which is faid
to anfwer extremely well.

From

( 73 }

From Rochfovu, a ftrong rich country to LITTLE
STAMBRIDGE, which continues to the rife of the hill at
CANUDON, here the foil gets fomewhat lighter, but
defcending towards PAKELSHAM, a deep rich hazel
coloured loam, extending to, and is bounded bv the em-
banked marflies

In this neighbourhood, a great deal of colefeed is fown
for Iheep food, or mown and carried to the fattening cattle,
to which it is given in the yard, or in the ftalls, mixed
with hay. The dung produced in this way, is efteemed
particularly ftrong and good.

From Pakeiniain to GREAT STAMBRIDGE the land
is of a deep free and tradlable nature, upon a brick earth,
in which there are found fome veins of gravel, that continue
without any material variation through Rochford to EAST-
WOOD : returning thence eallerly, through SUTTON
and SHOPLAND, a rich deep foil prevails, upon a brown
tender clay. Thence through BARLING, LITTLE
and GREAT VVAKERING, NORTH and SOUTH
SHOEBURY, the foil is fimilar to the laft defcribed,
faving that along fhore, to the eaftward of the Nefs Point,
and extending towards Southend, a light gravelly foil
prevails, upon which turnips are cultivated to great advan-
tage. Thence to SOUTH CHURCH and PRITTLE-
WELL, the fame charader of foil, which to the north-
ward of Southend, and in the more interior parts of thofe
parifhes, is loft in a deep rich mellow earth, upon a
gravelly loam and brick earth.

Wefterly from LEE, and continuing the ridge along fhore
towards South Bemfleet, a gravelly foil prevails, fimilar to
that at Southend. Thence northerly, through HADLEY,
towards Weftwood, a dry foil upon a gravel, and one more
wet and heavy upon a gravelly loam : this mixture continues

K to

( 74 ) ■

to South Bemfket and Thunderfley, where the country
being much broken into hills, affords a great variety of foil,
the general charadler of which, is that of wet heavy land.

The courfe of hufbandry upon the lighter lands in this

diftrid, is to dung and prepare for fowing turnips by Old

Midfumnier, or for colefeed fomewhat earlier j this latter

is fed with hogs, and then left to Hand for a crop; mown

and carried to the cattle, or fed off with Ihcep; in either of

the latter cafes, the colefeed land is fown with oats or

barley, together with fixteen pounds of red clover, or twelve

pounds of trefoil and one bufliel of rye grafs to the acre.

The turnip land is fown with fpring corn and grafs feeds in

like manner. When the colefeed is left to fland for a crop,

it is ufually fucceeded with white peas, winter or funimer

tares for a crop; the etches of which, are well cleaned and

fown with wheat the fame feafon, as are the clean clover

leys. Where clovex and ray grafs are fown, the land

generally lies two years under grafs, and is then fown broad-

cafl upon the flag, with white or grey peas. The pea

etches are fown with wheat, the ftubbles of which are

dunged, and winter fallowed for oats or barley, and then

lie over in courfe for turnips or colefeed; this latter pradice

forms a double routine or ferics of crops, which require

eight years. To render the whole more completelyjdiftindl

and intelligible, it is Hated thus :

. \Jl Series zd Series ^d Series

I Turnips or i Colefeed or i Tares or Peas for a crop

0. Oats or Barley 2 Crop ditto i Oats or Barley

3 Clover 3 Peas or Tares 3 Clover and ray Grafs

4 Wheat 4 Wheat 4 Ditto

5 Peas

6 Wheat

7 Barley or Oats

8 Turnips or Colefeed

( 75 )

In this rotation of crops no fallowing is necclTary, but in a
fhort preparation for turnips or colefced.

Upon the temperate lands, firil, thorough fummer and
winter fallow for oats or barley, with which fow fxteen
pounds of red clover, or in lieu thereof, fix pounds of white
Dutch clover, and ten pounds of trefoil per acre. Clover ley
fown with wheat, the etches of which are dunged, and fown
with beans that are kept well howed through the fummer,
and again fown with wheat; after which, a crop of oats or
barley is fometimes taken, but mofl generally the wheat
flubbles are haulmed, and fown with winter tares for fpring
food J then dunged and prepared for colefeed, fed with hogs,
left for a crop, and fucceeded with wheat ; the ftubbles of
which, are dunged, fown with beans, which are kept well
hood and fallowed by a fecond crop of wheat; then fallow
in courfe, for oats or barley. In this routine of crops, a
thorough fummer and winter fallow, and a Ihort preparation
for colefeed only occurs once in twelve years. The whole is
efleemed clean good farming, and when the bean land is
not too loofe and mellow, it is always fure to produce excel-
lent wheat; this< pradlice, aided by the application of chalk,
noticed in the journal, produces according to the index
table, the following average :

a6 bufhels 2 pecks of Wheat

34 bufhels 3 pecks of Barley

40 bufhels 2 pecks of Oats

23 bufliels of Peas

27 bufhels of Beans per acre

The faid table alfo fliews, that the average rent of the
arable land is 14s. 8|d. of the pafture 15s. of the em-
banked marfhes lis, i|d. of the meadow land 15s. and of

K 2 the

( 76 )

the highland pafture, when let together, and without dif-
tindlion of price, 14s. lod. per acre. That there are 200
acres of in:iprovable common, which by inclofure, may be
augmented in its annual value 9s. per acre. That the com-
pofition at prefent paid for the great and fmall tythes is
3s. 4fd. and that the fame has increafed within twenty
years is. fd. per acre. That the poor's rates upon the
prefent rack rents are 3s. id. and that the fame have increafed
io|d. in the pound within ten years.

The value of labour and price of provifions is referred to
diftridt the fixth.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE EIGHTH— Temperate mixed soil.

NJMES
PARISHES.

WICKFORD

RAORETH

HOCKLEY

SOUTH FAMBRIDGE . .

ASSINGDON

RALEIGH

HAWK.SWELL

ROCHFORD ,

LITTLE STAJIBRIDGE

CAXEV/DON

PAKELSHAM

GREAT STAMBRIDGE .

EAST WOOD

bUTTON

SHOPLAND

BARLING

LITTLE WAKERING .
GREAT WAKERING .
NORTH SHOEBURY . .
SOUTH SHOEBURY. .
SOUTH CHURCH . . .

PRITTLEVVELL

LEE

HADLEIGH

General Average

tlpen field, parii.illy improved and

wafie land
Cifrcrcnce

Prefent Rent, and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Arable

per acre.

•6

T3

•z

w

°

Paftiire
per acre.

1. d.i

14 0|-
13 o -

.36-

s. d.

s. d.

M.irlhes
per acre.

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.SiGrafs'

taken
tooether.

d. acres s. d.

1 1

J

-13 6^

'3 0|
13 o

.36-

'^r T

15 0|- - .

160- -,.

,60- -

16 ol- -

16 O! - -

120,- -

■ 3 6- .;■. o^-

-'5 ",

■ 16 o - - 10 o

-16 o

1

•^16 o
'7 o'

I. d.

13 c
,3 6

->3 6

•i; o

o'H.

Hop

Land.

acre.'

16 o
16 o
16 o

16 0

17 o

Woods.

s. d,\yeaf.

M*i

Forcfts,

"A
acres

I I

Commons.

^

lu/h.

15 o

100

4 "

Annual Produce

per acre

in bufliels of

Tythes
great & fmall

26

bulh.

liiilh.

3 =

liujh. ii.lh. bujh

40 24 2+

24

28

23
28

= + -

+0
40

3 +
3&

34
34
34
34
36

32

32

26
32

2a
24

33
.30
30
3"^

3 °-

= Y

3 9

40-

! J :

3 o'-

4 3 -

3 0'

o 6

Poor's
Rates.

^<

«

r. </.

i. d.

o 6

200
5 °

4 °

3 °

6' .

3
3 °
3

Colefced 28 bufii. Miirtard 24 buflu per acre.

2610

GENERAL AVERAGE deduced f rem thefurcgowg Table , fiewUig the produce of the arable, and difference of value between tbeplougbed, the ivoods, and the grajs land ; and
annual rent and value of Juch of the latter as are improved, partially improved, or ivaflc : together with fuch material information (as it was poffible to obtain, and to be thus
conveyed) touching the prefent and former agricultural intcrefls of this diflriB.

146

15 o;

•14 !0

200 1 4 6

,3 6
4 0

2<j a

- -

34 3

40 2

»3

-7 ^

3 4}

. .

■ ol
I o|

3 >

lOi

9 0

lOi

Cokfeed 28 bufli. Muftard 24 bulh. per acrci

( 77 }

DISTRICT THE NINTH.

COMPREHENDING

The IJlands of FOULNESS, WALLASEA,
POTION, HAVEN-GORE, NEJV ENGLAND,

and CAN VET,

All conjijl'mg of a deep rich hazel coloured loam,
upon a fine fea fand or Jilt, oiize, or fea clay: The
hujbandry of which, equally applies to the embanked
marfhcs, and all fuch lands as have been produced
by, and enclofcd at different times from the fea.

XH ROUGH the whole of this country, vv»iich is
evidently derived from the fame fource, and of which there
can be no doubt of its having been originally formed and
fuperinduced by the fea ; the correfponding levels, or thofe
intakes effeded at the fame period of time, are found to
conlifl of a perfeftly fimilar fuVface and fiibftrata, and to be
equally tender, rich, and luxuriant in all their produdions.
The higher levels, or thofe intakes which have been accom-
pliflied in more modern times, are, from the additional
quantity of animal or vegetable remains, which the fea
water, fince the earlier embankments has depofited upon
them, become fo far abundant and generally fruitful in their
produce, as in a great meafure to difregard the almoft un-
ceafing operation of the plough.

On mafiy of thofe lands it is much to be regretted, that
there is fo great an indifference to reftore to the foil, in the

form

( 78 )

form of manure, the ufelefs and putrid remains of its
former produce.

Where the water upon the lowef^ levels is run down to a
proper point, and where any attention has been paid to the
improvement of the furface, the herbage is more certain in
a dry feafon, and more applicable to the purpofes of grazing,
than upon the rich and deeper flapled lands, which form
the higher levels.

A regular ftep of afcending planes is diflinflly to be traced
from the firfl: embankments ; rifing in richnefs and in height
to the prefent faltings. Thefe are ftill open to the fea, and
are liable to a flight overflowing from the top of the fpring
tides; and as every tide makes an increafe in their height
by depofiting its fediment on their furface; and as upon all
thefe fallings there is a conftant and regular increment of
foil from the annual growth and decay of vegetables, thefe
marflies in a few years will be raifed to the higheft level of
the tides, and thus without the induftry of man will the
fea be excluded from the fliores, and retire further from
ihem.

From the fituation, general ftruclure, and materials, of
which thefe iflands are formed ; it is obvious, that they can
afford no fprings of water; and confequently, that the only
fupply for drinking, or for fencing, is to be obtained from
the rain, or from the melted fnows : this forms but a preca-
rious and fcanty dependance, which in the fummer feafon
is frequently dried up, or by putrefaction rendered extremely
injurious to the health of the inhabitants, and too frequently
alfo to that of the horfes and cattle : Hence there are but few
refident occupiers in the iflands; and in particular dry fea-
fons, the larger flock are driven from Foulnefs to Shoe-
bury for water ; and in like manner from the other iflands,

and

( 79 )

and embanked marflies, the cattle are driven at much
expence and inconvenience to water upon the higher lands.

About two and a half acres of the feeding marflies are
ufually allowed during the fix fummer months, to the grazing
of a runt of about thirty-fix fcore : horfes, cows, and flieep
are generally depaftured in the fame marflies for the remainder
of the year, feeding them down as clofe, and as bare as
poflible by the end of January, at whicii time they are fliut
up for the fpring, and for the early fummer's growth.

Lincoln, Leicefler, Southdown, and every br^d of polled
flieep are preferred to thofe of the horned kind. The
home or marfli-bred wethers, from a crofs between the
Lincoln and Welfh, when 4iat, at two years old, will weigh
twenty pounds per quarter, and fix pound to the fleece.
The crofs between the Lincoln and Leicefler at the fame
age, will weigh twenty-four pounds per quarter, and eight
pounds to the fleece. Thefe breeds are held in equal efli-
mation, and with proper care on the part of the fliepherd,
are always kept healthy, and found to anfwer extremely
well.

The Scots "and other cattle, brought from countries
watered with lively and refrefhing ftreams, are very fubjedfc
to the red-water about Midfummer, but which being timely
obferved, the remedy is not very difficult. A fcouring alfo
frequently comes on about Michaelmas, which is only to be
flopped by immediate removal and change of food ; if long
unobferved or negle€led, it always proves fatal. The pole-evil
and fiflula are extremely troubkfome among the horfes, every
effort to prevent their gathering has hitherto proved ineffeClual,
and to cure them aftei the ulcer is broke, is held to be a very
uncertain and almoft endlefs taflc. The young horfes which
are bred and depa flu red through thefe iflands, in verj dry

feafons.

( 8o )

feafons, are fubjeil to a difeafe, which lelaxes tlieir whole
frame, and occafions them to tumble and ftagger about
in a mofl: extraordinary manner. They are frequently
found fitting upon their hind parts, like cats before
a fire. This is referred to the badnefs of the water, and
like the fcouring among the bullocks, if taken in time,
is to be remedied by an immediate removal to the higher
lands, which gradually reftores the ufe of the limbs ; but
there is no change of food, of fituation, or of care after-
wards, that can completely reflore the animal to its natural
vigour.

The mofl approved hufbandry in thefe iflands, and in
thofe embanked marfhes along the coaft, which have been
enclofed a great length of time from the fea, and have not
been chalked ; is finl to apply chalk upon the ley or fwerd
ground, about fix waggon loads, of ninety bufliels each, to
the acre. This drefllng is recommended to lie upon the
furface for three or four years ; the marfh then to be very
neat and fleetly ploughed, and fown with white oats upon
the flag, from fixteen to eighteen pecks per acre. The oat
etches fown with white or brown muftard, a peck and a half
per acre, and followed with beans, fpringed or fown every
other furrow, from twelve to fourteen pecks per acre. The
beans hoed twice, at los. 6d. per acre, to which occafional
hand-weeding is added, coding from 6s, to 8s. per acre.
The bean etches are fown with wheat broadcafl, eleven
pecks to the acre, left neatly drefled, and well water fur-
rowed, cofting 2s. 6d. per acre. The wheat is twice care-
fully wed and hoed, at an expence of from I2s. to 145. per
acre, and followed by oats, with clover fourteen pounds to
the acre. In the fpring and earlier part of fummer the clover
is fed with fheep, then left for feed, and fuccceded with
wheat, which is left well water furrowed and in the fpring

and

( 8i )

and fummer following is wed as before. Three feries of
crops, of feven years each, will thus occupy a term of
twenty-one years, and will run as follows ;

ly? Series

id Series

^d Series

I Oats

I Summer fallow

I Tares mown or fed ofF

2 Muftard

2 Colefeed

2 Then fow mudard or
colefeed for a crop

3 Beans

3 Beans

3 Beans

4 Wheat

4 Wheat

4 Wheat

5 Oats

5 Oats

5 Oats

6 Clover

6 Clover

6 Clover

7 Wheat

7 Wheat

7 Wheat

Which routine of cropping is according to the common
marfh pra6lice, and produces on an average of twenty-one
years,

30 bulhels of Wheat

32 ditto of Beans

40 ditto of Oats

24 ditto of Muftard

30 ditto of Colefeed per acre

The ftated wages to the ploughmen through the iflands,
is, during the winter months, los. 6d. per week wet or dry;
when the days are long enough to work after attending their
horfes, work is either let out to them, or 6d. per day allowed
to them for jobs; the former the labourer always prefers.
The harveft ufually begins the firft week in Augufl, and ends
about the middle of September. The price for cutting,
binding, and inning of wheat, oats and beans, los. 6d. per
acre, with an allowance of four bufhels of malt, and two
pounds of hops per man; each man will harveft of this corn
about fourteen acres ; to this may be added as harveft work,
cutting and thraving the muftard feed at los. 6d. per acre,
and thrafliing 5s. per quarter, done in the field upon a fheet,

L and

( 82 )

and in the fame manner as colefeed ; which latter crop is
not included in the harveft, being cut and thrafhed by the
bag of two bufhels each, coftmg from lod. to i6d. per bag,
as the crop may be more or lefs cafty or valuable.

The price of provifions at this time upon the iflands, i»
beef 5d. per lb. — mutton 5|d, per lb. — veal 6d. per lb- —
frefli pork 6d. per lb. and pickled pork 8d. per lb. —
houlhold flour 2s. ad. per peck, and potatoes 2s. per bufliel.
The lookers or fuperintendants over the farming bufuiefs in
the iflands, generally accommodate the workmen upon the
different farms. They cook, wafh, lodge, and find them
in fmall beer for 2s. per week.

The iflands in general are free of great tythes, faving a
fmall modus paid by fome particular farms to the neighbouring
parifhes. The vicariel tythes are generally compounded,
and the poor's rates are from is. 6d. to 2s. 6d in the pound.

DISTRICT

8'

DISTRICT THE TENTH.

Strong heavy mixed foil upon a brown clay, or brick
earth, a gravelly loam, and a tough red clay, or
tile earth.

H E country comprehended within the parifhes of
BUERS GIFFORD, PITTSEY, VANGE, BASILDON,
LANGDON CRAY, RAMSDEN CRAY, RAMSDEN
BELL-HOUSE, NEVENDEN, NORTH and SOUTH
BEMFLEET, and THUNDERSLEY. is very much
broken into hills, the fides and tops of which, confift of a
wet heavy foil upon a tile earth, much ftronger than in the
vallies and lower grounds.

The clofenefs and retentive nature of the red tough clay,
which generally pervades this diflridl, require that the hollow
drains fhould be made within twelve feet of each other.
The ufual mode of forming them is thus : the drains are
firft drawn out, or opened fix inches deep by ploughing three
bouts, or fix furrows to each drain, with the common foot
plough ; one fpit of fourteen inches is then dug out with the
land ditch fpade, forming the drain twenty inches deep from
the furface, and one inch wide at the bottom. This is filled
with draw only, and coft, materials included, about 2s. 6d.
per fcore rods. The drains leading to the outfalls are ufually
made about eight inches deeper than the lateral ones, filled
with elm wood and llraw ; which materials included, will
coft about 4$. 6d. per fcore. The whole upon a fair trial,
has been found to anfwer inimitably well.

La The

( 84 )

The length of carnage through the northen parts of this
diftri£l, has in a great meafure precluded the ufe of chalk,
and lime has there been fubftituted in its place, mixed with
earth, and farm yard dung, in the following proportions
per acre :
Seventy-five bufliels of fhell lime, the firft coft of

which at the kiln is 7$. per hundred of 25 bufhels i i o
Carriage of ditto _- — -____ iio
Stubbing or digging 200 bufhels of road or hedge

greens __ — —_ — — — __ 030
Twice turning and mixing the fame, with as much

farm-yard and ftable dung as when rotten, will

make a bulk of 10 tumbrell loads or 400 bufhels 030
Filling and fpreading ditto at 4s. per fcore loads 020
Carting ditto upon the field from the heap 6d.

per load ___ — — — — — — _ 050

Driver half a day's work at is. 6d. per day - 009
Allowance for beer at 2d. in the (hilling upon

8s. gd. being the value of all the above labour o i ^1

Total £• '2 ij 2i

N. B. No allowance is made for the value of the dung, or
the expence of carting it from the yard to the earth heap,
as the one is the natural produce, and the other the
ordinary bufmefs of the farm.

The hufbandry of this diftri£l may be flridlly referred to
that of No. 5. According to the tables hereto annexed,
this di!lri6l produces on an average of five years,

22 bufhels 2 pecks of Wheat

32 bufhels of Barley

32 bufhels 2 pecks of Oats

28 bufliels of Beans per acre.

From the fame table it alfo appears that the average rent of
the arable and pafture land is 13s. 4d. per acre. That 430

acres

DISTRICT THE TE^TU— Heavy mixed soil.

NAMES

of
PARISHES.

]'icli.nt Rent, ;iml "Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Arable
per acre.

BUERS GIFFORD . . . .

PITTSEY

VANGE

BASILDON

LANGDON CRAY . . .
RAM;?DEN CRAY . . . .
RAMSDEN BELL-HOUSE

j\EVENDEN

NORTH BEM FLEET . . .
SOUTH BEMFLEET. . .
THUNDERSLEY

General Average

Open field, partially improved and

wafte land
Diifwence

P^.ftcire
per acre.

' Mardics
])er acre.

14 o

15 o
15 o

s. d.

S. tl. J.

/. </.:

Meadows
per acre.

-140-
- ic; o -
-IS o -

-120
-12 o.

lAr.&Grafs

laken

together.

J. J.

o u

Hop

Land.

Woods.

14 o

15 o
IS o

.3 o ii
\i o 41

p<

tJtrts S. d.

p to ^ .
year.

Forefts.

!. d.

Commons.

Annual Produce

per acre

in bu.liels oF

Tylhes
great & fmall

200
00

30

>
c

a;

'1.

J

0
^

«

u d.

T. d.

24

*«/(..

'

- -

24

- -

7 015 0

24

- -

7 o'S 0

24

■

40100

20

. .

- -

20

- -

o

hulh. bujh. bnlh. bujh: i. d.

32

40

.36

.32

32

32

3^

32

30

3°

3°

30

1"

- 3'

3 fc

4 0
3

u

I. d.

3 6

J. n'.

0 10
I 6

Poor's
Rates.

4
40

4 °

1 8

2 o

J. d.

I o
I o

""^^^mtnrt tl^'^yf ""^'^'/''^I/T!/'''^''"^''"^ '^'^^'' ^''''"^ '^' ^''''"'' '^ "'' '''^''' ""' ''#''-'- ^f ^^^"^ between the ploughed, the woods, and the gra,
Z n:i^^^^^ " -■<■..,.«.., parnally n.prc.ed, or u.fe .■ iogefher wUh Juch ,naierial inforn>at,on (as U was poJfMc to obtainfan.

com cyi. a ) hiu bwg ibc pnfetit and Jvi mcr Pgnadtvi at iiitcrrfts of this di/ln&.

zjs
and

land ; m ,
to k tin '■

'34--

- -

•3 4

'3 4

'_ [

- -

- -

,3 4:- -

- -i " " - :

:

- -

- -

- -

430
430

6 0

'3 4

6 0

7 4

22 2

- -

32

32 2

- -

23

3 S

. .

2 1l|-

I 0

■ ■ ■ r "

I 0

( 85 )

teres of commons may be enclofed to advantage, and ad-
vanced in their annual value ys. 4d. per acre. That the
compofition at prefent paid for the great and fmall tythes is
3$. 5d. and that the fame has increafed is. i^d. per acre
within twenty years; and alfo that the poor's rates upon the
prefent rack rents are 2s. ii|d. and that they have increafed
IS. in the pound within ten years.

The value of labour and price of provifions are to be
referred to the next enfuing.

DISTRICT

( 86 )

DISTRICT THE ELEVENTH.

Bslng that of a temperate mixed foil, upon a fandy and
a gravelly loam, a pure f and, a pure gravel, a chalk,
a brick, and fome tile earth.

Beginning at DUNTON, where the foil in general
is of a thin cold nature, upon a brown clay. Afcending
thence to LANGDON HILLS, a gentle fandy loam pre-
vails upon a gravel, intermixed with veins of a compadl
loam upon a brick earth. The lower part of the parifh
abutting upon Vange confifts of a wet heavy foil, upon a
tile earth. Thefe laft lands are particularly fubjedl to black
grafs, and a yellow weed called joy, or wild-gold : fallow-
ing for fpring corn is admitted to be the mod effectual way
of deftroying the black-grafs ; and hoeing and weeding
(which by the bye is an almoft endlefs labour) the wild-gold.

Southerly, to FOBBING, CORINHAM, and STAN-
FORD LE HOPE, the foil is of a light and gentle nature,
affording excellent turnips : This continues north-wefterly
toHORNDON ON THE HILL, where the land lying
weft of the village, towards Orfet, and Bulvan, confifts of
a thin wet heavy foil upon a tough red clay.

At MUCKING a well ftapled gravelly loam, and a
lighter foil upon a gravel. Thence through EAST to
WEST TILBURY, the higher parts of the country conlift
of a thin burning foil upon a gravel ; and the fides of the
hills which hang towards the embanked marflies, of a deep

gravelly

( 87 )

gravelly loam, abounding with fprings, that are conftant
through the year, and afford an excellent fupply of ivater to
the adjacent marfhes in the dryeft feafons

Werterly towards CHADWELL, LITTLE and GREYS
THURROCK, the higher country is equally broken into
hills, and the low land or marfiies, are formed of a deep
rich fandy loam upon a filty clay or fea ouze, and are well
fupplied with water through the dryefl: feafons. At the
depth of from ten to fifteen feet below the foil at Greys
Thurrock, a ftratum of chalk is found of the fame quality
with that on the oppofite tide of the Thames, at Gravefend.
The furface and ftrucliire of the highland and marfh country
is nearly the fame through WEST THURROCK and
PURFLEET; but afcending thence eaft towards STIF-
FORD, and thence northerly to ORSETT and BULVAN,
a light gravelly foil upon a gravel, a brown tender clay, a
chalk and a brick earth.

The commons and low grounds in thefe parifhes, called
the fen, though ftrong good land, and in general affording
very good herbage, are, from their being fubjedl to frequent
inundations from the higher country, found to communi-
cate the rot in fheep, and at fuch times very much to
injure the cattle that depafture upon them.

Proceeding thence foutherly to CHILDERTON,
GREAT HORNDON, INGRAVE, and HLTTON,

a lio-ht tender foil, upon wliich turnips are partially cultiva-
ted, and a firm ftronger foil of a good itaple, upon a brown
and a yellow or a woodland clay; the whole affording ex-
cellent pafture, and very guod corn land. ^ CrolTing the
great road, and proceeding thence weflerly through SHEN-
FIELD, and thence foutherly to SOUTHWEALD, an

hazel

( 8« )

hazel coloured loam of a fair ilaple, upon a brick earth,
and a lighter foil upon a gravel.

Th6 heavier lands in this neighbourhood, might be much
benefitted by hollow draining, but this material improvement
is too much negledled, nor is it without pain to be obferved,
that fo little attention is paid to the removal of the road and
hedge greens. Thefe often rife above the level of the
fields and highways, and by preventing the difcharge of the
water, prove as injurious to them, as they are a reproach to
the farmer vv^ho fuffers them to remain fo : the inclofures too,
in many places, are unneceflarily fmall ; the land is thus
choaked and fmothered with ufelefs hedgerows, that are filled
with old pollards, and rubhifii of every kind, which draw
and exhauft the land for feveral poles deep in every field ;
for this latter evil however, it is butjuft to obfervc, that
probably no blame ought to attach upon the tenant farmer^

Proceeding foutherly from fouth-weald to GREAT
WARLEY, a mixture of gentle foils, which to the eaft-
ward of the village, and towards LITTLE WARLEY
are gradually loft, in a flrong heavy foil upon a yellow
clay.

The afpeS: of the country here is broken and irregular,
and although the fides of the hills are found to teem with
a number of fprings, they are not fo generally a fubjedl of
complaint, as in many other places.

The land lying on the north fide of the churches of
CRANHAM and UPMINSTER, forms a cold wet foil of
a thin ftaple upon a tile earth. Thence foutherly to NORTH
and SOUTH OKENE)EN, a deep gentle loam upon a
lender clay and gravel. Thence to AVELEY a well ftapled
friable mould upon a gravelly loam, and a thin dry foil upon

a

( 85 )

a rank fand. The highland parts of this oartfh may be
advantagcoiifly employed in the culture of turnips, wheat,
barley, and oats, either broadcaft or in drills ; and though
the common hufbandry in general prevails, the following
fyftem is particularly recommended, being grtumded on the '
prailice of a very intelligent farmer in this parish ; viz. wheat
ftubbles fovvn with tares or rye for fpring food, then drelfed
with raw dung, ten loads to the acre, ploughed under upon
four yard (letches, carrying, the furrows or Uiecs about ten
inches wide. The ground is then planted with potatoes,
dibbing the feed in upon every furrow, at the dirtance of ten
inches apart, and about four inches deep ; thus forming a
fquare of about ten inches, from plant to plant, and cofting
for cutting, dibbing, and dropping the fets, about 8s. per
acre. In the courfe of the fummer, the plants are once
hoed and moulded up, at 4s. 6d. per acre. The planting is
generally finiOied by the firfl: of June ; and about the firft of
November the crop is ripe, and ready to be taken out of the
ground, which operation is ufually performed with a three-
pronged fork, and coft, gathering and houfing included,
about 40s. per acre. The average produce is eftimated at
fix tons, and reckoning 126 lbs. to the cvvt. will equal
15,120 lbs. per acre. As foon as the potatoeland is cleared,
and properly prepared, which will generally be accompliflied
by the middle of November, white hotfpur peas are
planted for podding, for the London market, and are ufually
fold in the field, at 5I. per acre, referving the haulm or ftraw
for hay, which in a favourable feafon, makes excellent food
for horfes or cattle. The pea land is then well cleaned
with the horfe hoe, and upon once ploughing, turnips are
fown; andjufl: before the young plants are obferved to be
cutting the ground, the field receives a light top dreffing of
foot, afties, or the moft portable manure that can be con-

M veniently

-( 90 )

veniently obtained. This drefling, upon frequent trial, has
been found to have had a very good efFe6l in preferving the
infant turnip plant from the depredations of the fly. The
turnips are generally hoed at 5s. per acre, fed off with fheep,
and fucceeded with oats or barley ; drilled nine inches apart,
with Cook's machine, requiring for feed, about four buftiels
of the former, and three bufliels of the latter, and each
yielding about forty bufhels per acre. A fecond drilling
takes place to put in the clover feed, which is generally
depofited in the intervals between the rows of corn ten
pounds to the acre; is ufually dunged when young, and
is always obferved to be a ftronger, more uniform, and
better plant, than where one-third more feed is fown broad-
caft to the acre. Each drilling operation for grain and feeds,
every expence included, is allowed to cod gd. per acre.
The clover ftands one funimer, and is then ploughed under,
and the land in like manner is drilled with wheat eight
pecks, producing upon an average, twenty-four bufhels
per acre. The wheat ftubbles are haulmed immediately
after harveft, and then fown with rye or tares 'for fpring
food; the fame courfe repeated, and which in the form of
a Dr. and Cr. account will nearly ftand thus per acre:

Firfl

( 9t )

Dr.

Firfl year, ploughing the wheat ftubbles,

fowing and harrowing in tlie tares or rye 060
Cleaning and ploughing the tare or rye

ground for potatoes - ----056

Filling, carting, and fpreading the dung 076
Cutting, dibbing, and dropping the pota-

toe fets --__-.-- 080
Hoeing and moulding up the plants - 046
Digging, gathering, and houfing the

potatoes ----___. 200

Cleaning, ploughing, and fowing the

potatoe land with hotfpur pens - 060
Cleaning, ploughing, horfehoeing and fow-
ing the pea land with turnips --07^
Firft cofl: and expence of applying the

top-drefling ------- 1 z G

Hoeing the turnips _-- - - 050

Ploughing and preparing for oats or barley 050
Drilling ditto ------- 009

Ditto the clover ------- 009

Filling, carting, and fpreading dung upon

the young clover ------076

Weeding the oats or barley - - _ 010
Harvefting ditto --- __. 056
Ploughing the clover ley for wheat - 050
Drilling ditto ----- - - 009

Hoeing and weeding ditto - - - - o i 6

Harvefting ditto ------ .056

Haulming the ftubble of ditto - - o z o
Thrafliing five quarters of barley at 2S.

per quarter ------- 0100

Ditto of three quarters of wheat at 3s. 3d.

per quarter .-- .---ogg
Seed of wheat, tv/o bufhels ----oiio

Seed of barley, three ditto - - - 090
Ditto of turnips -------010

Ditto of peas, four bufhels, at 4s. per bufhel o 16 o
Ditto of tares or rye, two bufhels and a half,

at 5s. -------- - o 12 6

Ditto of clover, 10 lbs. at 4d. per lb. -034
Ditto of potatoes, 300 lbs. ----060

Five years rent at I2S. per atre - - 300
Poor's and other parifli rates at 4s. in tlie

pound ------.__ 0I2 0

Tythes, great and fmall, at 53. in the pound o 15 o

Cr.

Total expences - --- - -- 15 12 4

Profit in five years per acre to cover the

intereft of the capital employed - 23 10 2

/. 39 2 6

Firft year, tares or rye for

fpring food - - - - -j
Ditto 15,120 lbs. of potatoes

at a farthing a pound - 15
Second year, hotfpur peas 5
Ditto, turnips - _ - - 2
Third year, barley 40 buiheis

at 3s. per bufhel - - - 6
Fourth year, clover - - i
Fifth year, wheat 24 bufhels,

at 5s. 6d. perbufhel - 6

10 o

IS

o

12

o

12

/•39 * ^

£-19

( ^2 J

As the Article of potatoes conflitutes a very principal part of
the profit in the above ftatement, and as that crop is charged
to the credit of the account, at the lowefl: poffible average
quantity and price, it may not be improper in this place,
further to (how, how the potatoes are appropriated, and to
what extent they prove beneficial to the farmer.

Fifteen thoufand one hundred and twrenty pounds is ftated
to be the loweft average produce per acre. In the prefent
inftance, this produce undergoes a preparation v^^ith (team,
which, including the walhing, will coft 2d. per loo lbs. To
every 300 lbs. of potatoes thus wafhed and fteamed, is added
half a pint of fait, and occafionally a fmall^ portion of ful-
pher ; and this quantity will be more than fufficient to fupport
a horfc that fhall be kept conftantly at work for fix days :
9000 lbs. will confequently be required for the maintenance,
and for the preferving in good condition, a conftant working
horfe 180 day?, or about one half of the year; and this
may be ftated at three-fifths of the ufual produce of an acre.

Horfes fed in this manner, will perform with the greatefl:
facility and eafe, all the common labour of the farm, without
hay or oats. The expence therefore, in wintering a team
of five horfes, in the ufual way, when compared with this
management, will ftand as follows :

Horfes

( 93 )

liorjei fed with Potatoes.
Three acres of potatoes

producing 45,000 lbs

U'ill fupport 5 horfes

26 weeks, charging

the potatoes at ^d.

per lb. they are equal

to - - - - 46 17 6
Wafhing and fteaming

ditto at 2d. per 100

lbs. - - - - ,3 15 o
Three bufliels of fait

at 6s. per bufhel - o 18 o
Sulphur ----026

Leaving a balance of

51 13 o
12 17 o

j^.64 10 o

Horfes fedwith Hay and Oats.
Five horfes, 26 weeks,

requiring 2 bufliels

of oats a horfe per

week, in all 260

bufliels, at 2s. 6d.

per bufliel - - 33 10 o
Five horfes, 26 weeks,

requiring 24 lbs. of

hay each horfe per

night,equals 10 loads

and one-third of a

load,which at 3I. per

load is V - - 2 1

o o

j^.64 10 o

In favour of wintering a team of five horfes upon potatoes,
lieamed, and thus prepared, rather than upon hay and oats.

This management of the potatoes has anfvvered equally
well for feeding or fattening bullocks when mixed with
about twice its bulk of cut flraw and hay.

From Aveley, through WENNINGTON, RAINHAM,
DAGENHAM to HORNCHURCH, a light fand and
gravelly loam, upon a gravel, affording a large portion of
excellent grafs, very good turnip and corn land. To the
fouth, and bordering upon the River Thames, an extenfive
level of embanked marlhes, well-watered, and producing a
luxuriantly rich, and moft valuable herbage. Extending
thence northerly towards RUMFORD, South Weald, and
Upminfter, a wet heavy foil of a thin flaple upon a clofe
eold clay^

Upon

in)

upon the more gentle foils, adjacent to the village of
Hornchurch, the drill and potatoe hufbandry is conduded
to great advantage: the practice however, in fome meafure,
varies from that of Aveley, by fometimes fowing turnips
immediately after tares or rye, and fucceeding the potatoes
with a crop of wheat in the place of peas. The potatoes
alfo, which are defigncd for feeding rattle, are planted upon
three-foot ridges, and managed in the fame manner as at
Finchingfield. Upon the lowed computation, the potatoe
crops average here, 20,000 lbs. to the acre.

Rapefeed is tranfplanted at twelve inches fqua.re upon the
potatoe land,, colls a guinea per acre, generally Hands for a
crop, and is always found to anfwer extremely well. This
practice is ftrongly recommended where wheat ftraw is in
much demand, as the draw of the rape feed, affords an ex-
cellent fubftitute for littering the ftraw yards, the cow
fheds, and the ftall fed cattle.

The general light land hufbandry of this diftrid, is to
fallow and dung for turnips, which are once hoed at 5s. 6d.
per acre, and followed with barley upon once ploughing,
fourteen pecks to the acre, with v/hich is ufually fown about
twelve pounds of red clover .mixed with half a bufliel of clean
ray grafs. This is dunged in the autumn or winter whilft
young, or upon the ley after two years, and previous to the
ground being fown with peas, which are gathered green for
the London market. The pea etches are well cleaned, and
fown with wheat (and occafionally with rye for a crop;} the
ftubbles of ei;her^ are ploughed immediately after h.arveft,
and the land foun with rye or t^rcs for fpring food, which
is generally fed off by the middle of May, and in very good
time to prepare in courfe for turnips.

The common hufl^andry of the heavier lands is to fum-
mer fallow for wiieat, oats or barley, and with, either, or

, with

C 93 }

with all of tliefe crops, few fixteen pounds of clover to the
acre; dung the young clover, and fow wheat after one
fiimmer ^upon the leys of that clover, which fucceeded ihe
fpring corn. Where clover is fown in the fpring of |the
year upon the wheat, it lies one fummer, and the enfuing
winter the clover ley is dunged, once ploughed, and drilled
with beans, kept well hoed, and fucceeded with wheat ; the
etches of which, are either winter fallowed for fpring corn,
or the wheat ftubble haulined, the land winter fallowed,
and Town with colefeed by the firfl: of June : this is fed
completely off by Chrillmas, and the land again is put into
excellent condition for beans or other fpring corn, by the
middle of February. When the colefeed ftands for a crop,
it is fucceeded with wheat, unlefs the ground fhould be
extremely foul, and very much exhaufted, in which cafe,
beans are made to fucceed the colefeed, as an intermediate
crop, and preparation for wheat : by this change of crops
and the frequent opportunities which offer through this dif-
tri(Sl in procuring top dreffings of portable manure, the
produce upon an average, according to the index table, is

23 bufhels of Wheat
34 ditto of Barley
34 ditto 3 pecks of Oats
20 ditto of Peas

24 ditto of Beans

Which table further fhews, that the average rent of the
arable land through the diftridl is 14s. 9d. 'per acre. That
the pafture land of the firfl: quality is 30s. and that of
the fecond quality 15s. 2d. per acre. That the marfh lands
(chiefly bordering upon the River Thames) are 32s. 9d. and
that where the highland grafs and arable land are let together,
and without diftinaion of price,they average 15s. 6d. per acre.
That the undergrowth of the woodlands is cut down every

twelve

( 96 )

twelve years, and produces at the flub 3I, per acre. Tlut
there are 2520 acres of highly improvable wafte land, which
by inclofure, maybe augmented in its annual value 17s. id.
per acre. Tliat the compofition at prefent paid for the
great and fmall tythes is 3s.- 5d. per acre. And lallly, that
the poor's rates upon the prefent rack rents are 3s. and that
the fame has ijicreafed, withiaten years, is. in the pound.

The value of labour, fervants wages, and price of pro-
vifions through this diftri£l, are found to be as follows:

Beef 4fd. per lb. — mutton 5d. per'lb. — ^veal 5|d. per lb.
— frefh pork 6d. per lb. — pickled pork gd. per lb.— butter
lid. and checfe 6d. per lb. — houfhold flour 2s. per peck,
and potatoes is. lod. per bufhel. Stated daily labour los.
per week through the year. Thraftiing wheat 3s. 3d. — barley
2s. — oats IS. 4d. — peas 2s. 4d. and beans is. 4d. per
quarter. Head man's wages 12I. per annum, with board
and lodging. Boys 61. per annum with the fame. Women
fervants wages 5I. per annum, with board, walhing and
lodging. Girls with the fame, 2I. per annum.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE ELEVE'NTU—Te7nperafe mixed soil.

Prefent Rent and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

NAMES

of
PARISHES.

1 DUXTON

2 LAXGDON HILLS . .

3 FOBBING

4 CORINHAM

5 STANFORD LA HOPE

6 HORNDON on the HILL

7 MUCKLVG

8 TILBURY EAST ....

9 WEST TILBURY ....

10 CHADWELL

11 LITTLE THURROCK .

12 GREYS THURROCK . .

13 WEST THURROCK . .

H PURFLEET

i; STIFFORD

il) ORSET

I- BULVAN

i8 CHELDERTON

19 GREAT HORNDON . .

:o INGRAVE

21 HUTTON

22 SHEKFIELD

23 SOUTHWEALD

H GREAT WORLEY . . .

25 LITTLE WORLEY . .

26 CRANHAM

27 UPMINSTER

23 NORTH OKENDEN . .

J9 SOUTH OKENDEV . .

30 AVELEY

31 WENNINGTON . . • .

32 RAINHAM

33 DAGENHAM

3+ HORNCHURCH ....

35 RU.MFORD

Arable
per acre.

Pafture
per acre.

M

16 o

s. d.

16 o

14 o -
10 6 -

1. d.

. d.
it o

I. d.

16 c
15 o
14 o

12 6

■+

14. o
18 0
18 c

12 C

18 o

c

20 O

20 C

20 O

-30 o

r6 o

16

5 o
4 c

14 c

Marfhes
per acre.

s, d. [acres

Meadows
per acre

:. d.

.36 O

Ar.&Grafe

taken
together.

s. d

d.
16 o

O 3

Hop
Land.

Woods.

Z

16 o

18 o

16 o

5 o
14 o

■ 60 o -

14 o

5«
>

60

Forefts.

2

acrei

Commons.

60

!. d.

acres
20

300
200

300

r. d.
7 6

7 6
5 o

S 0

2 6

Annual Produce

per acre

in bufnels of

J. d.\b„/h
o .

22

21 O
18

12 6

1 6

I1500I 5 o

12 6

24

24

llulh.

••J"

32

Iju/h
S

28

40

40

bu/h

hujh.

Tythes
great &fniall

I. d.
3 3

3 9

46

4 o

3 3
3 3

i. d.

s. d.

Poor's
Rates.

26

3 o

S?

s.d.
3 o

s. d.

2 9

3 6

5 o
2 0

6 o

2 6
J 6

1 9

2 9

GENERAL AVERAGE deduced from the foregoing Table, Jhewing the produce of the arable, and difference of value between the ploughed, the woods, and the grafs land ; and
animal rent and rahtc of Juch of the latter as are improved, partially improvcdi or wafle : together with ftich material information (as it was pcffiblc to obtain, and to be thus
conveyed) touching the prefent and former agricultural intcrefls of this dijlridt.

General Average

OpEn field, pariially improved and

wafte land
Difference

14 9

123 o
.,15 2

■32 9

■5 6

60

2520

5 °

'7 »
5 o

23

34

34 3

H

3 5

3 °

Ijrl'l TOih

( 97 )

DISTRICT THE TWELFTH.

Heavy mixed Joily upon a gravelly loam, a tile earth,
and a blue and white chalky clay.

BkciNNING at TOPERSFIELD, where the foil in
general is formed of a ftrong heavy loam, with little or no
admixture of gravel ; and where the rivet or bearded wheat
is moft generally cultivated, and found bed to anfwer. A
fimilar foil continues wefterly to STAMBOURN; here the
land has been very much improved by hollow draining, and
here alfo are fome very flourifliing afh copfes, which have
been very judicioufly planted for the purpofe of hop poles.
From Stambourn wefterly to STEEPLE BUMPSTED, the
foil varies from a gravelly to a thin cold loam upon a chalky
day.

This neighbourhood was very famous formerly for the
manufaduring of cheefe, but of late years the dairy bufmefs
has generally given place to the fuckling of calves for the
London market, and for which purpofe, a preference is
decidedly given to the North Wales Cows.

South-wefterly from Steeple Bumpfted to HEMPTED,
and thence fouth-eafterly to GREAT SAMPFORD, the
foil in general confifts of a wet heavy clay, upon a brown
and a clofe chalky clay.

tven the higheft parts of thefe lands require a conftaiit
and unremitting attention to hollow draining, which, at a
pole apart, and made thirty inches deep, including materials^,
will coll about 35s. per acre.

N In

( 98 )

In the parifli of RADWINTER, and adjoining the
village, the foil confifts of a gravelly loam ; but thence
northerly towards Afhden, and foutherly towards Wimbifh,
a thin cold foil upon a blue and white chalky clay, inter-
mixed with veins of a ftrong red clay or tile earth.

An experiment has lately been made by a very intelligent
and liberal gentleman at Radwinter, in fowing his clover
leys with wheat, in the following manner :

Through the greater part of this diftridl the land is
iifually ploughed into four furrow ridges, as well for oats or
barley, as for winter corn. The furrows between the ridges
are left ftrongly marked upon the clover ley, and in the
prefent inftance, are fown or fpringed with wheat : two
furrows are then nicely ploughed, covering the wheat, and
thus forming the top of a new four furrow ridge. The open
or lafl: made furrows are then fown, and two furrows or
flices are added to each ridge, leaving a fmall comb or balk,
which is alfo fown and fplit down with a double breafted
plough, cafting an equal quantity of mould to the right and
left, thus finilliing the ploughing operation and fhutting
the ridges completely up. The field is then clofely rolled
down with a roller, which is fwelled out in the middle, and
properly conftruded to operate equally upon the higher and
lower parts of the four furrow ridges.

From this management the wheat is fuppofed to derive
an immediate advantage from the manure which laid upon
the furface of the clover ley ; and although the crops have
been very luxuriant, and that the foil is of a loofe and
hollow nature, the wheat has hitherto been exempt frrfrn
the blight, i>or is it but in a very flight degree liable to lodge
or fubjed to be root fallen. It may be proper further to
obferve, that the ploughing fliould be performed in the

mod

( 99 )

moft mafterly manner, of a uniform depth, and as fleet as

poflible, fo as to plough the land perfedly clean.

The greater part of the adjoining parifli of WIMBISH,
is found to confift of a wet heavy foil, upon a red tough,
and a blue chalky clay.

The lower parts of the fields here are uniformly found to
poffefs a more tradlable foil than that of the upper parts ;
and here a material improvement, though at a confiderablc
expence, is made by mixing the oppofite foils of each field
together, thus mutually correding their natural defeds by
rlleeving the red loamy land from its tendency to bake and
cruft after heavy rains, or frefli ploughing, at the fame time
by rendering the ftaple of the loofer foils more compa6l, the
flraw becomes Ihortened ; the quality of the grain and pulfc
is very much improved, and the quantity is invariably in-
creafed per acre.

The mod approved mode of hollow draining in this parifli
is to fill the drains with flrayv only, bulhing the ends of the
drains and the leaders to the outfals: the fmaller drains are
made twenty-fix inches, the leaders thirty inches deep, which
together, and at a rod apart, will coft about two guineas
per acre.

Horfe-hoes or fkims, of various dlmenfions, and equally
applicable to ridge, or flat work, are found to anfvver par-
ticularly well for cleaning the fallows ; which being generally
ploughed in three feet ridges, the feed of wheat, beans, bar-
ley, a]nd oats, is frequently put in by hand-barrows or dril-
ling machines, fowing every other furrow or otherwife at
pleafure, and cofting per acre.

An Ingenious farmer in this parifh has conftruded, and
fixed to the tail of his plough a drilling box, which moves
in a diredl line after the plough, and is a(51ed upon by the
wheel which fupports it to difcharge the feed, and this is

N a done

( 100 )

done with great regularity into the lafl: made furrow, not In
a clofe narrow row (which by the bye is a very material defe£l
in mod drill machines) but fcattered evenly in the bottom of
the furrow and with as much fafety as it is polTible or ne-
cefiTary. This box by a kick with the foot, which flops the
difcharge of ihe feed, may be applied to clofe or alternate
drilling, or to any width of interval whatever. The whole
contrivance is particularly light and fimple, not eafily to be
put out of trim, and does much credit to the ingenuity of
the inventor.

The foil of Debden, WIDDINGTON and CHICK-
NEY, is of a nature very fimilar to the laft defcribed, and
the fame continues with little variation through CHAW-
RETH or BROXTED to TILTEY, where a well ftapled
ftrong loam, upon a blue and white chalky clay, forms a
foil that is very prolific in corn, but unfavourable to per-
manent pafture and to the culture of artificial grafles.

^ LITTLE EASTON, TAKELEY, LITTLE ?nd
GREAT CANFIELD, prefent but little difference of foil
or fubftrata from that defcribed in the preceding pariflies;
and which indeed continues wefterly of the Roding River,
and with little variation through the hamlet of Morrel Rod-
ing, and the parifhes of AYTHORPE RODING,WHITE
RODING, ABBOTS RODING, RODING BEAU-
CHAMP, MATCHING, LITTLE LAYER, HIGH
LAYER and MAGDALEN LAYER to NORTH
WEALD ; where the land is found chiefly to confift of a
wet heavy foil, upon a chalky and a red tough clay.

The mod judicious way of laying thefe lands dry, and
improving them at the fame time with their natural manure,
is to open the partition ditches of the undrained and un-
improved fields, eight feet wide, and from four to five feet
deep, applying the chalky clay which is dug out of them to

the

(

lOI

)

the red loamy foil, and the red tough clay to the lighter
coloured grey foil, in the proportion of about 4000 bufhels
to the acre.

The outer drain being thus formed to give the beft poffible
fall to the water, hollow drains are laid off through the
field, at a rod apart from each other, and generally executed
at the following expence per acre :

Opening the hollow drains by ploughing four fur-
rows Tipon each, at 3d. per fcore rods, every ex-
pence included — — — — — — — — 003

Digging one fpit with the broad fpade eight inches,
and one fpit with the land ditch fpade, 14 inches,
allowing two inches extra depths for the drains
leading to the outfal, at 3s. per fcore - - o 3 o

Value of the ftraw and expence of twifting it into
a rope, in which form it is put into the drains,
IS. 9 d. per fcore —_—- — — — 019

Eight fcore of thefe drains to the acre, materials included,
will coft 40s. an expence that is generally and necelTarily
incurred upon moft of the heavier lands in this neighbour-
hood. The expence of claying the land in the manner above
recited, is difficult to afcertain, as the whole is incurred
(be it what it may) on a double account, including that of
draining.

From North Weald, wefterly through MORETON,
BOBBINGWORTH and SHELLY; and to the Eaft of
the Roding River, through FIFIELD, WILLINGALE
SPAIN, WILLINGALE DOE, BERNERS ROD-
ING, GOOD EASTER, MARGARET RODING,
LEADING RODING, HIGH EASTER, HIGH
RODING, PLESHY, MASHBURY, LITTLE
CHICKNAL, BROOMFIELD, GREAT CHICKNAL,

and

( 102 )

ROXWELL, SHALLOW BOWELLS, and NORTON
MANDEVILLE ; the foil and fubftratum will admit of one
general defcription, agreeing principally with thar of Chaw-
reth or Broxted. A greater intermixture of foil of a more
temperate nature, and better fuited to the culture of the an-
nual and perpetual gralTes is found to prevail through the pa-
riflies of BLACKMOOk and FRIERNING, and may ge-
nerally be referred to the temperament of the fixth diftri£l,
and containing a larger proportion of grafs land than what
is ufually found through this diftri6l ; the moft univerfal huf-
bandry of which ig, to fallow the wheat ftubbles for barley,
and the barley ftubbles for wheat. Upon about one-twentieth
part of the barley land clover is fown, i61bs. to the acre;
lies one fummer and is fucceeded with wheat upon once
ploughing. The fmall portion of manure afforded through this
diftridt is very induftrioufly colle6led and applied upon the
fallows for wheat or barley, and fometimes (though but
rarely) for beans. The refult, according to the index table is

23 bufhels I peck of Wheat

32 bufhels I ditto of Barley

35 bufhels of Oats

17 bufhels 2 ditto of Peas

22 bufliels 2 ditto of Beans per acre

The average table alfo fhews that the arable land through
this diftridl is 13s. 4d. per acre. That the pafture of the
firft quality are 20s. of the fecond quality 13s. 9d. and of
the moft inferior quality 7s. 2d. per acre. That where the
ploughed and grafs lands are let together, and without dif-
tindlion of price, the farms average 13s. lod. per acre.
That the undergrowth of the woods is cut once in fourteen
years, and that it fells at the ftub for 9I. per acre. That
there are 300 acres of improveable wafte or common, which
by inclofure, may be augmented in its annual value 15s. per
acre. That the compofition at this time paid for the great and

fmall

/ Tr\t \

DISTRICT THE TWELFTH— iTeat^ mixed soil.

NAMES

"S
r.lRISHES.

Frercnt Rent and Value ; wilh probable increafe thereon.

Arabic
ijcr acre.

TOPHESFIF.I.I) ....
STAMUOURN ....
STIiUl'l.E HUMSTEAD

HKMHSTKL)

rjRF.AT SAMI'ORD . .

UADWINTUR

VVIMIllsH

VVIDDINGTON . . . .■

CIlIC'KNIiY

I3ROX rKDoii:iIA>VRETH

Tll.TKV

LlTTLli EASTON . . .

•PAKELEY

I.ITTI.E CANI'IELD . ,
OKF.AT CANFIEI.D . .
AYTHOKV KODING .

wiirri; uodino . . .

ABBOTS HODING . . .
UODING HKAUCHAMP

MATCHING

I.FITI.E LAVUR ....

HIGH l.AVER

MAGDAl.F.N I. AVER .
NORTH WEALD . . .

MORF.TON

IIOBHINGWORTH . . .

SHEl.l.V

FIFIEI.D

WII.LINGALE SPAIN .
WU.LINGALE DOE . .
UERNFRS ROniNG . .
GOOD EASTI.R ....
MARGARET ROBING .
I.EADKN RoniNG. . .

HIGH K.A.STER

HIGH RODINti ....

PL.F.SHV

MASHUURY

I.ITTI.E CHIGNAL . .

HRtlO.MFIELD

GREAT CHIGNAL . . .

ROXWELL

SHtU.OW BOWEI.S. . ,
NORTON MANDEVILLE

BI.ACKMOOR

FRIERNING

t4 o
14 0
14 o

3 c

13 0

14 o

4 0
14 o

Farturi
per acre

Marflies
p^r acre.

Meadow
per acre.

General Average

Open lickl, partially improved arid

waftc land
Difference

30
13 o

2 0

'5
2 o

,36

'S

13 1>
5

15 o
14 6

20 01;
:o o •
10 012
o 0 to o

'3

13

14 o
14 c
14 0

14 o

Ar.&Grafs

taken
together.

Hop
Land.

13 o

- -;'3 °

■ -|I4 o

- - "4 o

- • 1+ o

14 o

12 O

■S 0

14 6

15 o

Annual Produce

per acre

in bufiieh of

W*

iuf/j.'iu/i bulb

- 3D

- 32

Tythc:
great &rmall

3 ''

3 o

Poor's
Rates.

46

1 o
: 10

Poor's Ralcv Jecieafed.

GENERAL AVERAGE deduced from the foregoing Table, Jhcwing the produce of the arable, and difference of value between the ploughed, the woorf.-, and the grajs hind ; and
annual rent and ruble of Juch of the latter as are improved, partially improved, or wafle : together with fuch material information (as ttivas pefjible to obtain, and to be thin
conveyed) tcuebiiig the prcfent and former agricultural interejls of this diJiriS.

'3 4

- " "I

20 o
'3 9

- ■1310]-

- . 7 2 -

J_^

6021 023 I

- -60

14 To the average of wheat may be added j
bnfliels per acre where the rivet or biardcd
wheat is cultivated.

( 103 )

fmall tythes is 3s. id. and that the fame has increafed is. 3d.
per acre within twenty years. And laftly, that the poor's
rates upon the prefent rack rents are 4s. and that they have
increafed is. i^d. in the pound within ten years.

The quantity of feed ufually fown per acre, may be re-
ferred to diftrids No. 5, 7, and 10; and fuch other par-
ticulars as relate to the value of labour and price of pro-
vifions, may be very well underilood by referrence to diftridl
No. I, and the next following.

DISTRICT

( 104 )

DISTRICT THE THIRTEENTH.

Bei?ig a temperaU and heavy mixed foil, upon a chalk,
a gravel, a hurrock (i. e. a gravel and chalk
mixed) a tile earth, and a blue and white chalky
clay.

Beginning at saffron walden, where the

land eaft of the town, and extending towards ASHDON,
Radwinter and Wimbifli, confiUs of a wet heavy foil upon
a chalky clay. Southerly towards Wenden and Debden, the
foil is of a more open and gentle nature, and lies upon a
chalky and a brown tender clay, interfperfed with fome veins
of gravel. Thence wefterly to LITTLE BURY and
LITTLE CHESTER FORD, a thin dry foil upon a chalk
and gravel, which continues northerly to GREAT CHES-
TERFORD; but thence north-eafterly through Little
Walden to HADSTOCK, the thin hurrocky foil is loft in
a ftrong heavy clay upon a tile earth, and in a gravelly loam.

The low paftures and meadows in this neighbourhood
being fubjeft to frequent overflowings from the river Cam,
are reduced to a very inferior condition, which is only to be
improved by fome regulation requiring that river to be pro-
perly cleanfed out, and its bed deepened. The water might
then be run down to a lo\^er level, and the adjacent lands,
by being relieved of their fuperabundant water, would in a
ftiort time become extremely valuable.

The long drift and fcanty pafturage in this open part of
the county occafions a decided preference to the North and

South

( 105 )

Sotith Wales cows ; but in the event of a general enclofure,
(which is much wifhed for) this deficiency would be imme-
diately fupplied by the culture of artificial graiTes ^ and the
laying down of feveral well adapted fpots into permanent
pafture.

The furface of the country through WENDEN LOFTS,
STRETHALL, ELMDON, and CHISHALL, is

much intermixed, as well in the open fields, as in the en-
clofiires : confifting in part, of a thin dry foil upon a chalk,
a hurrock, and a harfh burning' gravel ; together with a deep
friable mould upon a flinty or gravelly loam, and a tough wet
thin clay upon a tile earth. The open field lands in the parilhes
of HEYDON, GREAT and LITTLE CHISHALL,
are chiefly formed of a thin hurrocky foil upon a chalk and
gravel. The foil of the enclofures is found to improve from
a wet heavy clay to a deep tender loam upon a brick earth.
In the parilh of LANGLEY the foil becomes more uniform,
,and will juftly anfwer to one general defcription, which
is that of a ftrong wet loam upon a tough clay or tile earth.

From the nature of fuch a foil, very clofe hollow draining
has been rendered indifpenfibly neceflary. "I'he drains are
laid oft at two and a half and three yards apart from each
other, are made twenty-fix inches deep, and filled with wood'
and flraw, and at an expence of from 50s. to 3I, per acre.

The want of proper materials for repairing thefe roads
occafion ihem to be almoft impaffable in winter. Stones
or gravel are with difficulty obtained, and no where within the
moft convenient diltance for lefs than one penny per bufliel ;
an expence, which to a certain degree, would be rendered
lefs neceffary, were the fides of the lanes, and the road
greens lowered, and a freer paffage afforded to the difcharge
of the water, by opening the drains into the outfal ditches.

O From

( io6 >

From Langley eaftward towards ARKS DEN and
WENDEN, the country is broken into hills, and contains
much of the fame variety of foil as was noticed upon the
confines of Cambridgefliire.

Through the parifhes of NEWPORT, WICKHAM
BONHUNT, RICK LING, QUENDON, UGLEY,
HENHAM ON THE HILL, ELSENHAM, STAN-
STED MONTFITCHET, and BiRCHINGER, the

foil is a good deal intermixed, and confifts of a loamy and
a harfh gravel, and a mild grey loam of a good ftaple upon
a chalky clay, below which, are veins of ftrong red clay or
tile earth.

The lands of FARNHAM, MANUDEN, BERDEN,
and CLA VERING, are found to confift of an hazel coloured
gravelly loam upon a gravel, a thin clofe heavy foil upon a
blue and white clay, and a thin dry hurrocky foil upon a
chalk.

The rough and unimproved paftures in this neighbourhood,
feem in a great meafure to owe their prefent inferioritv :to
the very wet and comprefTed ftate in which they have been
lying for ages. Upon fuch as have been hollow drained and
kept open with the plough for a few years, and then laid down
into pafture, improvements have been made that are truly
aftonifliingi The general opinion upon this queftion amonp-
the moft attentive and intelligent afrraers is this; that the
pafture lands upon the wet cold tile earih bottoms, ought to
be kept under the plough for about three years in twenty.

Alight tender loam, upon a vein of gravel, is found to

flretch foutherly from Hatfield Heath through High Laver

to Morton and Bobbingworth,' affording an excellent fupply

of materials for repairing the roads in thofe pari flies through

which it extends.

HATFIELD

( 107 )

HATFIELD BROAD-OAK or Takely Foreft, is about
one half covered with wood, amongft which, with a great
deal of other very valuable timber, is an oak, that meafures
at five feet from the ground, fourteen feet in circumference,
and is thought. will cut to .timber, at the height of ninety
feet from the ground: one of its branches, near the top,
and on its north welt fide, is a little flagged, but in every
other refpedl the tree indicates found health and increafing
fubftance.

The clear rich lands of Woodfide Green, and every other
part of the foreft, which is not ufefuUy employed in the
growth of timber, might be materially improved, by en-
clofure for cultivation, or for the purpofe of encouraging
the growth of oak and other valuable timber.

Proceeding foutherly from Hatfield, Broad Oak, through
GREAT and LITTLE HALLINGBURY to SHEER-
ING, the foil in general becomes of a more temperate and
tra6lable nature, affording in many places fome very good
turnip land.

Very little is to be noticed in this diftricl on the article of
manure, if we except only the light top drefiings, which are
ufed at an expence of from 30s. to 40s. per acre in the open
field country, bordering upon Hertford and Canibridgefliire.
In thofe parts of the dilfrid, two crops and a fallow is the
only routine of cropping that can generally be admitted ; and
in the enclofed country, the hufbandry may be referred to
the variety of modes pra6liced in, and particularized at the
end of the firfl: diflrid ; which, agreeably to the prefixed
index table, yields an average produce of

20 bufhels 3 pecks of Wheat
a6 bufhels 3 pecks of Barley
24 bufhels I peck of Oats
18 bufliels of Peas and

20 bufliels of Beans per acre-

Which table further fhews, that the average rent of
the enclofed arable land is 12s. 5d. that of the open field

O a 6s.

C io8 )

6s. 8d. a difference therefore of 5s. gd. per acre between
that which is held in feveralty and that which is half-yearly
or Lammas ground. That the paftures of the firft quality
are 20s. yd. ihofc of the fecond 12s. a confequent diffe-
rence of 8s. 7d. per acre between thofc which are properly and
thofe that are only partially improved. That the grafs and
arable land, when let together, and without diftinflion of
price, averages i2s. and that the rough and inferior paftures
only average 6s. ']d. a difference there of 5s. 5d. per acr«,
fuppofing thofe lands to be improved to the level of the
farms which are thus difpofed of, but which in point of
Talue and improvement are generally obferved to be inferior
to thofe eftates that are rented under a juft difcrimination of
the quality and value of their different clafles of land. That
the undergrowth of the wood land is cut once in eleven
years, and produces 81. 15s. per acre at the ftub. That there
are 500 acres of foreft land in the diftridl, appropriated to
the growth of oak and other valuable timber. That there
are 1070 acres of waltc common land, which may by in-
clofure be improved in its annual value 12s. 5d. per acre.
That the compofition at prefcnt paid for the great and fmall
tylhes is 3s. 4d. and that the fame has rifen iid. per acre
within twenty years ; and laftiy, that the poor's rates upon
the prefent rack rents are 4s. 3d. and that they have rifen
IS. in the pound within the laft ten years.

The value of labour, and price of provifions, through
this diftrict may be ftated as follows :

Betf4^d.— Mutton 4id.— Veal fd.— Pork 5^.— Pickled
Pork 7id. — Butter rod. and cheefe 6d. per lb. — Flour is. i id.
per peck — and potatoes is. 3d. per bufhcl. — Stated daily la-
bour in the winter 7s. and fummer 9s. per week. — Thrafiiing
wheat 2s. 6d. — barley is. 4d. — oats is. 2d. — peas 2s. 2d. —
and beans is. 2d. per cOarter. — Head man's wages 81. with
board and lodging, — Boy's 40s. per ann. with the fame —
Women's wages 3I. lot. with board, wafhing and lodging--.
Girls il. I OS. per ann. with the fame.

DISTRICT

DISTRICT THE THIRTEENTH-re;«/,em/e mixed soil.

Prerent Rent and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Annual Produce

Tythcs Poor's
great Scfmall Rates.

NAMES

of

PARISHES.

Arable
per acre.

Palhire
per acre.

Marfhes
per acre.

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.&Graf

taken
together.

Hop
Land.

Woods.

Forefts.

Commons.

per acre
in bufnels of

i

t

s

(J

c
a:

R

J

i

0

i

0

c

1

si

I

i

■0

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2

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0

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Q.

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0

e

c

•X.

c2

if
5

6
Z

s.

:2

£ 3

0 M

>

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3
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5

i

d

i
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1

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c

«

cq

1

1

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16
16

16
16

-•4

20
16

1

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mat

18

1

1 SAFFRON WALDEN . . .

2 ASHDON .

1. d

16 0
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3 0

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20 0

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20 0
20 0

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20 C

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ra\
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12 0

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aaes

s. <i

12 0
15 0
15 0

S. J.

i. d.

12 C

10

'cult

/. d.

\ '_

years
12

10
10
10

10

10
10
16

II

9

1.

i3o
176
176

180

180
180
240

160

180

120

: :

acres
joo

J. ^.

/. ,/.

20
ZOO

laj
125

60 0

ucc

i, 01

1070
1070

J. A

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16

22

26

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cgct

20 3

- - 22

- - 22

- ■ 28

- - 24

- - 22

- * 22

- - 26

- - 32
- - 33

• - JO

• ■ 34

and difft
her with

. .363

22
22

33

22

22
22
18

3=
3*

28
20

/V7;c
fuch

24 .

Mh.

20

34

:o
16

valu
rial

20

«. ,/. 1. d.

3 9, - -

2 6 - -

3 9 - -
36.-

3 <) -
i >/ ■

betm'en
informa

34- ■

1. ./. J. ,/. J. ./.
.-56

--26

- - 4 6 I 0

1046

--36

- - 46

0 10

- - S '

the ploughed,
ion (as it ti-a

on 43 I c
on. ■ 10

•i LITTLE BURV

4 LITTLE CHESTERFORD

5 GREAT CHESTERFORD

<> HADSTOCK

7 STRETHALL

a KI.MDON

5 CHRISHALL

lo HFYDON

T. GREAT CHISHALL . . .
12 LITTLE CHISHALL . . .

I i LANGLEV

H ARKSDEN

IS WKNDEN

i6 NEWPORT

17 WICKHAM BON-HUNT

18 RICKI.ING. . ."

It) QIjENDON . . .'

20 u(;ley

'I llENHAM ONTHE HILL

!j ELSENIIAM

3 J STANslLI) MONT-FITCHET .

-4 niRCIIAN'GER

:; FARNHAM

:G MANinJEN

77 DERDLNI

li t'LAVERINC

J.) MATHELI) BROAD-OAK
30 GREAT HAI.LINGBURY
V LITTLE HALLINGBURV
J2 SlIEEKING

- -

-■--"

General Average

Open ticld, pai'li:tlly improved and
waftc land

'ERAG

' iw/i/t; ly
iitg ibc j

67--

E diducc
' jucb of
>n-Jcnt a I

• -ji-v 0

d from the fo)
the latter as a
d former agr

- - 13 0 - -

- - 6 7- -

- - 5 sj- -

rig Table
ipyoved,
iral inter

- - II

JJjewhig
partially
ejls of th

175 JOO

the.

imp

isdij

1

proi
rove
IriB

n/ /ic are
icajle :

4 717 °

--47

- ..^

//jt' Xi'OodSf and the grofs land ; «?
J pojfsblc to obtain^ and to be tb

To the avenge of wheat may be adilc'
biifliela per acre where the livct or bc;ia
wheat is cultivated.

' 1

1

109 ) ■

DISTRICT THE FOURTEENTH.

Temperate mixed foil, upon a gravelly loam, a yellow
woodland clay, a brick, and a tile earth, and a
chalky clay.

IJEGINNING at HARLOW, where the land ccnfifk
of an intermixture of foils, from a wet heavy tough clay upon
a tile earth, to a light tender thin foil upon a gravely between
thefe extremes, there are various fhades of temperament
and fertility, the mofl: eflecmed of which is that of a deep
hazel coloured loam, upon a brown tender clay intermixed
with gravel. The tile earth in this neighbourhood is occa-
fionally ufed in the manufacluring of coarfe earthen pots.

Southerly through LATTON, NETTSWELL, LIT-
TLE and GREAT PARNDON, ROYDON, NASING
and to EPPING, a fimilar charadler of foil, in which there
is a large proportion of excellent pafture ground.

A very choice breed of cows has lately been brought from
Devonlhire into this neighbourhood by Mr. Conyers ; they
feem to poflefs almofl every requifite to form the mofl perfect
of the cow kind. Their excellencies are almofl: univcrfal,
being extremely hardy, and requiring but little food, at the
fame time are well adapted to the draft, the dairy, to gra-
zing and to fuckling ; and fo far as the trial has yet beea
made of them, they promife to anfwer moft particularly

well.

The

( no )

The country through V/ALTHAM ABBEY, SE-
WARDSTOND, CHINGFORO, WOODFORD,
WALTHAMSTOW, and LEYTCN ; bounded by
Epping Foreft on' the eafb, ?.nd; the meadows -which lie
along the River Lea upon the weft, confids of a great
variety of foil, the leading feature of which is that of a
gravelly loam upon a brick and a tile earth, and upon fome
yellow clay.

The adjacent Forefts of Epping and Henhault, are viewed
as an intolerable nuifa nee, and are equally regarded as fuch,
at CHIGWELL and at LOUGHTON, where the far-
mers uniformly declare, that the privilege of commonage
is by no means equal to the one tenth part of the loffes
they conftantly fuftain from the deer in breaking down theif
fences, trefpailing upon their fields, and deftroying their
crops either ripe or green. Againft thefe depredators it is
further alledged, that there are no fences, however labo-
rioufly contrived, expenfive, and formidable againft other
animals, that will in any wife avail : add to this, that the
evil is continually increafing from the annual increafe in the
ftock of deer.

Thefe forefts, fo near the metropolis, are well known
to be thenurfery and refort of the moft idle and profligate of
men : here the under graduates in iniquity commence their
career with deer ftealing, and here the more finiilied and
hardened robber fecrets himfelf from juftice, or retires for a
time with his plunder from his haunts in London, where
his arreft is certain whenever it is determined by the mafter
robber, or the robber catcher, that the a6live and adual
robber is to be done.

The country on the north weft fide of the Roding Riyer,
and comprehended v/ithin the pariflies of THEYDON

BOIS,

( "I )

BOIS,THEYDON MONTjTHEYDOK GERNON,
STAPLEFORD TANEY, STAMFOI^D RIVERS,
GREENSTED, CHEPING ONCJAR, aiid HIGH
ONGAR, confifts of a vanoiifly'cornpourided and mixed
foil, chiefly of a good flaple, of a tradable nature, and
lying upon a gravelly loam, a brown and a white chalky
day.

As a large proportion of this country is laid into grafs or
pafture ground, the dairy, with feme fuckling bufinefs, is
iTioft generally purfued ; but for either of thefe pnrpofes
there does not appear to be that necefTary choice or general
preference to any particular breed of cows, which it fhould
feem that the foil, the herbage, and the peculiar appropria-
tion of the milk, mod eflcntially requires.

The lands on both fides of, and hanging towards the
Roding River, confiil of a deep rich gravelly loam, well
adapted to the culture of clover, forming excellent paflure
and very good corn land. Proceeding fouth-eaflerly from
the Roding River, and extending thence through the parifhcs
of STONDON, KELVEDON HATCH, DOD-
DINGHURST, NAVESTOCK, STAPLEFORD
ABBOT, LAMBOURN, and HAVERING BOWER,
the rich mellow foil is in a great meafure lofl in a flrong
loam, upon a chalky, and a wet tough clay.

By hollow draining a confiderable improvement has been
made in thefe lands, a large proportion of which, are under
grafs, and ufualiy depaftured by dairy cows.

The foil of the land in the neighbourhood of BARKING.
including the pariflies of GREAT ILLFORD, WAN-
STED, LITTLE ILLFORD, EAST and VV^EST

HAM, lies chiefly upon a brown tender clay and a gravel.

Thefe

( "2 )

Thefe lands being (Ituate fo very near to the metropolis, and
fo completely within the reach of the London mack, no
conclufion applicable to the general improvemt of the country
is to be drawn from their hufbandry or other management ;
particularly as a very large portion of this part of the
county is occupied with gcntlemens country refidences, and
otherwife employed under paflure, meadow, nurfery, and
garden ground.

The mode of cropping through this diftrift, is extremely
various and irregular : it may be faid to include all thofe
changes enumerated in the practice of the preceding diftridls,
to which may alfo be added, that of fowing clover in the
fpring of the year amongft the wheat, at the fame time and
in the ufual quantities as with Ipring . corn : the reafon
afligned for this pradlice is, that in a dry feafon the clover is
very apt to overpower the oats or barley, and on the other
hand, when to prevent that evil, the clover is fown late in
the feafon, it frequently miiTes plant, and the clover crop
which is here of particular importance, is loft for that
feafon- Finally, the reafonable .objection of two fucceflivt
crops of wheat, with only one intermediate crop, and that
of clover, is not efteemed of fufficient confideration to
recommend the conftant pradlice of fowing, and always
cultivating that ineftimable grafs with fpring corn.

By reference to the prefixed table, it will appear, that the
average annual rent of the enclofed arable land is i8s. 4d.
That of the open common field 15s. leaving a difference of 3s.
iid. per acre between the half yearly, arable and that which
is held in feveralty. That the pafture land averages 27s. 3d.
per acre. That the meadow land in feveralty upon the Roding
River equals 29s. at the fame time that the half yearly or
Lammas land, much of which is of a fuperior quality, and
abutting upon the River Lea is only rented at 25s, a confe-

quent

( "3 )

qucnt difference of 4s. per acre, againd the annual rent or
value of the fuperior land. That number of acres of

forefl: land, producing nothing but old pollard, oak, and horn-
beam at this time, yielding on a very fair ftatetTient 5s. 8d|.
per acre, but were it enclofed for cultivation it might be readily
difpofed of at 20s. an improvement may therefore be made
in the annual value of that body of land, be its extent what
it may, of 14s. 3|d. per acre. That there are 2203 of
cominons, which by enclofure, may be improved i8s. 2d.
per acre. That the average produce of the crops of wheat
are twenty-eight bufliels, of barley thirty-fix buftiels, of
oats forty bufhels, and of beans forty bufhels per acre.
That the prefent commutation for the great and fmall tythes
is 3s. 4fd. and that the fame has increafed ii|d. per acre
within twenty years : and laftly, thatjhe poor's rates, upon
the prefent rack rents, are 3s. gd. and that they have increafed
IS. 6d. in the pound within the laft ten years.

The average value of labour, fervants wages, and price of
provilions, is found through this diftridl, to be as follows:

Beef 4|d. per lb. — mutton 5id. per lb. — veal 5id. per \b.
, — frelh pork 6d. per lb. — pickled pork 8|d. per lb.— butter
I id. and cheefe 6d. per lb. — houlliold flour 2s. id. per peck,
and potatoes is. 8d. per buftiel. Stated daily labour ros.
per week in fummer, in winter is. 6d. per day. Thrafliing
wheat 2s. iid. — barley 2s. — oats is. 5d. — peas 2s. 4d. and
beans is. 4d. per quarter. For mown wheat '3s. 6d. per
quarter, and is. per load for trufhng the draw. When wheat
is thrafhed by the trufs, the ufual price is 2d. when beans,
oats, or barley i^d. per trufs. Servants wages from men of
ten guineas to boys of 4I. with board and lodging. Women
fervants from four guineas to 2I. per annum, board* wafhing
and lodging included.

P From

( "4 )

From the foregoing detail of fuch clrcumftances, as upon
enquiry, where found to exift in the feveral parifties where
information was obtained, the following more general and
enlarged table is formed, embracing in one view, and exem-
plifying in the fh or left manner, the average amount or value
of all the material intelligence, colledled upon the furvey,
as appertaining to agriculture, and to the means which the
county at prefent pofleffes, for extending its cultivation and
enlarging the fcale of its improvement.

TABLE

Table of the Sum, and of the General Average Amount of certain facts contained in. the preceding Journal.

o

Prefcnt Rent and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Annual Produce

Tvthes
great & fmall

Poor 's
Rates.

Stated Valueof Labour
Price of Provifions. daily by talk work
Labour, in threfliing of

Men
Servants
Wages.

Women
Servants
Wages.

5

u
n

Arabic
per acre.

Pafture
per acre.

Marflics
per acre.

Meadows
per acre.

Ar.SiGrafs
take[i

together.

Hop
Land.

Woods.

Forefts.

Commons.

per acre
in bvifiiels of

1

C

1
1

CJ

777,
19}
3 3|
3 si
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3 '1

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3 4i

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28 0

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20 0

40 0

3

24 0
24 0

t3

Tf.

28 0
30 0

1
1

4.

270

I
_

400

: :

1

2

3

4

i
9

10

11
la
'3
'4

1. J.

■4 4
,46

■4 5}
1; 0

14 6
■4 '
14 3J

n 4

'4 9
■3 4
12 5
18 II

i. rf.

12 4

16 0
'4 9J

14 0
'4 7
'3 9

15 0

■3 4
■S 2
■3 9
12 c

/. //.

19 8
[I I
to 6
10 6

4 0
■ '\

32 9

23 9
2; 0

30 3
'! 0

14 0
29 0

s. d.
18 0
34 °

25 0

,. J.
14 9

16 0

14 9i

17 0
14 0

14 7

13 10

14 10

\\t

IZ 0

; ;

J. J.
150 0
87 6
80 0

go 0
70 0

60 0
iSo 0
175 0

140
2829
265

60

.■J770
450
200

430
3520

303
1070

2203

J. ./.

6 0

3 "*

6 4

7 0

3 0
7 0
46

6 0

! 0
6 0

4 7

5 4

17 6

•56

13 't-
is 4
■3 6

'3 4
■7 I
21 0
,7 0
.-3 6

I. ,/.

I =i
1 >{

0 10

■ 4J
I ^f

Ml

■ ij

■ 3
0 1 1
0 1 ij

J. ■/.
4 4i

\%
4 0
2 10

3 7i
2 11

3 ■

2" i."|

3 0

4 0

4 3
3 9

I 6

1 I

0 to

2 0
" 9,

Q lO:

I o\

0 lof

I 0
I 0

I 1

I 0
I 6

L) 0

9 0
9 0

9 0

9 0
,6
9 6
9 <i

10 6
10 0
10 0

9 0
9 0

10 0

7 '>
7 6
7 (■
9 0

9 °
9 °
9 0
9 0

10 6
10 0
10 0

7 0
7 °
9 °

281

281

281

3"
30
30
30
3°

39
39
50
30
3i

J.

16J

16S

i6i
16
16

20
20
20

H
H
-3
^3
H

./,

14!

14,

'4!
12
12
'S

■i
'5

16
16
'4
H

'7

./.

-7
'7
'7
28
28
28
28
28

23

28

26
26
28

'4
'4
14
14
14
14
14
14

16
16

14
14

/. J. ^

8 10 0
8 10 0
8 10 0
80c
800
10 13 0
10 13 0
10 13 0

12 0 0
12 0 0
800
80c
10 10 0

I. i. ./

2 0 0

2 0 0
J 0 P

1 S 0
J S 0
J 00

3 0 0

3 00

; 0 0
5 0 0

2 00
z 00

4 0 0

/. J. rf.

400
400

400

400

400

4130

4 13 0
4 13 0

500
J 00

3 10 0
3 10 0
440

/. i.
^ 5
^ S
^ 5
2 0
2 0
z 0
2 0

Z 0

2 0
2 Q

1 10
( 10

2 0

DOf thf sdieml ivera|c amount ..----|l4 8llo 2'23 2
:toofthcDpeiifi(;lJ,Wii(lc4indpa«ijlljiinptovcii '" 'I" "'4 ^J

taat (licdilTetcnci ,
iraxmcnt and pnrtly

p«tly inftvourof furttiei M j 5 1
yfoi further Ktrtntlimeiit n _*

14 0}

IS yi

4600
4600

4600

22 10

2, 8

14 6 J

2Z 10

6 10

2 10

7 8f

3 OIIl6^lj037v
- - • 10370

S 6I18 o
- - ; 6

'4'3-
1+237

6 8i|24 2
5 4;

20 1J27 0124 o

■II 3 65

■ ■!

■ "i

4l

5

sS

S4

7J

ioj

6

H

iSj

9 S

8 10

30J

•9l

■4i

»7l

■4.'

9 IZ 3

2 17 10

4 4 8

' 5

li. About coo ticrcb of Hatfield or Takcly I'ortrt, is al this time under a very valuable growth of oak timber. The propoi tions of Epping and Heiihaiilt Forcfis, that are equally well employed, could not even be guefTed at, without a more particular examination than it was poflible to bellow upon this important part of the furvey-

I

( 114 )

TT^^m the fnYPociinff detail of fuch clrcumftances, as upon

1w

( 115 )

The fubflance of .which table, it may here be proper to
recapitulate, and is as follows, viz.

That the average rent of the enclofecl arable land through
the county is 14s. 8d. That of the open field los, 2d. confe-
quently a difference of 4s. 6d. per acre between the common
field land, and that which is held in feveralty. That the
average rent of the prime pafture ground is 23s. 2d. making
a difference of 9s. i|d, per acre between the paflure land of
the firfl, and that of the fecond quality. That the rough and
unimproved paftures are rented on an average through the
county at 6s. lod. per acre. That the embanked marfh
ground averages 15s. 7|d. per acre; and that there are
4,600 acres of fait marfh, which at this time, may be con-
veniently enclofed from the fea, and gradually improved to
an equal value. That the meadows in feveralty average
22s. lod. and thofe that are half-yearly 25s. 8d. leaving a
difference of 2s. lod. per acre, which is by no means propor-
tioned to the fuperior quality of the latter land. That the
arable and grafs land through the county, when let in farms
together, and without diftin6lion of price, equals 14s. 6|-d.
per acre. That acres of hop land average 31s. per

acre. That the undergrowth of the woodlands, cut once
in thirteen years, averages through the county at the flub
5I. IIS. 6|d. per acre. That there are 370 acres of thicks
or forell land, which, ,by enclofure, may be improved
I2s 6d. per acre. That there are, fay, 10,000 acres of the
fame defcription of land, not producing, or being favourable
to the growth of oak or other valuable timber, in the forefls
of Epping and Henhault, at prefent eflimated to produce
5s. 8|d. per acre, but which, in a flate of enclofure for
cultivation, might be readily augmented to 20s. per acre :
and finally, that there are 14,237 acres of wafte common
land, which being enclofed, would immediately be increafed

?Z in

( ii6 )

in its annual value lis. 4|d. The fame table exhibits

the following general average produce through the county,
viz.

Wheat 24 bufhels 2 pecks

JRye 20 bufhels

Barley 33 bufhels 3 pecks

Oats 36 bufhels 2 pecks

Peas 20 bufhels i peck

Beans 27 bufhels

Muflard 24 bufhels

Colefeed 29 bufhels

Potatoes 335 bufhels

Coriander and Carraway feed 10 CM't. per acre.

It alfo fhews that the compofition at prefent paid for the
great and fmall tythes is 3s. 5|d. and that the fame has in-
creafed through the county is. lid. per acre within twenty
years. That the poor's rates upon the prefent rack rents
are 3s. 6id. and that they have increafed through the county
IS. lid. in the pound within ten years.

That the price of provifions and value of labour through
the county, are laflly, as follows :

Beef 4|d. per lb. — mutton 5d. per lb. — veal 5id. per lb.
— frefh pork 5|d. per lb. — pickled pork 7|d. per lb. — butter
io|d. and cheefe 6d. per lb. — houfhold flour 2s. the peck,
and potatoes is. 6|d. per bufhel. Stated daily labour 9s. 5d.
in the fummer, 8s. lod. per week in the winter. Tafk work,
or value of labour in thrafhing wheat 3o|d. — barley I9|d. —
oats I4|d. — peas 27|d. and beans I4|d. per quarter. — Houfe
fervants : head man's wages 9I. 12s. 2d. Boys 4I. 4s. 8d.
per annum. Woraens wages 4I. 4s. 8d. Girls 2I. 5s. per
annum..

PART

DISTRICT THE FOURTEENTH— Tewi/jerate mixed soil.

NAMES

of

PARISHES.

Pi efent Rent and Value ; with probable increafe thereon.

Arable
per acre.

1 HARLOW

2 l.ATTON

3 NEI'TSWELL

4 LITTLE PARNDON . .

5 (.RIAT I'ARNDON. .

6 KOVDON

7 NASING

8 i'-l'IMNG

<, WALTHAM ABBEY . .

10 i.lWARDSTONE. . . .

: I ("IJIM.IOUD

1 : UCIODLORO

1, W ALIHA.MSTOW . . .

14 J.FV ION

; rin(;WELI

,:, Ldi'dirox

<; TIIhMJON BOIS . . .

lb TllhVPON MONT . . .

rj 'nii-.vnoN <;ernon .

.0 STAI'L! I'ORl) TAXEV .

,1 STAMIilRI) RIVERS .

.- (.Rl IX^TLD

( C'llKI'ING ONGAR . .

.+ )ll(;ll ONGAR

; sroM)(),\

vt, KELVhDO.NJ HATCH .

7 DODIIINGIRIRST . . .

;H NAMSTOCK

<, STAl'l I-.IORD ABBOT .

o LAMIlOliRN

,1 ILWI-.RING DOWER .

|. HARKING

-j GREAT ILI.rORD . . .

34 \VAN:VrM)

i; LITTLE ILLIOKD . . .

iC EAST HAM

■.^ WEST HAM ......

J.

Failure
per acre.

i6 o

Gcncul Average

OpcuTleld, p.irli.illy improved and

wafte laiul
DitTcicocc

20 o
20 O
20 O

j; c

J.
,;6 o
35 °

Marches
per acre.

20 c
z6 c

II o
:o o

- 20 o
-Ijo

30 o
20 o

Meadows
per acre.

i -^ K

Ar.&Grafs

taken
together. 1

Hop
Land.

JO oj
30 o

9-L- I o
,'- -u d
" S; A

acre]

Woods.

3'
30 o

Forefts.

acres , -

s *i

acTd
300

•. d.U. rf.
5 "« °

S (■

! °

Annual Produce

per acre

in bulhels of

bulh..li,lh.
28

26

I I

irf.

Tythes [ Poor's
great &fmall Rates.

£
o
O

~!.
3 '<:

z 10

3 9

4 '
3 3 -

3 6

4 6

I

GENERAL AVERAGE deduced from the foregoing Tabic, fhewing the produce of the arahle, and difference of value between the ploughed, the woods, and the grafs land ; and
annual rent and value of Juch of tl.'e latter as are improved, partially improved, or uajle : together with fuch material information (ai it was poffible to obtain, and to be thus
conveyed) touching the prejent and former agricultural iniercjis of this dijiriB.

8 11

■ S 0

3 "

1; 0

'7 3

- -

- -

19 0

'11

4 0

j; 0

■ •■ ■

_

; :

"

- -

5 8|r20 0

- -sji^

- M43I

Z203

5 413 6

- .'t3 2

28

36 40 - .
■-[■■-■

40

3 4i

3 9

I 6
1 6

=203

PART II.

CHAPTER THE FIRST.

)tOCft^

SECTION I.

C O WS.

JL H E great variety of foil in this county, and the confe-
quent difference of herbage in a very fmall fpace, has
doiibtlefs contributed very largely to that intermixture of
breeds among the iheep and cow cattle, with which the
primeil of the grafs lands through the county are generally
depaftured: but though this obfervation applies to the county
at large, it does not extend locally, and through thofe par-
ticular diftrids, where the herbage, from time immemorial
to the prefent period, has neither degenerated or improved,
and where, without queftion, the paftures employed for
particular purpofcs, would favour the breed of one fpecies
of flock, rather than that of another.

That thefe matters have hitherto been too much difregarded
is plain, for in the richefl. and moft luxuriant paflures, are
too frequently found, an aflemblage of the refufe flock, and
cullings of the adjacent, the northern, and weftern counties
of the kingdom.

The

( ii8 )

The ftock of cow cattle in moft parts of the kingdom
(if we except the breeding counties) is chiefly appropriated
to two purpofes, viz. the dairy, and for grazing; in this
county, a third may be added, that of fuckling, or feeding
calves for the London market. The rank which thefe
different modes of appropriation holds in the eftimation of
the Eifex farmer is, firit, the dairy ; fecond, fuckling, and
third, grazing.

With regard to the firfl, fo much depends upon the un-
\yearied exertions of the miftrefs, both early and late, that
unlefs the farmer's wife is able and willing to encounter fuch
fatigue, little profit can accrue to the farmer therefrom.

In the country about Epping and Ongar, this bufinefs is
carried on extenfively, but where in general there feems to
be no particular choice or preference as to breed, or the ftock
of cows beft fuited to the purpofe. The Norfolk, Suffolk,
Derby, Lincoln, Leicefler, Craven, Holdernefs, North
and South Wales, and Gallov/ay breeds, are indifcriminately
mixed together, and conftitute the principal dairies through-
out that neighbourhood.

In a few inftances a preference was obferved to be given to
the Holdernefs, Leicefter, and Derby, the milk of which cows
(as well as that of the other dairies) after (landing twenty-
four hours, is fleeted ; and the fkimmed milk is drawn off
from the leads, into veflels (not lined with lead but) of an
increafed depth ; this is called doubling : here it remains for
twelve or twenty-four hours, during which time, as the
cream rifes, it is fleeted two or three times. It is then
threbled or put into tubs, or flill deeper vefTels, where it is
occafionally fkimmed and kept fo long as any appearance of
cream or richer milk is found to form upon the furface. The
butter which is made from the after-fleetings of the milk,

is

( 119 )

is of a paler colour, and of an inferior quality to that made
from the cream, which rifes the firft twenty-four hours : it
is generally churned apart, and fold at a lower price.

The flcimmed milk is ufually applied to the purpofes of
feeding porkers, or fmaii pigs, for the London market ;
thefe are always kept very clean, and warmly lodged, par-
ticularly in winter, during which feafon, as well as in the
fummer months, the milk is always four before it reaches
the troughs, but on that account there does not appear to
lie the lead poflible objedlion ; as the pigs are always found
to thrive extremely well, and their fat, from repeated trials
of comparifon, is firmer, and vaftly fuperior to that of hogs
fattened upon peas or meal.

To account for this, however paradoxical it may at firfl
appear, and certainly againft the more generally ixceived
opinion, is by no means difficult; nor will it feem at all ex-
traordinary or flrange, when it is confidered, that the milk
•with which the pigs are fed, contains all the rich gluten,
or that component part which would conftitute cheefe ;
and no one (it is prefumed) will deny, the nutritive qualities
of that important article, in the lift of thofe neceffaries,
which compofe one of the principal in the fupport of
human life.

About two acres of the prime paftures are ufually allowed
for the confumption of a milch cow, which at 23s. per acre
(agreeably to the general average table) is 46s. to this,
tythes may be added 3s. 6d. per acre ; and poor's and other
parifh rates 4s. in the pound. A lofs of 50s. is generally
fuftained upon the fale of the old cows, and an allowance
of ten per cent, upon the years produce, ought in reafon to
be made for rilk, accidents of flipping calf, cow dodlor,
&c. &c. The account will then Hand upon a dairy of
twenty cows as follows : ., 1^^^

( J20 )

The Dairy

The intereft upon the
cofl of 3o cows, at
iol.each,20ol.at 5I.
per cent, per ann.

To ditto upon the firfl
coft of a bull lol.at
5 per cent. - -

To 40 acres of pafture
land at 23I. per acre 46

Tythe upon ditto 3s.
6d. per, acre - - 7

Poors and other parifli
rates at 4s. in the
pound rent

Annual reduction in
the value of the cows
from the time they
are purchafed till
fold out or dried to
be fattened, fay 7
years, at 7s. 6d. per
cow - - - -

Dairy maid's wages

Labour incidental to
the bulinefs of the
dairy,includinghay-
inaking, foddering,
and all other atten-
dance

Fuel - - . -

Intereft accruing upon
the firfl coft and
wear and tear of the
dairy utenfils

Allowance of 10 per
cent, upon the a-
mount of the year's
produce for acci-
dents, lofs of calves,

cow-doftor, Stc.

Dr.

10 o o

o 10 o

o o

o o

9 4

25
15

Balance in favour of
the dairy

"]

10
o

o
o

4 10 o

26 8 o

156 2 o
108 o 8

Pfr contra it is Cr.
By 61bs. of butter

a week per cow
for 26 weeks
By 41b. ditto, for
14 ditto - -

156

56

212

which applied to 20

cows, equals 4240

lbs. I id. per lb. 194

By the net profit upon

8 pigs per month,

for 6 months, 48

pigs, at 14s. each

By ditto upon 4 pigs

per month, for 4

months, 16 pigs, at

14s. each -

By 20 calves at 25s.

each

6 S

33 12 o

II 40

25 o o

^264 2 8

^.264 2 S

( 121 )

y/hich leaves a clear profit of about 5I. 8s. |d, upon each
cow.

This much however is to be obferved, that the calculation
ftands upon a fuppofition, and according to the generality of
cows throughout the neighbourhood ; that the dairy in
quedion is of the moft uniform and prime quality, and that
it is alfo under the mofl fkilful and attentive management.

Where almoft every breed of cows in the kingdom com-
pofe the dairy, and where a lefs attention is paid to the
feeding and management of them, the farmers are extremely
unwilling to allow that the average produce of their cows
in butter exceeds 4 lbs. per week during the forty weeks
they are in milk, or i6olbs. per annum for each cow. To
this diminution of profit in the article of butter, frora the
fmaller quantity of milk, is further to be added a lofs that
is neceflarily fuftained in the feeding of a lefs number of
pigs, and which upon the whole will be found to reduce
the net profit to about 3I. per cow ; but even on this view
of the fubjedl, and which is furely confidering it at the very
loweft ebb, the dairy bufinefs will prove far more beneficial
than that of the common mode of fuckling, a truth clearlf
illuftratcd by the following example.

Q^ A fudling

( 122 )

J fuckUng herd of
20 cows

To annual intereft ac-
cruing upon the firft
cofl of 20 cows at
9I. per cow, I Sol.
at 5 per cent. - - 9

To ditto on the firft
cofl of a bull 9I. at
5 per cent. - - o

To 40 acres of paflure
land at 20s. per acre 40

Tythe upon ditto 3s.
6d, per acre - - 7

To poor's and other
parifh rates, at 4s. in
the pound rent - 8

Annual reduftion in
the value of the cows
from the time that
they are bought in
till they are fold or
dried for fattening,
fay 7 years, at 6s.
per cow - - 6

Thirty calves bought
in at 25s. -

Market charges upon
50 calves at 2s. 6d.
per calf

Labour incidental to
the herd, including
haymaking, fodder-
dering, and all other
necefTary attendance
per ann.

To allowance of 10
percent, upon 187I.
IDS. the grofs pro-
duce of the year for
accidents, cow-doc-
tor, &c. -

Dr,

o o

9 o

o o

o o

o o

Balance in favour of
the herd -

Per contra they are C'r,

By the fale of 50 calves
fattened by the 20
cows in the courfe
of the year, and fel-
ling in Smithfield on
an average at 3I. 1 5s.
each - - 187 10 o

o o

37 10 o

6 10 o

20 00

18 15

153 4 o
34 6 o

/.187 10 o

/. 187 10 o

( 123 )

which is equal to a clear profit of about il. 14s. 3d. upon
each COW".

This however, is by no means proportioned to what the
profit would be, if the cows, ufed for this purpofe, were
of a proper and uniform breed.

In fiipport of this afTertlon, it is particularly convenient in
this place, to recur to the management of a gentleman in
the neighbourhood of Epping, whofe attention to this, and
to every other branch of rural economics, is as highly
deferving the emulation of, as it is truly beneficial to, the
furrounding country.

In addition to other regulations and improvements, Mr.
Conyers (as was noticed in the Journal) has lately introduced
a breed of cows, from Devonftiire, which feem to unite all
the requifites for the dairy, the draft, for fuckling, and for
grazing. Their milk is confefTedly richer, and in every
refpe6l fuperior to that of the Holdernefs, Leicefter, or
Derby ; though from the fize of the animal, it muft necef-
farily follow, that the quantity muft be lefs ; and which,
in comparifon with the Holdernefs cow, is allowed to be,
by one fourth part, though greatly fuperior in its quality.
One acre and an half of the prime pafture lands in the
county, is allowed to be equal to the full, and complete
maintenance of one of thefe cows for a twelvemonth; in
the courfe of which time, every two cows will fatten five
calves. The firfl; coft of thefe cows, expence of driving,
and every thing included, is 7I. los. per head. The
fuckling account then, of a herd, confifting of twenty cows,
will, upon the preceding principles, and the moft clearly
ertablilhed data, ftand thus:

Q^ 2 A Jiuhling

( 124 )

A Juchlng herd of 1Q
cows, of the De-
vsnjhire breedy Dr.

To intereft annually

accruing upon the

firft coll of 20 cows

at 7I. I OS. pei- cow,

at 150]. at 5 per

cent. - - 7 10 o

To ditto upon the firft

collofabulUyl.ios.

at 5 per cent. - 076
To 30 acres of prime

pafture land, at 23s.

per acre - 34 15 o

Tythes upon ditto 3s.

6d. per acre - 5 5 o
To poor's and other

parifli rates at 4s.

in the pound rent 6 19 c
To 30 calves bought

in at il. 2s. 4d,each 33 10 o
To labour incidental

to the herd, includ-
ing haymaking, fod-

dering,and all other

neceflary attendance

at 18I. per ann. 1800

To market charges up-
on 50 calves at is.

6d. each - - 6 lO o
To allowance of 10 per

cent, upon the grofs

produce of the year,

J96I. 5s. - - 19 12 6

132 9 o
Balance in favour of

the herd - - 63 16 o

^.196 5 o

Per contra they are

Cr.

By the fale of 50 calves
fattened upon the
milk of the 20 cows
within the year and
fold at Smithfield
marketat3l.18s.6d.
each, equals - 196

5 o

^•196 50

■which.

M 125 }

which is equal to about 3I. 3s. grd. net profit annually per
cov/; and although there is evidently a want of coincidence
between this and the preceding account, in the price of the
lean, and alfo of the fat calves, flill thatftatement is exprefsly
correct, being,- derived (with much other of the moit ma-
terial information) from the books of Mr. Conyers, Mr.
Smith, of Sutton, the Reverend Mr. Abdy, and other
Gentlemen, to whom much is due from the public, for
their candid communications, and individually from myfelf,
for their politenefs and hofpitality.

In this laft ftatement, it may be objedled, that no difcount
is allowed againft the cows for their decreafing value. This
is anfwcred by long experience in their native country (and
a very important fadl it is) that when from age or accident,
this breed is no longer proper for the purpofes of milk, their
hardinefs and peculiar conformation enable them to retain
for the purpofes of grazing, all the condition and value
of their firft coft, as hazardable heifers.

A decided fuperiority therefore attaches upon this breed
of cows, not only for the dairy and fuckling but in
their difpofition, to keep in good order during the term of
their milk, and in their great aptitude to feed, or to fatten
afterwards: thus uniting at once, all thofe qualities, which
are fuppofed to exift individually in other breeds, and thus
in one fpecics, concentrating all thofe excellencies fo long
and fo earneftly fought for, in the mod perfect of thefo
animals: fuch, for a fhort inftance, as the Wales cows
doing much better with a lefs quantity and inferior quality
of food, than the Derby or Leicefler; their thin blue
milk being more applicable to the purpofes of fuckling,
than the richer milk of the Derby and Leicefter ; the ad-
vantages of the latter for grazing over the Wales breed in

cafes

( 126 )

cafes of accidental lofs of milk, or when old and unfit for
the dairy, with many other requifites and objediions, partly
founded in fpeculation, and partly founded in fafti all
confpire to be admirably qualified in the native cow of a
particular diftridl in Devonfhire.

In fpeaking thus pointedly of this breed of cows, it may
not be improper, to ftate more particularly, and at large,
the leading qualities, and chara«Sl:eriftics of the animal.

It has before been obferved that they are naturally hardy,
and will preferve themfelves in good condition, whilit giving
milk, upon an inferior herbage: it may alfo be interred
from the firft coft of the heifers, that this breed are not fo
heavy as to poach, to the injury of the wet paftures ; nor
on the other hand, are they fo light and confined in their
frame, as not to pay extremely well for grazing upon the
richeft lands. They are particularly quiet in pafture, docile,
and patent of controul : in their own country the fleers are
very generally applied to the draught, being remarkably
adlive, and four of them well trained in a plough, will do
an acre of land in the fame time that it would be ploughed
with three horfes. In both cafes a driver is found neceifary.
During the fummer feafon, the day's work fhould be divided
(as is the pradice in Devonfhire) into two journies of four
and a half or five hours each, and the fteers fhould be
baited in the middle of the day upon green food, mown and
carried to them, or with chopped hay in the flable. The
fteers fhould be broken to the yoke, and receive their firfl:
training at two years old: they fhould be worked very gently
for a twelvemonth, after which time they will become fo
far feafoned, as to bear conftant and regular work, which
with due care, they may be put to, till they are fix years old.
At this age they are generally fold, or grazed by the farmer
at home, weighing upon an average, when completely fat,

about

>

( 127 )

about thirteen fcore per quarter; and the cows, when fat, at
feven years old, will weigh about eight fcore per quarter.

The moll diftinguifliing features of this breed are, a fine
white horn (not chalky) ftreaked with red: the eye, full,
round, bright, liA'ely, and clear ; the external circle of the
pupil, tinged with a deep yellow ; around the eye is a gold
coloured circle, which colour, in all cafes, will be found to
prevail on the infide fkin of the ears; the chop mealy; the
countenance chearful, and equally free from any thing of a
black caft, or the fmallefl: fpot of white ; the permanent
colour of the breed, is a bright olood red; the points on
the back, and hind quarters, equal to the moft highly finifhed
of the improved Bakewell breed ; and the flioulder lefs
weighty, but with more roundnefs and beauty than is ge-
nerally to be feen : flat clear head, and jaw free from gum,
and throat free from dewlap.

An attention to all thefe matters are indifpenfible in the
purchafe or breeding of thefe animals, particularly in the
choice of, or in the perfedtions of the bull.

The accidents and difeafes, to which all cows are liable,
are fo well known, that it may not be neceffary to flate any
thing further than a few fuggeftions, applying to thofc cafes
which are but too frequent, and fatally experienced in this
county. Bleeding whpn the cows are from one-third to half
gone with calf, is earneftly recommended as a preventive
againft premature calviflg.lahd when the accident does happen,
to bury the abortion irn'mediately, and to keep the cow as
widely apart as poflible from the herd. To be particularly
careful that fhe does not receive the bull, which herds with the
other cows, at leafl: not till after fuch a lapfe of time, as
with good reafon (he may be .thought completely recovered,
and free from the pofhbility of communicating the fmallefl:

infedion.

( 128 )

iiifedlon. For the difeafe called the red-water, bleeding,
and change of food in many parts of the county, particularly
in the iflands, and upon the embanked marflies, have been
found effectually to anfwer. When the teat cracks, and the
bag becomes indurated and inflamed, it is often the confe-
quence of high feeding, and thefe are the uniform indications
of approaching garget in the dug; in this cafe the cow
fhould be immediately blooded, her bag fhould be well
wadied, and anointed with hogs lard or fweet oil. The
teats fliould be drefled with goofe greefe, and the cow kept
as cool and quiet as pofTible. In a few days the bag will
become foft,the inflammation fubflde, and the milk gradually
return to its ufual purity and colour.

SECTION II.

-SHEEP.

A.S there are but few breeding flocks in this county, the
ufual mode of flocking with flieep, is to buy ewes in
the months of Augull or September, to entice thofe that
have not already taken the ram, to be fo difpofed as early
as pofllble, that the Iamb may be returned fat in the fpring,
and the ewe fattened and fold off before the end of fummer.

For this purpofe, the flieep generally preferred, may be
divided into two claflTes; the Dorfet, which begin lambing
about the beginning of 0(flober, and whofe Iambs are
ufually returned fat by the Eaftcr following; coft about 25s.

each,

( 129 )

each, and are calculated to pay very well if they return 3I.
per couple (lamb wool and fat ewe included) by harveft.
The other clafs is a medly of Norfolk, Weldi, Harford,
Wiltfliire, the lambs of which, are falling from the middle
of December till the beginning of February, and fometimes
tili Candlemas. Thefe generally cofl: from 15s. to a guinea
a piece, and are alfo allowed to pay very well, taking lamb
and wool equally into the account, if they turn over (/. e.
double their firft coft) in time for the land to receive its new
flock of flieep in the autumn. The reafons generally af-
figned for preferring any of thefe latter clafs individually,
are, that the Welfh are good nurfes, and feed excellent
lambs. That the Hartford and Wiltfhire (land well out of
the dirt, are hardy, and will do well upon a coarfe and four
herbage ; or that the Norfolk are good turnip fheep, always
feeding quick, and paying well after the lamb is fattened.

The experiment Hated in the Journal to have been made
at Finchingfield, upon a Norfolk and Southdown ewe, il-
luftrates in fome degree, ths peculiar excellencies and defeds
of thofe breeds; and it is only to be regretted, that the trial
was not made upon a larger fcale, and in fuch a manner,
as to afcertain with a ftill greater certainty the abfolute
intrinfic value and charaderiflic qualities of either ani-
mal; enough however is eftabliihed from the experiment
,to prove, that barring the firft cofl: of the Southdown ewe,
it is unqueflionably proved to be the better flieep. On the
fcore of the firft coft of thefe flieep an objedion may be very
juftly ftated as to their general ufe ; but when the South-
down fliall be more generally bred and increafed through the
country, in that proportion will the prefent objedion be
done away ; and though they may continue in equal eftima-
tion, they will neverthelefs by their being more generally

R diffufed

C 130 )

difFuf-.^d and increafed through the country, be brought to a
more equal level, in point of price with the Norfolk, Welfli,
and all thofe breeds fo -juPiIy held in requifition for the
finenefs of their wool, and the firperior excellence in the
flavour uf their rrjutton.

The leading and charaderiftic qualities of the high, and
and full bred Norfolk and Southdown flieep-, appear upon
comparifon to be nearly thefe : the wool of both is found to
be of the firft cloathing quality, but the larger quantity is
produced from the Southdown. The mutton of both is
equally delicious. But the quiet? and gentle Southdown in
pafture, muft be oppofed to the wild impatient ramblings of
the Norfolk, whofe conftant exercife not only excites con-
tinual appetite, but at the fame titne occafions confiderable
wafte in the pafture, by treading down and unnecelfarily
fpoiling a great deal of what they do not eat. For this ex-
traordinary exertion on the part of the Norfolk fheep, ia
thus (as it were) wantonly deftroying a large portion of food
that is prepared for its fubfiftence ; there does not appear
from the experiment abovenoticed, to be the fmalleft occafion,
at leaft to put it on an equal footing with the Southdown in
that particular ; for it is evidently demonftrated by that ex-
periment, that in an equally fized fheep, the heavieft, and
moft capacious ftomach, and confequently requiring the
greateft quantity of food, is found to appertain to the Nor-
folk fheep. The hardinefs of the Southdown, enduring wet
and cold lodging, and a greater degree of abftinence and
fatigue than the Norfolk in the fold, is a fuperiority of much
moment ; and only to be equalled by another, which they
poftefs in a very fuperior degree, which is that of doing well
upon coarfe four pafture?. Thefe are fairly to be contrafted
with the delicate conftitution, and the tender aromatic herbage,

required

( 131 )

required by the Norfolk ; add to all which, the Southdown
is an equally good turnip Iheep, and for every poflible pur-
pofe, whether for its flelh, for its wool, for breeding, for
folding, or for the butcher, they demand a kfs fupply of
food, and of an inferior quality, to that which in every
fituation feems indifpcnfible to the well-doing of the
Norfolk .

The crolTes which have been made between the Norfolk
and Wellh iheep; by the Southdown ram, are by fome far-
mers efteemed highly advantageous ; by others they arc
defpifed as mongrel, deftitute of all the excellencies, but
retaining moft of the defe6ls, which individually appertained
to the flock from which they were produced. This contra-
riety of opinion, and that amongft gentlemen equally re-
fpedable for their veracity and judgment, embarrafles and
obfcures the queftion fo much, that nothing fhort of a
regular feries of experiments, accurately attended to, and
conducled upon an extended fcale, can ever elucidate the
truth, and prove the neceility of a preference either on one
fide or the other.

From the excellent ftate of the highland drainage through
this county, there are but few fpots in it which are liable
to communicate the rot to fheep. In the progrefs of the
tour, but one inftance deferving notice occurred, and that
was in the neighbourhood of Eaft Horndon, upon the com-
mons called Bulvan, and Orfet Fen. Thefe commons it is
to be remarked are particularly fubjeft to inundation winter
or fummer; but the difcafe is obferved to be more prevalent
and fatal after light and partial overflowings in the fummer,
than after the more frequent and extended inundations at
other feafons. The other difeafes and accidents to which

R a this.

( 132 )

this valuable animal is liable, are not fo ferloufly experienced
in this county as in many other parts of the kingdom. The
foot rot, and fcab, which produce confiderable inconve-
iiiencies in other places, are but llightly felt even among
flieep produced from the flock of the Lincoln and Leicefter
breeds, and which are found mod generally to departure in
the iflands an^ upon the marfhes, which have been embanked
from the fea.

SECTION III.

HORSES.

XjL Defcrlption of the particular breeds of horfes, cho-
fen and required in this county for the purpofes of agri-
culture, does not feem to apply fo materially to the purpofe
of this enquiry, as the expence attending their maintenance,
the general mode of feeding, and the working management
of them.

The pra£l:ice of cultivating green food, and foiling the
horfes in the yard or ftable, during the fummer feafon, is
now become very general through the county; and the daily
accumulation of dung by this means, together with the
fuperior health and hardinefs which is induced in the plough
horfes, by their lodging in the ftraw yard, rather than in the
flable, through the winter, is a fufFicient inducement with

the

( 133 )

the mofl: able and experienced farmers to continue both prac-
tices, and to juftify their general recommendation of them
throughout the kingdom.

The allowance of oats during the winter feafon, and
whilft the horfes are fed upon what is called dry meat, is
two bufhels a horfe per week. In the fummer, and when
foiled upon green food, about half that quantity. The road
teams are necefiarily fed at a greater expence than the plough
horfes, as well in the article of hay, as in that of corn ;
the allowance of the latter, to both increafmg, as the
work prefiTes, or in proportion as their exertions may re-
quire.

In this view, the expence of feeding the farm horfes
through this county, is really enormous, and can only be
lelTened by the introduction of fome equally nourilhing
fubflitute, lying equally within the farmer's reach, to be pro-
cured as readily, and at a lefs expence. The journal mod
clearly difplays that fubftitute in potatoes, and to Mr.
Tabraham, of Avely, upon that fubjedl are the public much
indebted, for his very important and candid communication.

To reduce the confumption of the prefent coftly horfe
food, by the general adoption of Mr. Tabraham's pradlice,
•where under a fimilarity of circumftances, the foil would
equally well allow of the culture of potatoes, mufi: prove
of the higheft public, as well as private importance, as
thereby a ftill more valuable appropriation would be glvcti
to a large proportion of the furface territory of the kingdom,
now employed in the culture of horfe food : thus contri-
buting in a very great degree to the augmentation of our
internal refources, and thereby fuperceding the necelTity of

importing

( 134 )

importing into this country, that immenfe quantity of oats,
hitherto annually fupplied from the northern parts of Europe.

Upon the light and temperate lands, two horfes in th©
wheel or Tommon foot plough are ufually employed, and
thefe are managed with much dexterity by one perfon, who
holds the plough, and drives the horfes to a very equal labour
at the fame time. Upon the ftronger land, three and fome-
times four horfes are required to a plough; thefe as neceffarily
require a driver, and here in like manner with the two-horfe
plough teams is the day's work at plough, and at harrow,
tione in one journey of feven and a half or eight hours.
To plough an acre, or at moft five roods, is the commori
day's work. This is the general mode of working the
farm horfes, but which (under the peculiar circumftances
of this county) is not to be applauded or approved of by any
means. In open countries, where the wqrk lies detached,
and often at the diftance of tv\^o, or even three milts from
the farm houfe, the rounding of the day's work into one
journey, particularly in the winter feafon, feems to be a
pradlice.indifpenfibly necefiTary : but in a country like Effcx,
where the farms lie compad, yet moderately large; and
where the farm-houfes in general are tolerable centrical, and
conveniently fituated ; it cannot furely admit of an excufe
for the ploughmen in the middle of their journey, to halt to
breakfaft upon the headland (perhaps at the back of the
ftable, or contiguous to the farm yard) the horfes all the
while fhivering with cold, getting ftiff and difeafed from
negledl, and the confequences attendant upon their morning's
labour, whilil the ploughmen are idly confuming the time,
which cuflom has fanftioned to complete their day's work
in one journey. By dividing the labour of the day, and
baiting between two journies of four and a half hours,

( »35 )

or five hours each, a greater time would be allowed for
the performance of more labour, which in this manner,
would be done with far greater eafe, to both men and
horfes, and particularly with much lefs exhauftion and
injury to the latter.

SECTION IV.

SJVINE.

JL HERE Is no animal in the whole economy of good
hufbandry that requires more attention as to breed, number,
and fupply of food, or will better requite the care and
trouble of the farmer, than a well-managed and proper flock
of hogs. Thefe things however are too much overlooked,
or rather difregarded by farmers in general, though all are
ready to agree that an over-dock in other refpedls mufl: ever
prove fatal to the interefts of the farmer. Hogs are too
frequently conceived to be a trifling and unimportant part of
the ftock of a farm ; whereas if their firft coft, and the value
of their food, were duly confidered, with their improving
value, it would certainly bear them out againft fome of the
more coftly animals, and challenge more attention and care
than what is ufually beftowed upon them. A due regard
to the breed which the peculiar circumftances of the farm may
call for, is particularly neceflary, as fome breeds are much
better fuited to departure, and feed upon grafs and herbs only,
than others. The moft hardy and beft qualified to prog

for

( 136 )

for themfelves, are the Chinefe ; a crofs with which breed
upon almoft any other, may under moft circumftances, be
prudently reconnmended ; let the breed be what it niay, a
well proportioned llock to every farm will moft abundantly
requite the care, and repay the expence of the neceffary
food, provided for them. A few^acres of clover would be
well applied to the uCe of the hogs in the fummer ; but in
the flye it vi'-ould be well to reftrain them to a certain quan-
tity of water ; and to lodge them clean and dry, notwith-
ftanding the wilful negledl and too prevailing opinion to the
contrary ; for cleanlinefs and avidity are as effential to the
prefervation of their health and well doing, as to that of any
other animal.

CHAPTER

( 137 )

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

^xMt,

SECTION I.

IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY.

XF we except the drilling apparatus, annexed to the com-
mon plough, at Wimbifh, the ca(l iron drawling wheel,
noticed in the Journal, at Finchingfield, and the improved
form of the breafl: plate (or what is generally termed the
mould board, in moft ploughs) we fhall find that the inftru-
ments generally ufed in the hufbandry of this county, afford
but few examples of fingular utility. The fore end or neb
of the plate in the Norfolk, and moft other ploughs, (the
Rotherham excepted,) rifes from the upper furfacc of the
{hear too perpendicularly, and too much at right angles to
the line of fridion, or preflTure of earth the plate has con-
ftantly to adt againft; working thus abrubtly in the ground,
the flice or furrow is violently torn, or burfl from off the
land, broken and imperfectly turned over, inftead of being
gradually cut, raifecl whole, and whelmed over, as will
always be the cafe, when the plough enters the ground
obliquely, and at a proper angle, and that the plate or mould
board is properly turned for raifing up, and turning the flice

completely over.

, S In

( '38 )

In the operation of working wheel-ploughs with im-
properly turned plates or mould boards, it will frequently
happen from the refinance produced againft the plough by
ftones, the tenacity or compreOion of the earth, that they
are obliged to be let down below the correfponding line of
level, fo materially neceflary to the equal bearing between the
pitch of the plough, and to the inclination which is thus
given to the point of the (hear downwards, and which ought
always to be, or at leaft as nearly as poflible to a line, drawn
parrallel to that of the draft, and with the breaft work, which
forms the fulcrum from the beam to reft upon. When a plough
is fo conftrudted, and fet to work, that it bears unequally
-in thefe points, the end of the Ihear will be rooting or
dragging with its point downwards, kicking up, and fide-
ways at the heel, and rendering it utterly impoflible to plough
the ground clean, or in any wife to lay the work uniform, or
even in a tolerable manner; notwithftanding an excelTive
and unnecel^ary degree of labour is thereby produced to the
ploughman and horfes. Where the wheel ploughs are pro-
perly conftru£led, they are without queftion eafier to hold,
and will cut the ground more evenly, and work at a more
uniform depth than the foot-ploughs ; at the fame time, it
muft be confcHed, that in any given foil, they will require
a greater power to work them than the latter : the bed
conftruded, of which and thofe with the completed and beft
sraduated rack work at the end of the beam, are thofe
commonly ufed in the Ifland of Merfea, in that neighbour-
hood and quarter of the county.

SECTION

( «39 )

SECTION IL

HOLLOPF-D RAINING.

JL H E R E is no improvement to which the heavy land
hufbandry of this county owes fo niuch as to the fortunate
introduflion, and continuance of the pradlice of hollow-
draining. The means of melioration, and the confequent
fources of fertility, thence derived from the foil, over and
above what it formerly yielded, are not more important and
valuabla in the prefent day, than permanent and precious, as
they muft prove in their confequences hereafter. The fe^r
inftances of invincible blindnefs to the beneficial effects of
this excellent pradlice, go no further than to prove, that
where the work is not properly executed, it never ceafes to
fail in producing the defir^d effect.

To coinplete an improvement of this nature, much is
neceflfary to be attended to. If the field propofed to be
drained lies greatly upon the defcent, every care fliould be
taken to make the drains bear fufficiently horizontally, in
the firft place to prevent a too precipitant fall of the water,
by which the bottoms of the drains would be worn uneven,
and a temporary obftrudion occafion them to blow; and
fecondly, becaufe the more perfedlly horizontal is the field,
fo that it lies level free, and affords a fufficient fall for the
water, the lefs occafion will there be for the fame number
of drains as would be required upon a foil of equal clofe-
nefs upon the fide of a hill: The drains in the field that lies
nearly level, drawing equally well upon each fide; whereas
thofe on the hang of a hill, drawing only from the higher

S 2 fides

( 140 )

fides of the drains, and confequently requiring them to be
made much nearer or clofer together.

The flratum alfo through which the drains are to be made, •
is a point deferving very particular attention ; for when it is
fuch as forms a very clofe and retenfive clay, the drains
fhould be made proportionably near to each other, fliallow,
and filled with ftraw only ; it being totally unnecefTary to
tife wood, or any more durable material upon land, where
the fides of the drains are not likely to crumble in ; upon a
foil like this, the drains Ihould feldom exceed the dillance
of three or four yards apart, and twenty inches deep, or
fuch a depth as may be the mofl: conveniently obtained, by
firft opening the drains with the plough, {hovelling the bot-
tom of the lowefl furrow, and then digging one fpit only
with the land ditch fpade; and which, materials included,
will coft about 2s. 6d. per fcore rods.

Drains formed in this manner, through the tough and
' retentive clays, will be found in a Ihort time after the work
is finifhed, to have formed over the flraw with which the
drain was filled, an arch of fufficient ftrength to fupport the
incumbent weight of the foil, and the cafual traffic of the
fipld. In 12 or 18 months it may be obferved, that the ftraw
being of one uniform fubftance, is all rotted and carried
away, leaving a clear pipe through the land in every drain,
into which the paffage of the water may have been much
facilitated, by a due attention to the filling of the drains
with the moft friaWe and porous parts of the furface the
.field might have afforded. From the price above ftated to
• 2s. 6d. per rod (as noticed in the journal at Southminfter)
is the expence, at which this moft important of all improve-
ments to the wet heavy lands is conducted in this county.

SECTION

( Ui )

SECTION III.

MANURE,

X HE firft confideration which moft naturally occurs to
an aclive intelligent and improving farmer upon this fub-
jeft, is that of preparing and fitting his foil for the recep-
tion of fuch animal, and vegetable matter, as in the courfe
of his leafe he may be able to colleil for improving, and
annually recruiting his exhaufting lands : previoufly hollow-
draining the wet heavy parts of his farm, and afterwards
applying the alteratives of chalk, clay, marie, fand, or
gravel, which (though at the higheft expence flated in the
journal) will not difcourage him, feeing in confequence
thereof the land becomes more tra£lable and fruitful, and
which with proper management, he knows it will be found
to retain for a great length of time.

The blue and white chalky clay, which is applied fuccefs-
fully, under fuch different circumflances through this
county, fliould (in order to prepare it' for an immediate and
intimate union with the foil) be flubbed and left expofed to
the aclion of the air, fometime before it is carried out, and
fpread upon the land.

In the application of fand, gravel, or any filicious mix-
ture to the heavy wet lands, care fhould be taken to apply it in
quantities fufficient to divide, and completely to overcome
the natural adhefion of the foil ; for if there is too fmall a
quantity ufed, a dircdly oppofite effeifl will follow, and the
land (on the principle of mortar) will acquire a difpofition
to run and cement together j thus inftead of the tough

clayey

C U2 )

clayey foil being brought to a more gentle temperament,
their natural tendency will be increafed to run together,
and to cruft upon the furface after rain, and every frefli
ploughing.

In applying clay, marl, or any apparently un6lious
or foapy matter, to foils containing a fuperabundance of
fand or gravel, the fame caution is by no means neceflary,
as under the moft convenient and favourable opportunities
of procuring thofe materials, tiiere would be but little
danger of fuch a quantity being carried upon the land, as
would contribute, even in the fmalleft degree, towards pro-
ducing a fimilar effed.

In every foil, be its nature what it may, occafional dref-
fmgs of lime are indifpenfibly neceffary to aft upon the
undiflblved animal and vegetable bodies, thereby producing
fermentation and vapour, or giving to them that degree of
folubllity, without which (as was obferved in the report of
Cambridgefliire) it is impoflible they can afford any direct
nourifhment to plants. The well-known property in cauflic
lime, which fo rapidly dilTolves the texture and organization
of all bodies, whether animal or vegetable, fhould be an
objedi of the moft ferlous ftudy and confideration, to the
improving farmer, who ought to be well advifed of the fad,
and to have it afcertalned with the utmoft certainty, whether
there is, or not, from the peculiar circumflances of his
foil, a dire6l and pofitlve demand for fuch a drefling. If on
examination it (hould be found to contain a confiderable
portion of animal or vegetable matter (and which a very
fimple chemical analyfis would readily determine) there
can be no queftion but lime would be of fervicc, and which
upon all, and every occafion, fliould be applied by itfelf,
unmixed with any other matter, immediately llightly covered,
and in its freflieft, hotteft, and moft cauftic Hate.

In

( U3 )

In this view, we are chiefly to regard its operation in the
earth, and whether in its diforganizing procefs, it converts the
whole, or a part only of the animal and vegetable fubflances
with which it is in conta6l into the immediate pabuhim or
food of plants J and that the remainder, by fiibfequent union
with other bodies, becomes locked up as it were in an in-
foluble ftate, but capable of being diflblved again, and
converted into vegetable food, by the application of acids-
or alkali, is a queftion of too much importance to the
agriculture of thefe kingdoms, to be carelefsly overlooked
by the chemical agriculturift ; as thereby a fupply of vege-
table food may be difcovered, which if fatisfadorily ex-
plained, and placed in a puint of view, fo as to enable the
occupiers of old, and apparently exhaufted, chalked, an3
limed lands, to reflore and bring into adion that quantity
of vegetable food, which may have lain dormant for ages
in their refpedive farms, would be a difcovery indeed!
The perfon who by fuperior talents, and unwearied labour,,
fliall be fo fortunate to develop this myflerious fuggeflion to
mankind, will alfuredly rank higher in the eftimation of
man in general, and the inhabitants of thefe kingdoms in
particular, than any of the moft juftly celebrated charadlers
of antient or modern times.

It has jufl been obferved, that fuch a difcovery would
apply as well to the relief of the old chalked, as to that of
the old limed lands. From the prefent mode of applying
lime, by the time that it reaches the field, it becomes quite
effete, and differs very little from its raw (late, in that of
chalk, faving than in its more completely perfedl, and im-
palpable pulverization, its caufticity is lofl and expended in
the dung heap, and the gas or vapour there generated and
thrown off, and which in its proper fituation, would have
materially aided a growing crop, is improvidently loft, as

a benefit to the farmer, and diflipated by the winds.

Where

( U4- )

Where the length of -carriage has not forbid the ufe of
chalk, it has indubitably produced for a time upon the tough-
heavy clays in this county, very beneficial confequences ;
the pra6lice however, begins to be much deplored, and that
by very obferving and able perfons', on a fuppofition, that
the old chalked lands, at this day, are equally obftinate,
and far more fteril than they otherwife would have been, if
chalk had never been applied.

With chalk, as with lime, and all other calcarious earth,
in a proper ftate, animal and vegetable matter, will to a
certain degree combine, and in that combination produce
fermentation and vapour, or form fomething that fhall be
foluble in water : in either cafe, there is evidently a che-
mical a£lion, the efFedls of which, contribute very largely
to the powers of vegetation.

So long alfo as the chalk remains in an imperfe£lly difTolved
flate in the foil, it afts as it were mechanically, and renders
the tough flrong clays and tile earths more tradable. But
the whole of the chalk is capable of being carried down-
wards, by its fpeclfic gravitation or folution in water; an
efFe61:, which after a few^years, and in every foil that muft
nejeflarily take place, and the land will then be completely
wafhed, and freed from the calcarious earth ; here the me-
chanical aftion of the chalk muft ceafe, nor may it be ad-
vifeable to renew it, quoad its beneficial effefts mechanically,
as it is prefumed, and not without good reafon, that in like
manner with lime, it has a tendency to lock upa large portion
of vegetable food in an infoluble Hate, but capable of being
dilTolved with fome acid or other alkali, to which the in-
foluble matter may have a greater affinity than to that of
calcareous earth; an opinion which is ftrongly fupported by
the preference generally given to foperS wade lees, and

alhlip

( U5 )

afliiip upon old chalked ground, rather than to attempt a-
renovation of the land by a new chalking.

The good efFe£ls of what the farmers generally term a
frefh tickling with chalk, is certainly to be afcribed to its
mechanical operation in the firft place, but more generalljr
to the richnefs and quantity of vegetable food, contained
in the virgin mould, and with which the chalk is always
mixed.

The application of manure upon the furface, or what 1$
generally called top drelling, ought chiefly to be regulated
by the following confiderations :
ill. Whether the foil is of fuch a nature as to require any

corredtion in its temperament, to render it more ot

lefs tender, open, or friable.
2d. Whether the manure propofed to be applied, is capable

of operating to that end.
3d. Whether fuch manure is incapable of affording nourifli-

ment to vegetables, unlefs it is brought into clofe and

immediate contaft, with fome other power or latent

principle, containing vegetable food in the foil.
4th. Whether the plant propofed to be fed by fuch manure,

draws its nourifliment principally from the ground.

In the affirmative of all thefe cafes, it is plain the manure
(hould be covered or lightly ploughed under.

But when the manure is of fuch a nature, as to apply
but lightly to fuch confiderations when it is capable
of being diflblved on the furface, and conveyed by water
downwards to the roots of the plants, or by converfioa
into vapour, to be abforbed by their ftems or leaves ; and that
the plant is equally prone to receive its nourifhment in both
ways ; the economy and efFedlve operation of top dreflings,
is unqueftionably the mod highly beneficial, and greatly ta

'^ ^"^""^- T SECTION

C h6 )

SECTION IV.

CROPS.

J\.S the general rotation of crops through this county, and
the refult of that management is accurately detailed at the end
of each diftridl, it only remains neceffary to ftate, in this
place, fuch obfervations as may probably lead to fome im-
provements therein.

The fyflem of fingle crop and fallow, is by many people
much extolled for its fuperiority, as a proper, and complete
routine of heavy land hufbandry ; complete it certainly is, and
would be proper alfo, were it not polTible to preferve the
land in much higher condition, and at the fame time to

render it more produ6live in valuable crops.

*

The plants which are defigned to be generally recom-
mended, as intertnediate crops between thofe of wheat,
oats and barley, are peas, beans, tares and clover; the
three firft, from their drawing or requiring but little nourifh-
ment from the earth ; the laft, from its being well known
as the beft polTible preparative for a crop of wheat. To
thefe may be added, upon the drieft land, the occafional
culture of potatoes, cole or rapefeed, for fpring food ; and
cabbages, though the expenditure of manure and labour,
neceffarily required in bringing to perfe6lion the laft named
crop, muft ever prove a bar to its general cultivation, and in
the hufbandry of England, confine the culture locally, and
to a very narrow fcale.

In adapting the leguminous, as well as the farinaceous or
white draw crops, to the foils beft fuited to their nature,.

and

( U7 )

and to the placing of the plants, or the feed, moft properly
in the ground, a few obfervations here may be particularly
neceflary.

The land upon which peas or tares may be cultivated to
advantage, does not require to poflefs fo deep a ftaple, as
that appropriated to the culture of beans ; the feed of which,
in mod foils (be their texture what it mayj fhould never be
depofited at a lefs depth than five or fix inches below the
fettled furface of the ground. The neceflity for placing the
bean thus deep, will appear very obvious to any one, who
will take the trouble to infpedl the root of the bean, when
the plant has attained to its full growth, and its feed to its
compleat maturity : it will then appear evident, that from
the point where the feed was depofited in the ground^ it fends
downwards a long flender tap root, and upwards a thick
ftrong one. along this upper divifion of the root, lateral
fibres are detached from the feed, to the furface of the
ground, and are evidently deflined to colledl and convey
nourilhment to the plant. The long lap root which defcends
perpendicularly, and to a great depth from the point where
the feed was placed in the ground, being perfe6lly clear of
laterals, will not be fuppofed to contribute, but in a fmall
degree, to the growth and fubfiftence of the plant. Hence
the necefiity of placing the bean to a proper depth in the
ground, that the plant may not be deprived of its proper
organs for receiving and conveying from the earth, that por-
tion of nourilhment which the bean requires ; but which,
as well as in the cafe of peas, or tares, will not be found
equal to that conftantly demanded and dravvn from the land
by turnips, cabbages, and the white ftrav/ crops.

To exemplify this truth, it is only neceflfary to attend to

the efFe6l the root of trees produce along the hedge rows

upon the lafl: mentioned crops, but whofe effeils are fcarcely

to be difcerned in thofe of peas, tares, and beans.

T 2 Clover

( 148 )

Clover is obferved to be effefted, in a certain degree, by
the exhaufting power of the roots of trees and buflies; but
this forms a fmall part only of the evil fo generally com-
plained of, that the land, after a while, gets fick, and tired
of this moft valuable plant. That the land may require
a change from clover, as well as from every other crop, is
readily admitted, yet the frequent failure of that grafs upon
the ftiff heavy lands in this county, may (it is humbly pre-
fumed) in too many inftances be afcribcd to mifmanage-
ment : for upon thofe lands, it is the ufual practice, after
making a fummer fallov/, to lay up the land into four furrow
work for the winter ; it being alledged (and with much
reafon) that the foil is of fuch a nature, as to require the
meliorating influence of the froft, to render it fufficiently
tender and open, for the reception of the fpring grain. As
this land may be more or lefs liable to be chilled and injured
with water, the furrows are (hutclofe, and the ridges laid the
higher. In this ftate the fallow remains through the winter,
and the fpring corn is too frequently fown without previoufly
harrowing the ridges to a fmooth and even furface, for the
feed to lodge upon. The barley however is fown, the ridges
are made the furrows, and after being flightly harrowed
acrofs, the field is fown with clover : hence the barley which
fell into the furrows gets overburied, and a fick and lan-
guid appearance prevails along the top of the ridges during
the fpring, and early part of fummer ; and although at
harveft the plant of clover may appear both uniform and
fufficient, it is neverthelefs in the fpring following found to
fail upon the tops of the ridges, and the field too often
remains partially barren, during the eufuing courfe of the
fummer feafon.

To account for thefe efFe^ls it is neceflfary to premife,
that the feed of barley, oats, wheat, and rye, fhould be

placed

( H9 )

placed in the ground, as nearly as polllble to that point upon
the main root, where the lateral fibres are put forth for
feeding and fupporting the plant, and which in moft foils
will be found to be between an inch and a half and two
inches below the fettled furface of the field. Until thefe
roots are formed, the feed roots, or thofe protruded direflly
from the grain; are the only organs by which, through a
pipey cord, the plant can derive any poflible nourifhment.
The more remote therefore the grain or kernel is placed
from the crown of the plant, the more weak and languid
mufl: the circulation and fupply of thofe juices be, which in
the early growth of the plant, and before the unfolding of
its foliage, mufl form its principal, nay only fupport. Hence
the unhealthy appearance of young barley, and indeed that
of every other grain, when improperly put into the ground,
and injudicioufly covered.

The caufe of the lofs in the plant of clover, upon the
tops of the heavy land ridges, appears equally clear and
conclufive.

It is well known, that the roots of the clover act diredly
downwards, and to a confiderable depth. The highly ex^
pofed fituation of thefe ridges, occafions the froft to a6l
with its fulled force, fpenetrating to their centre, and forming
a bone (if the word may be ufed) of ice, through the heart
of every ridge ; here, after the firft froft, the tap root of
the clover is ri vetted, whilft the frequent and alternate
freezing and thawing of the furface in the courfe of the
winter, fwells out, and burfts the top of the ridge ; thus
breaking the tap root, and dellroying the plant of the clover
■« — hence its dellrudlion upon the tops of the ridges, and its
fafety in the furrows, where the plant is fortunately fecured
beyond the reach of fuch a fatal influence.

A few^'

( ^5* )

A few words with regard to the culture of cabbages, will
be fufficient to point out the necefTity of an intermediate
tranfplanting of the young plants between the feed bed and
the field ; for, when the plants are drawn from the feed
bed, and put diredly into the field, they are found to be
out of all proportion, tall, flender, and altogether unfit for
their new and expofcd fituation : to this muft be added, a
long tap root without lateral fibres ; and which necelTarily
undergoes feveral twifts and doubles in the hole by the ope-
ration of planting : here the plant languishes till its lateral
roots are formed, which is gradually doing as the tap root
decays. As the feafon may be more or lefs kind, the plant
may droop for a while, but it too often happens, and that
in defpite of the mod unwearied indullry, that the plant
lofes its life, and its tap root together : hence arifes the ne-
ceflity of fuch frequent replantings, and herein lurks the
caufe of that univerfal langour, which fo long prevails
through all the fields of cabbages that are thus tranfplanted
into the field diredly from the feed bed. It is the nature
of the cabbage to lofe its tap root upon its firfl: removal ;
and in its place is put forth a bunch of lateral roots, juft
below the furface of the ground. The ftem of the plant
then begins to ilrengthen, and its leaves to fpread. This
change in the root being compleated from an intermediate
tranfplanting, the young plant will be the better able to
combat the hardfhips of its new fituation in the field ; for
being already furnilhed with lateral roots, its nourifhment
from the ground will be immediate and certain j it will
flourifli, and come to an early maturity, rather than lan-
guifh for a while, and then peridi, as thoufahds now do,
or creep flowly on till late in the feafon, they arrive at a
flunted and unprofitable end. In proportion as the lateral
roots increafe, and collect nourifiiment, the plant heads
and flourifhcs ; nor would the kindlieft plant upon the

raoft

( 151 )

moft favoured foil, cabbage, or ever come to perfeftion,
were it not by feme means or other deprived of its tap root.
The expence therefore, of an intermediate tranfplanting be-
tween the feed bed and the field, to thofe who aredefirous of
excelling in the culture of cabbages, can bear no proportion
whatfoever, to the labour, expence, and difappointment,
that muft for ever await the want of fo material a training
and preparation of the infant plant.

As the obfervations in this fecflion have been particularly-
applied to the crops, produced from the hufbandry vt the
lieavy lands, it follows regularly in courfe, that fomething
fliould now be noticed concerning thofe crops produced from
the hulbandry and management of the lands, which are of a
more gentle light and temperate nature.

That the common hufbandry of this defcription of land
is greatly to be improved, is clearly manifefted by the details
of Great Bardfield, Aveley, and Hornchurch, where the
neceflity of fallowing is in a great meafure done away, by
the land being continually occupied under a ferics of pro-
fitable crops. That nature is never at reft, is no where
more clearly exemplified than in the cafe of a fallow field,
which being no longer employed in the fupport of a crop
that is valuable, is voluntarily putting forth weeds and
rubbidi, which it would furely have been wifer to have
prevented from growing, by the umbrageous influence of a
non-exhaufling crop, than to have encouraged their growth
for the fole purpofe, as it fliould feem of incurring a heavy
expence in deftroying of them afterwards.

The quantity of gas or vapour that is hourly exhaling
from a fallow field after rain, or every frefh ploughing, is
improvidently loft j and argues a want of economy that is
truly reprehenfible : indeed it has long been a matter of

fcrious

( 152 )

ferious coftfideration, and doubt, whether in the procefs of
fallowing (the temperate and light lands) that the fucceed-
ing crop may not be injured to a greater degree, by the fre-
quent and long expofure of the energies of vegetation to the
fummer's heats, than may be equal to all the benefit derived
to the crops by the de{lru6lion of weeds; for which pur-
pofe however, the leguminous crops, and the hoe, form an
admirable fubftitute.

That the hoe will anfwer an excellent purpofe in cleanfing,
and meliorating the furface foil, there can be no doubt ; at the
fame time it is material to recollecl, that as the fibrous roots of
the corn approach fo very near the furface, a due regard fliould
be paid, both to the time and manner of condudling its ope-
ration ; as the dilTevering from the root, or bruifing the
fmalleft fibre, mull be produdlive of proportionate detri-
ment and injury to the crop.

The weed hook in many cafes will be found more effec-
tual than the hoe, particularly in keeping down thirties and
thofe weeds which have a pipey ftem ; for it has frequently,
and may always be obferved, that thirties cut an inch above
the ground, will not be fo formidable at harveft, as thofe cut
at the fame time with the hoe, and below the furface. In
the former cafe, the remaining flub of the thiftle gets filled
with water, which rcrting upon the crown of the plant, in-
jures it fo far, as to occafion a few feeble fhoots only to rife ;
vvhijft in the latter, ftrong and luxuriant flioots ftool forth,
that become extremely injurious to the crop, and inconve-
nient to the reapers.

The weeds, which to guard againft^in this county, require
the greatert care, and are attended with the heavicrt expence
in keeping under, are the black grafs and crows garlick j
thefe are found moft generally to prevail upon the ilrong

moift

( IS3 )

moifl: foils, and are only to be kept within moderate bounds,
by making a thorough fummer and winter fallow for fpring
corn, rather than for wheat ; and as there is no condition or
good heart, in which the land may be, that will in any wife
prevent thefe weeds from materially injuring the mofl pro-
mi fing crops, it has been found expedient to encourage their
growth to a certain ftage, that their deftrudlion may be
rendered more complete, by ploughing them under.

Wild-gold, couch-grafs, goofe-grafs, red-weed, are pro-
portionately troublefome upon their various foils ; the firft
may be eradicated by hoeing and weeding, though at much
hazard to the crop, expence and labour : as to the
latter, the means of fubduing them, are fo well known and
pra£lifed, as to require but little further to be faid upon the
fubje£l.

To complete however their deftrudion, and the neceffary
pulverization of the lighter land, it cannot be neceffary
to plough fo frequently, though it is abfolutely required to
plough much deeper, than is the common pradice at this
time. Upon the light tender lands, one or two clean deep
ploughings is all than can pofTibly be required for a fingle
crop (and ftrangc to fay) one or both of thefe earths, under
•certain circumftances, had better be difpenfed with ; as the"
horfe-hoe, roller, and harrow, will, in many cafes, do all
that is neceffary.

From too much folicitude (and there are but few that will
not furnilh examples of the truth) we often defeat the very
purpofe we wifh to ferve; and herein the care of the Ellex
farmer is often requited with lofs and difappointment.inftead
orthat benefit and reward, he fo juftly merits by his diligence
and labour. The pains fo unremittingly beftowed in pul-
verizing the foil for turnips, is frequently the principal caufc
in the failure of that crop, it being no unufual appearance

U in

( ^S4 J

in a field Town with turnips, to find a regular healthy plant
in the furrows, whilft along the tops of the ftetches the
failure of the crop is regular throughout the field ; and this
can only be accounted for from the moiflure exhaled from
the former furrows, and to which the top of the ftetch
was not proportionably expofed : the drought here muft
have penetrated on each fide, and in the bottom of the
furrow, and finally have exhaufted thofe parts of the field
of tliat portion of moiflure, retained in the body of tlie
fletch ; for although in the lad ploughing, the top of the
ftetch became the furrow, and confequently a greater fur-
face was then expofed to exhalation, yet it fiill retained
a fufficient quantity of moiflure, not only to caufe the feed
to vegetate, but to pufli the infant plant into the rough leaf,
and completely out of danger; hence arifes a neceffary
caution in preparing for turnips, to guard againfl the diffi-
pntion of moiflure, by reflraining as much as poflible,
the too frequent ploughings, in fumiTier fallowing of the
field.

Aconfiderable part of the moift fand, and gravelly loams,
might be cultivated with turnips to advantage, were the
Scotch two-furrow or ridge pra6lice properly purfued, and
the land left well water furrowed. With the means of a
low carriage upon a fled, the turnips might be got conve-
jfiently from off the land, and in this, great Care fhould
always be taken to have the field cleared before Chi-illmas,.
or at farthcft before the fpring or feed tops begin to fhoot,
otherwife a very material injury will accrue to the fuccced-
jng crop.

The blights which immediately dcflroy, and thofe which
.often precede the infe6ls that more or lefs prey upon the
roots, leaves, blolfoms, and tender kernels of plants, are
of all the evils attaching upon the rural life, the moft cala-
mitous

( ^55 )

mitous to the farmer, falling as indifcrlminately upon the
induftrious and fl:iiful, as upon the flochful and undefcrving.

The red gum or ruft, which prevails through the Rodlng
diftri6l in a dry fummer, and which fo materially injured
the crop of barley laft year, is generally obferved to come
on when the barley is in fpindle, and to precede a fly which
ftrikes the bloflbra or feed veflels of the wheat ; here a mag-
got is produced, and foon after the grain is fet, it feeds upon,
and confumes the tender kernel. Something very fimilar is
frequently noticed in the clover, and proved generally in-
jurious to the feed laft year. In every part of the county,
but particular in Dengy diflridt, the fly called the collier,
made confiderable ravages among the beans ; and the crops
of peas and tares were deftroyed early in the fummer, by a
fmall green infe6l, refembling a young grafshopper.

To prevent thefe vifitations is impofllble, but in fomc
meafure to palliate their injurious efFe£ls, may probably lie
•within the power of man ; and this to a certain degree has
been elfeded, in preventing the curly blight in the culture
of potatoes, and the fmut in wheat.

Reafoning thus, and taking into due confideration the very
important benefits which are derived from coal tar, in pre-
venting the depredations of marine infeds on plank and
timber i it very naturally occurs, that a preparation of coal
tar, judicioufly applied, might not only produce a fimilar
effedt againft Infeas in the ground, but by its gradual and
regular folution, become matter of food, for the nourlfliment of
plants ; and this leads to a very important confideration of
how far the application of coal tar may be rendered fervice-
able, by prolonging the durability of pofts in the ground,
and in like manner for the prefervation of hop poles ; to
which particular point it is with extreme pleafure, an op-

U 2 portunity

' ( 156 )

portuTiIty offers for ftating the fubftance of a converfatlon
with the Earl of Dundonald on this fubjed:, who recom-
mends the following method of preparing the hop poles,
to the ferious attention of the growers of hops.

The ends of the hop poles, intended to be inferted ir^
the ground, fhould firft be (tripped of the bark for the
length of thirty inches. The poles muft then be pointed,
and fcorched or burnt, until the furface, from which the
bark has been taken, becomes black. The cuftomary depth
which the poles are fixed in the ground, will regulate how
much of the pointed end fhould be treated in this man-
ner. The burned end of the pole, whilft hot, fhould
be dipped into thin coal tar, which fhould be previoufly
made warm in order that the wood may abforb as much as
poflible. There perhaps may be an advantage in dipping
the pole the whole thirty inches, llripped of its bark, fo
that twelve inches of what is covered with coal tar, fliould
be above the furface of the ground. The poles are then to
be flacked with their pointed ends upwards, until fufficiently
dry ; after which, they fliould be dipped in coal pitch, made
boiling hot, and fet up a fecond time in the fame manner,
and fo remain until they are required for the plants. If
the poles are fubje6l to injury at the upper or fmaller ends,
dipping them into the coal tar, might probable be of ufe,
in preventing the fepar^tion of the bark, or the harbouring
of infeds.

The tar and pitch may be had in different flates of pre-
paration, at the Britifh Tar Company's Office in ^London.
This pradice was recommended, and apparently with good
reafon, by Lord Dundonald about ten years ago.

CHAPTER

( 157 )

CHAPTER THE THIRD.

pasture*

X H E iflands bordering upon the fea coafls, (Merfea-
excepted) and the lands which have been produced by, and
embanked at different periods from the fea, were formerly
under pallure, but of late years a confiderable portion of them
have been brought under the plough. A ftate of pafturage
is unqueftionably bed fuited to thefe lands, particularly after
they have been properly improved and brought to a good
herbage. In that ftate they would be mod profitably em-
ployed in grazing flieep and cattle, were it not for an incon-
venience which they all labour under, in the want of a con-
flant fupply of wholefome water. With regard to fuch of
thefe lands as are appropriated to tillage, the pradlice of
exhaufting them before they are again laid into paflure and
grazing ground, ought carefully to be avoided ; yet in all
cafes where the rough and uncultivated marfhes have been
previoufly chalked, they fhould be kept in occafional motion
with the plough for three or four years, and then laid down for
permanent paflure : but where this indulgence may not be
allowed by the landlord, the journal at Toolefbury ftates,
that at a moderate expence, a very confiderable improve-
ment may be made in fuch marflies, by removing the ants
hills into the rills and low places. The waterwithout injury

to

( 158 )

to the fences, might be run down to a lower level, by clean-
fing, and deepening the partition ditches ; and th.is the rufhcs
would be deftroyed, and a more regular and effedual fence
prefcrved, together with a better fupply of more wholefomc
water during the dry feafon.

After expofing the cold and long fettled foil of the old
marfhes, to open and meliorate for three or four years under
the plough ; the lafl crop fliould be taken and the land
again laid down into grafs. From this treatment a very fu-
perior herbage would be produced, anfwering equally well
for making into hay as for feeding green and fattening
cattle.

The hay which is generally made from the coarfer
marfhes, though fliut up in due feafon for that exprefs pur-
pofe, as well faved, and of an equal quality to the eye, is
not to be compared in point of nouriQuiient, to an apparently
good hay made from the higher lands; and as the grafs
of the one is compofcd of nearly the fame variety, and
found in the fame proportions as the grafs of the other, the
difference can only arife from a want of that uniform
growth and perfection in the marfli grafs, as there is in tiiat
which is grown upon the higher lands poiTeiTes.

This explanation is ftrongly fupported by the feeding
quality of the marfli grafs, when felefted by the cattle and
eaten green.

The coarfe highland paftures, (after having been previoully
hollow drained) fhould undergo the fame treatment as the
coarfe marfhes ; but in neither aije, Jhould the Jmalleji portim
of vegetable matter be burnt, that in any reajonable time it were
poffible to rot,

CHAPTER

c 159 )

CHAPTER THE FOURTH,

^oor anft iLalioun

A HAT the value of labour is more generally proportioned
to the price of provifions, in this county, than in many
others in the kingdom, maybe readily admitted ; but that
the poor's rates, which are now upon the rack rents through
the county 3s. 6d. in the pound, fhould have increafed one-
third of that fum within ten years, and that alfo, without
the leafl fhadow of proportion in the increafe of population,
is certainly very ftrange, and argues a pofitive inadequacy in
the value of labour, to that of provifion, or a general mis-
management, or mifiipplication of the revenues of the poor.

As revenues of the poor, they may now with as much
propriety, as roundly and as correctly be alTerted, as any
other revenue drawn from the fubje£t, and attaching upon
the crown.

Upon this principle then, it would furely be advifable to
invert this defcription of people with fuch an interell in the
management of their own affairs, as would beft comport
with their judgment and feeling, and ultim.ately tend to the
exclufive coiifervation of that revenue agreeably to the
purpofes of its original inftitution : at the fame time pre-
vent

( i6o )

vent the future and further increafe of that burthen upon the
landed property of the kingdom.

With this view are the following hints fuggelled for the
purpofe of improvement.

Let the average value of labour in every parifli be cor-
refliy afcertained, and let an augmentation thereon be
made equal to the annual amount ^of the prefent poor's rates
in fuch parifh.

Let this excefs be paid regularly, and in the ufual
manner, with the daily or weekly wages ; and let it be re-
quired that the fame fliall be fubfcribed by the labourers of
the parifh, into, and form one common flock ; fubjedl to
the appropriation and control of a committee of hufbandmen,
that fliall be elected as examinators, or inquifitors, of the
poor, by a majority of the fubfcribing parifliioners.

Let an order from this committee upon the (perfon'
who fhall previoully have been appointed) treafurer, be the
only authority for difburfements to the indigent poor.

Let every fmgle man fervant be eligible to fubfcribe

2s. 6d. or 3s. in the pound, upon his yearly wages, and let

this be the criterion of his right of fettlement.

♦
Let every other right of fettlement, faving that of ap-

prenticefliip, be completely done away.

Let every labourer, or houfe fervant, who thus receives
additional wages for this purpofe ; the former withholding
his fubfcription for a month, and the latter at the expiration
of his year^ be confidered as outcafls, and difqualified from
ever 'being admitted as members of that fociety : but here
let the odium particularly reft upon the labourer ; let him be

diflinguifhed

( i6i )

^Iftingnifliedflnd avoided as profligate, let him be ftigmatized
as worthlefs and abafed for ever.

Let the accounts of the treafirrer be audited every year,
and let the balance in hand, or the excefs of the fund be
declared proportionately to appertain to each individual fub-
fcriber, upon which, fuch fubfcriber fhall have a claim or
lion, fo far, as in the event of his removal, he may with-
draw^ it from that parifh, and inveft it in the fimilar fund of
the parifh to which he wiihes to remove ; but in this transfer,
the money muft on no account pafs through the hands of
the labourer, btit through the medium of the treafurers of
each parifh.

This upon every occafion would prove an acceptable pre-
curfor, and infure the welcome of the labourer to his new
fituation.

How different the whole defign from the melancholy ex-
perience of thoufands, who in the prefent day, and in the
cafe of fettlement only, are no longer treated as fenfible and
rational beings, but are hunted like wild bealls from parilh
to parifh, not becaufc they have offended againfl: the laws
of their country, or otherwife poffefs evil, which ought to
be avoided; but too often becaufe they may have piqued the
parifh officers ; or that fome of thofe gentlemen may occa-
fionally wifh for a frolick, at the expence of the parifh, or
for an agreeable excurfion in a port chaife : but this, together
with the immenfe funis annually expended in legal contefts
concerning the removal and fettlement of paupers, and
which are neceffarily charged to the account of the ,poor,
would on a certainty be faved, were an arrangement gene-
rally adopted, fomevvhat fimilar in principle to that above
ftated.

With regard to workmanfhip, or the mode and manner
•f conducing labour, it differs fo very little from the

X general

( l62 )

general praflice in this part of the kingdom, that as little
occurs in this place as neceffary to be faid upon the fubjedl.
The mode of inning the harveft at prefent, appears to be
the mofl: important and material.

In moft places this is done by engaging a certain number
of men,, who receive a fixed fum for their time, be it long
or fhort, and are fed by the farmers during the whole time :
hence it frequently happens, that foon after the harveftmen
arrive, by the heat of the feafon, and change of food, they
get a furfeit, and many of them are laid up for the firft week
or ten days with inflammatory fevers. From a gallon and
an half to two gallons of ftrong harveft beer, is their ufual
allowance, with as much refrefhing fmall beer as they choofe
to drink; this, together with a profufion of animal and
vegetable food, conftitutes their daily fare.

In this manner the men are fed, and fupported for a
month or fix weeks, but in the interim, what becomes of
their wives and children? depending upon the harveft wages,
to pay rent, and provide a little winter fuel; they are com-
pelled to fubfifl upon a few loofe ears, gleaned in the fields,
inftead of participating with the men in their labour and fub-
fiftence, by an arrangement fimilar to that noticed in the
journal at Sturmer.

By fuch management the neceflities of a poor family in
that plentiful feafon are much relieved. By their mutual
co-operation and fubfifting together, their earnings are in-
creafed, and their little fcale of comforts proportionably
enlarged — The hufband in fharing and dividing with his
wife and children, the labour and comforts of the feafon,
becomes exempt from indifpofiiion, and the whole family
are thereby invigorated to make the beft polTible ufe of
that precious feafon.

To

f i63 )

To diiFufe thefe comforts as generally as poflible, and by
a new arrangement in the management of the poor ; to reftorc
that honefl pride, which was once the boaft of the Englifli
hufbandman, (viz.) That he difdained to receive aflis-
tance from the parifh, but under the mofl prefTing cir-
cumftances of indigence and diflrefs, cannot fail to prove
a fource of the very higefl moral and political confequencc ;
for in the very loweft walks of life, as well as in thofe of
higher degree, there is a pride which difplays the man, and
adds worth and dignity to the human charader ; and through
all the fhades of fociety, which compofe the inhabitants of
this highly favoured ifland, there are none, who, without
the compunftion of pofitive guilt, that are fo completely
wretched, as not to derive fome increafe of happinefs fronx
a ftridl adherence to virtuous emulation. To fave from
falling, is better than to raife up; and to prevent an evil,
is better than to fupply a remedy. Suffer a poor, but flurdy
ploughman, to receive the parifli colledion, and he feel?
himfelf degraded for ever after : the pride which was once
his boaft, becomes his torment, and the very a£ls of pecu-
lation, which his honeft foul would have fcorned before his
degradation, becomes familiar under cover of the night,
and the hope of concealment and impunity.

X 3 CHAPTER

( »64 )

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

3RoaD0^

jNIoTHING can more dearly evidence the value and
importance of good roads, than the great improvements
to which of late years they have fo much contributed, by
affording a more ready admiffion of manure, and a free
circulation of air, thereby materially improving the foil and
climate of Dengy Hundred. In many parts of the county the
difficulty and expence of procuring proper materials for making
good roads, is very great; but even in thofe places (and al-
though the materials may coft from one-penny to three-
half-pence a bufhel, and the road rates upon the rack rents
being occafionally from three to fout fliillings in the pound)
the exertions of the parifhioners are unceafing, feeing that
their health, comfort, and convenience, are fo much de-
pendant thereon. In this purfuit, however expenfive and
meritorious, the exertions of the tenantry are often weakened
and difcouraged, by the very unequal aiTefTment of the parifh
rates; and the yeoman and tenant are too often fubjedted
to, and aggrieved by the imports inflidled upon the carriage
and tranfportation of manure upon the adjacent public (and
often inferior) turnpike roads ; than which nothing ought to
be more carefully guarded againfl ; as in the general fcale of
rural improvements, imports of this nature muft be con-
fidered as the mofl invincible of all obftacles, to the
improvement of thofe lands which do not contain any
natural manure, as thereby a prohibitory tax is laid upon
the admifTion and application of that which is foreign or
artificial.

CHAPTER

( 5^5 )

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

"*"^ ^■^1,■^^

Winstta anti jTorcsts,

XN no part of the kingdom can the value and inaportance
of land be fo great, as within a fhort diftance of the me-
tropolis; yet in this county, to find fuch extended and com-
paratively unprodu6live v^aftes, is not more matter of furprife
to foreigners, than a fource of real injury to the kingdom at
large. The journal has already cxprefFcd fo fully the prefent
value, and the probable impr 'vement of which thefe lands
are capable, that little further remains to be noticed in this
place, than a few obfervations touching the expediency
of keeping fuch parts of the forefl; land as are favourable
to the growth of oak timber, exprefsly for that purpofe.

«* The right of cutting wood, varies in different parts of
" the foreft ; and where it is left to the difcretion of the in-
** habitants, nothing but mutilated hornbeam pollards are
*' to be feen, whofe heads are cut whenever a few faggots
" can be colledled from them.

** No buiTies are there allowed for the protedion of the
<• young p'ynts, without which, a fucceffion of trees cannot
*' be preferved againft the bite of the deer and other animals.

<• On that part of the foreft, within the parifli of Epping,
*♦ confining of 527 acres, the lord of the manor has by dif-

" ferent

( i66 )

«« ferent grants from the crown, the exclufive right of
** all timber, underwood, and bufhes. The land is well
*< adapted to the growth of wood in general, more particu-
*' larly to that of oak, which by the judicious management
<• of the prefent poffeflTor, is in a very flourifliing ftate.

" The foil of the foreft is either of a brick earth, or a
** cold gravelly clay ; and (as was obferved in the journal)
" the deer have increafed very much of late years, not to
" the advantage of the neighbouring farmers, whofe crops
'♦ of hay and corn are certainly much injured by them."

CHAPTER

( i67 )

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.

Cenure©.

O.

'NE very material error exifts in the prefent mode of
occupying farms throughout this county ; v/hich is that of one
perfon monopolizing feveral farms, and holding them as it is
termed, " off hand". Thefe farms lie frequently detached
and very w^ide of each other, and a looker or fuperintendant,
at ten or twelve fhillings per w^eek, occupies the ruins of the
old rnanfion or farm houfe, which was heretofore the feat of
hofpitality, induftrious emulation, or modeft virtue. In
the courfe of the tour, it was obferved, with much indif-
ference by an overgrown farmer's wife, •• that her hufband
had but nine farms in his occupation j" each of which
upon further enquiry was found to be equal to the care and
capital of the fame number of equally fkilful and refpec-
table, although perhaps not fuch wealthy and imperious
families.

This pra£lice of confolidating, or rather fuffering one
perfon to occupy and monopolize, fo many dirtin£l farms,
is (without going into the queftion at large, which would
require too much room) whatever may be aflferted to the
contrary, fraught with more evil, and is more deftruitive to
the agricultural improvement and produce, and political in-
terefts of this country, than any other at prefent exifting,
and which cannot be done away, without the power and au-
-thority of Parliament.

With

( i68 )

With refpeSl to leafes, there is but little room for cotif^
plaint in this county, as the farms in general are held under
running leafes for three feven years, which are virtually and
in fad leafes for twenty-one years ; hence the general
fpirit, and coflly improvements of ^the Eflex farmer, ftand
unrivalled in any part of the kingdom.

In the agricultural furvey of Aberdeenfliire, a plan of a
leafe by the late Lord Kaims is noticed, which, with
Dr. Anderfon's additions, is made by that gentleman to em-
brace every thing neceifary on that fcore, to further the im-
provement of the country; at the fame time mutually and
equally to conferve the intereft of the landlord and the tenant.
The fcheme, which is certainly the offspring of ingenuity,
combined with the produce of a great deal of thought, is as
follows :

" I am extremely happy to have it in my power on this
'• occafion to lay before the public at large, through means
" of the honourable board to whom this report is addreffed,
" a plan of a leafe which is perfedlly adapted to fecure a
*' like intereft of the tenant and the legitimate rights
** of the landlord ; by which the rights of humanity can
" never be violated, and which can apply to all poffible
** cafes, fo that neither of the parties can ever acquire an
•' undue advantage over the other in any fituation of
** things. To effedl all thefe things appeared to me for a
** great many years to exceed the powers of human inge-
*• nuity to devife. It has been done ; and the public are
*• obliged to the late Lord Kaims for this excellent de-
*' vice.

** His lordrtiip propofed that the leafe fhould extend to
** an indefinite number of years, confifting of fixed periods,
** at the end of each which a rife of rent fhould take

♦* placd

( 1^9 )

«« place, with permifllon for the tenant, at the period of
*< each of thefe rifes of rent to give up his farm if he fhall
*' fee proper, and granting a fimilar power to the landlord
*' upon proper terms, to rcfume his land if he fliall think
** fit. The particulars of this contrad, and the grounds
" on which they reft areas under.

** He aflumes it as a poftulatum that a landlord and te-
** nant are capable of forming a tolerably juft eftimate of
** the value of the land in queftioh for a Ihort period of
** years, fuch as it is cuftoinary to grant leafes for in Scot-
•* land: fay twenty-one years- And having agreed upon thefe
" terms, which, for the prefent we fliall call lool. rent, the
*' tenant exprelTes a wifli to have his leafe extended to a
•* longer period. To this the proprietor obje61:s, on this
«* ground, that it is not poilible to form a precife efti-
*• mate of what value the ground may be at the end of
*' that period. He has already feen that ground for the
*' laft twenty-one years has increafed much more in va-
*' lue than any perfon at the beginning of that period
<* could eafily have conceived it would have done, and
<* therefore he cannot think of giving it ofF juft now for a
<* longer period, as a fimilar rife of value may be expedled
** to take place in future. This reafoning appears to be
'• well founded, and therefore to give the landlord a rea-
<* fonable gratification, he propofes that it fhould be fti-
" pulated that if the tenant fhould agree to give a certain
•' rife of rent at the end of that period, fuppofe 20I. the
*' landlord fhould confent that the leafe fliould run on for
*< another period of twenty-one years ; unlefs in the cafes
<* to be aftermentioned.

'< But as it may happen that this 2ol. now flipulated to
'« be paid at fo diftant a period, may be more than the far-
*♦ mer will find he is able to pay, an option fhall be given to

Y ♦• him

( ^7^ )

«' him to refign his leafe if he fhould find that is the cafe, by
«* giving the landlord legal notice one year at leaft, before
•« the expiry of the leafes ; but if that notice be omitted
*♦ thus to be given, it fhall be underftood that the tenant
«* is bound to hold the leafe for the fecond twenty-one -
«« years, at the rent fpecified in the contrad. And if the
*' landlord does not give the tenant warning within one
«« month after that period, it fhall be underftood that he
" too is bound to accept of the ftipulated additional rent
«« for the twenty-one years that are to fucceed.

<* It may however alfo happen that the fum fpecified
" in the leafe may be a rent confiderably below the then
•• prefent value of the farm : or the proprietor may
** have very ftrong reafons for wiftiing to refume the pof-
*• feflion of that land, or to obtain an adequate rent for it :
** a power therefore fhould be given to him in either cafe to
" refume the land?, if he fhould fo incline. But as a great
*' part of that prefent value may be owing to the exertions
•• of the farmer,who has laid out money upon the farm in the
* ' hopes of enjoying it for a fecond period of twenty-one years,
" it would be unjufl to deprive him of this benefit without'
" giving him a valuable confideration for that improved
«• value. On this account it fhould be flipulated, that in.
•' cafe the proprietor at this time refumes the farm, he fhall
«« become bound to pay to the tenant ten years purchafe
*• of the additional rent he had agreed to pay j which in the
** example above flated would be 200I.

*' But tiie land may be worth flill more than the 20I..
♦' of rife mentioned in the leafe, and the tenant may be
" content to pay more, fay lol. rather than remove; and he
'* makes offer accordingly to do fo. In that cafe, the land-
** lord fhould be bound either to accept that additional offer
" or to pay Un years purchafe of that alfo; and fo on for

every

<f

( 17^ )

**• every other offer, the tenant Oiall make before he agrees
•* to remove from the farm.

" In this way the landlord is always certain, that he can
*' never be precluded from obtaining the full value for his
" land, whatever circumflances may arife. And If the tenant
*^ fliall prove difagreeable, fo that he would wilh rather to
*• put another in his place upon the fanne terms, it never
"'can be any hardfliip upon the landlord to pay the ftipu-
*♦ lated fum; becaufe it would be the fame thing to him
*« as if he bought a new ellate at Ten years purchafe free
** of taxes : a thing he never can expe£l to do. It is indeed
" true, that it would be more advantageous for him to allow
'* the prefent tenant to continue : and therefore this alter-
" native will be always, unlefs in very extraordinary cafes
*' accepted of, as it ever ought to be; and thus the tenant's
*' mmd is impreiTcd with a convidlion that he will con-
** tinue in his polTeflion : a convidion that ought ever to
<' prevail, becaufe it ftimulates to induftry in the highefl:
*« degree.

*' And as the tenant is thus certain, that at the very
«• worft, his family mufl: be entitled to draw a reafonable
" remuneration for the exertions of his induftry, he can
** never find the fmalleft tendency to flacken his endeavours
*• in any way.-

*' By ftipulating in the original leafe in the fame manner,
*♦ that at the end of the fecond twenty-one years the leafe
** fhall be continued for twenty-one years more; and fo on
** at the end of the third, and fourth, and any farther
«« numbers of periods of twenty-one years, on agreeing to
" pay a fpecified rife of rent ; referving to each party the
*• fame privileges as above defcribed, the leafe might be
** continued to perpetuity, without either party ever being
*• in danger of having an undue advantage over the other.

Y 2 *• The

( 172 )

" The tenant will always be certain of having a preference
" given him over every other perfon, and will of courfe go
•' on with unceafing exertions to better his land, which will
" of necedity tend to augment the income of the proprietor
" much more than could have happened under any other
«* fyftem of management.

** Such are the outlines of that plan of a leafe that his
*' lordfhip has propofed. By this plan the tenant's hands
'* are not tied up by reftriflive claufes didlated by igno-
** ranee, under the pretext of fecuring the intereft of the
" landlord. His intereft is fecured in a much more effedual
*' manner, while the tenant is left at full liberty to avail
<* himfelf of his knowledge, his flcill and his induftry.
" Inftead of ceafing to begin any arduous undertaking, as
*« he ever muft do where he has no leafe, or of beginning
'* to improve for a few years only at the commencement of
" his leafe, but flopping in a fliort while in the midft of
** his career, and then running it down to the fame exhaufted
** ftate as it was at its cornmencement, he continues to puiTi
»« forward without ever flopping; and advances even with
" an accelerating progrefs for an endlefs period of years.
" No perfon but an experienced farmer can conceive the
*' difference that would be between the produftivenefs of the
«' fame land under this management, at the end of a hun-
" dred years, from what it would have been if let even for
*' detached periods of twenty-one years each. In unimproved
" wafte lands, the difference would approach to infinity.
*' In lands which were originally very rich, the difference
" would be lefs confidcrable; but in all cafes were cul-
** tivation could take place, the difference would be very
<^ great.

" It is worth remarking here alfo, that if this arrange- ^
•* ment were adopted, a new order of men in civil fociety

'< would

C 173 )

«' would be createJ, different from any that at prefent
*' exifts. They would be inferior in point of rank to that
•' clafs of men who are called gentlemen, and fuperior in
'* point of wealth and energy, not only to the prefent order
*< oi farmer Sy but even to that clafs of men who are called
" yeo?jien. The peculiar political advantage attached to
«' this order of fociety would be, that while their exertions
«* would always infure influence, that influence never could
•• become fuch as to permit them, by imitating the life
*• of the higher orders, to negleft their own proper con-
•• cerns ; for the moment they did fo, their exertions in
** bufinefs would become flackened, in confequence of
•• which, they could not afford fuch a rent as others around
" them would be willing to give, and fo they muft quit
*« their leafe.

•♦ Here we are led to perceive the moft effential difference
" between fhus granting what may almoft be called a per-
<< petual leafe, and every other long leafe that ever yet has
" been tried; for in all other long leafes, if the rent fl:ipu-
*' lated at firfl: fliall prove to be at la(t inadequate, and the
" holder of the leafe be reduced to poverty, by dillipatioa
*« or otherwife, he may neither Jiimfelf be able to cultivate
'• the ground properly, nor can another be permitted to do
«' fo ; and by this means the proprietor may not only be,
«* for a long period of years, deprived of an ade<|uate value
" for his land ; but that land alfo being locked up from
** improvement, may be doomed long to remain in a degree
" of comparative flerility. Nothing of that kind could
" here happen. It differs alfo very much from that fort
'V of tenure which is called yeomanry, in which their fmall
'< capital, which if properly applied, would have been juft'
** fufficient to give fcope for agricultural exertions, by be-
*• ing locked up on the original purchafe of the land, de-
«* prives the poffeffer of the only funds he had in his

'* power

C 174 )

*« power to apply for improving his land, Inflead of acllve

" exertions, and chearful affluence through life, he is thus

** {tinted in every exertion ; and is doomed to a perpetual

'* hard ftruggleagainfl the haralfments of poverty. In fhort,

" were I either a proprietor or a tenant, I fhould either

*' let or take land upon thefe terms in preference to any

** other I have ever heard of. t

** Several little claufes have been overlooked by his lord-
** ihip which it would be neceifary to advert to. Some
** provifion ought to be made refpedling trees on a leafe of
*• this kind, — as it Is probable the tenant might find it con-
♦* venient to plant, which by the common law of Scotland,
*• he cannot do at prefent with a view to profit.* Per-
" haps the wood, if any was on the farm at the time of his
'* entry, ought to be valued; and he {hould be bound to leave
*' at leaft an equal value upon it, or pay the balance.
•' Whatever timber trees he himfelf had planted, he fhould
" be at liberty to cut at pleafure, for the ufe of the farm,
•* unlefs it were fuch individual trees as the landlord, from

•f " Thofe who are fond of political calculations may have here full fcope for
their ingenuity, by fuppofing that two men of equal fplrit, knowledge and
capital fet out in the agricultural line, one of them as a farmer on a leafe
of the kind here propofed, and the other as a fmall proprietor,'^or yeoman. Let
the capital betaken any how at random, fay 2C00I. The yeoman we ihall fay
lays 1500I. of that fum on the purchafe of a farm, which at thirty years pur-
chase, the ufual rate at prefent, would be worth 50I. a year, and he has 500I.
left for (locking and improving it. The other leafed a farm which at a fair rent
was worth 200I. a year. Let him follow out the calculation, firft in regard to
the profits that the difterent occupiers themfelves can enjoy, and the rate at
which their families may afford to live, and fccond, with regard to the aug-
menttion of agricultural produce that each of them could afford to the ftate;
and let this be continued for the fpace of an hundred years. Let him then
ftrike the balance and fee what an amazing difference.

* ** By the law of Scotland, no tenant has a right to cut any trees upon his
" farm.

*« frtuation

( 175 )

*' fituation or other caufes, fhould think propper to mark for
*' refervation. He fhould alfo have permiflion to fell fuch
<♦ trees as he enclined, unlefs as above referved, or during
** the lad fix years of any of the twenty-one years of the leafe.
*« But in cafe of his removal, the proprietor ihould either
** permit him to fell the whole trees that was over the va-
*' lue of the flock at his entry, or take the whole, or fuch'
** part as he chofe to referve, at an appreciated value. In
" cafe of his removal alfo, the tenant fhould be bound not
*' to out-labour the ground during the laft fix years of the
'♦ leafe, or to crop it improperly, or to carry off any flraw
" or dung : otherwife to pay the damages that fhould thus
" accrue to the landlord at the eftimate of two honeft men
•* to be mutually ^chofen : and to leave the houfes in a ha-
" bitable condition, and the fences in good repair. There
" feems to be no other claufe neceffary in fuch a leafe.

•• Farm buildings, Sec. With regard to ordinary leafes for
<• nineteen or twenty-one years ; one of the greateft incon-
*« veniencies to which tenants in Scotland at prefent are fub-
*' je6led with regard to thefe is what refpeds houfes. The
" houfes are for the moft part very poor; and many pro-
*' prietors throw too great a burthen upon the tenants.
•' This is highly impolitic. Nothing contributes more to
*' the content and conveniency of a farmer than good and
" well difpofed buildings. It elevates his mind ; gives him
«« fpirit to purfue his operations with alacrity; and contri-
♦• butes in many inftances to augment his profits. On thefe
" accounts he ought to have them.'^ But on no account
•* fhould he be induced to expend that ftock upon building
" houfes which fhould be employed in extending his own
** proper bufinefs ; it ought always to be done by the land-
«* lord ; and in general, a good fet of houfes upon a fariu
*« will bring a much greater additional rent than the intereft

'« of
* «« I never yet faw a thriving tenant who had not neat houfes;

( 1/6 )

<' of the money expended upon tliem. If then a farmer
" pofieffing a farm, or bargaining for one, wifhes to have
** houfes, thefe Iheuld be built by the landlord in a good
*' fubftantial manner, on a plan fuggefted, or at leaft ap-
'* proved by the tenant. The tenant furnilliing carriages
" and paying at the rate of five per cent, for the money fo
*' expended ; becoming bound to uphold the houfes in good
" repair, during the currency of the leafe ; and to deliver
" houfes to the value at leaft of the money expended by
** the landlord J taking the tenant bound likewife to pay,
*f along with his rent annually, the premium pf infurance
*' for the value of the houfes againft loffes by fire.
'* Any other reftri^lions are unnecelfary even in this cafe
•* than thofe above fpecified refpe£ling the laft years of the
** leafe.

•' Draining, trenching, and other expenfive operations
** on a farm that continue to be permanent improvements
" ought alfo to be done by the proprietor; the tenant who
*? defires thefe to be done, agreeing to pay the proprietor
" during the currency of his leafe, by way of additional
•♦ rent, at the rate of five per cent, on the money thus expend-
•• ed under his own eye, and in the mode approved of by
♦' the proprietor. In this way he would be making con-
" tinual additions to his eftate, at the rate of twenty
*' years purchafe, free of taxes ; and as the tenant would
'* thus alfo be enriched, he would be enabled to adopt other
<' fpirited modes of iinprovement, which would render
** it (till more valuable j fo that if the plan of a leafe
** here explained were adopted, he v/ould in many cafes be
*' enabled to draw at the end of each fixed period inftead
'< of five, perhaps twenty-five per cent, for the money fo
«< advanced. By making improvements fomewhat on this
«' plan, for the behoof of his tenants, Mr. Bayly, of Hope,
** near Manchcfter, has advanced the rent of his efiate in

" little

f 177 }

" little more than twenty years near ten fold!!! Operations
•* on the fame plan have been carried on upon a confiderable
*• extenfive fcale by Mr. Cumming of Achry in Aberdeen-
•• Ihire ; who has in like manner by that means greatly
<* increafed the vakie of his eftate."

It would be equally prefumptuous and obftinate to with-
hold that due approbation which the excellency of this plan
fo juftly claims ; at the fame time, the following obfer-
vations are with all due deference very humbly fubmltted.

The tenant fliould be retrained, and that under the
fevereft penalty that it were pofTible to^' deyife and enforce
obedience to, during the whole term of his leafe, from
breaking up the prime paflures, or any of the meadow
land. 1

The compenfation to the outgoing tenant fhould be con-
fined ftric^ly to the value of fuch benefits as the farm has
adlually, and exclufively derived from his labour, fkill, and
capital; and which fhould be determined by '.the judgment
of perfons living in the neighbourhood, and appointed by
each party: olherwife local clrcumftances, under which
in flri61: juftlce the tenant can have no fhadow of claim,
will fubjedl the landlord to an unfair difburfement, and
wring from him that concelTion which in ftrI6l equity he
ought to refid. The change in the value of money; the in-
creafe of trade, or the eftabllfhment of a manufadlory in the
vicinity of the farm ; and the confequent increafe of popula-
tion in the neighbourhood : the making of new, or the
improvement of old public roads : the proximity of an inland
navigation: a general plan of drainage; or the difcovery
of fome natural manure (uponrthe farm) applicable to the
further improvement of the eftate; are all circumftances
highly favourable to the interefl of the owner, but which
ought never to be appreciated by the outgoing tenant, as no

Z merit

( 178 )

merit can attach to him from them, being the exclufive and
indubitable iu-imunitics of the proprietor and of no one
elfe.

Under fome fuch modifications, the plan appears prac-
ticable— the tenant and his family will be fccured in the full
Value of their improvements ; and the landlord prot(£led in
the juftand full enjoyment of the increafing (real or nominal)
value of his eflate.

Having now adverted as particularly as the nature and
limits of this paper will admit, to moft of the feveral and
diftindl obje£ls which formed the purpofe of the furvey, it
now remains neceflTary to condenfe and put the whole into
the fmalleft poffible fpace, and under thofe general heads
ftated in the beginning.

The firfl; will comprehend all thofe obftacles to improve-
ment in the rural economics of the county, which the
efforts of the individual, the co-operation of neighbours, or
the union or agreement between landlord and tenant, may
entirely remove, or in a great meafure remedy. They are
divided as they have occurred into feparate propofitions, and

are as follows :

1. To guard agalnft the exhauftion of dunghills, by
preventing the rain from wafliing out, and the running to
wafle of its moft valuable liquor, whether in the yard, or ex-
pofed along the hedgerows.

2. To be careful in the application of manure, and to
"weigh well and be fatisfied in the propriety of ploughing
it under, rather than to ufe it as a top drolling.

3. To difcontinue the praftice of burning the flraw of
colefeed, muftard, coriander, carraway, &c. and upon
every occafion to jefift the diflipating cfFeds of fire,

upon

( 179 }

upon the finallefl- fcruple of animal or vegetable matter,
which in any reafonabletime may be brought to rot.

4. To apply fand, or any filicious matter in great quan-
tities to ftrong tough clay, ornot at all.

5. To expofe chalk, marl, clay, for fome time to the
joint adtion of the froft, fun, and air, rather than to at-
tempt an immediate union of them with the foil by plough-
ing them under.

6. To fvverve from the cuftomary pradice of performing
the whole day's work at plough, or harrow, in one journey
of feven and an half or eight hours, and in its place, to divide
the day into two journies of four and an half or five hours
each.

7. To lofe no opportunity in cultivating green food for
horfes or cattle; and to keep the former in the yard, or
ftable, throughout the year.

8. To fummer fallow the heavy lands for fpring corn,
rather than for wheat, and to dung upon the young clovers,
in preference to the fallows or the clover leys for wheat.

9. To make a liberal ufe of the fkims or horfe hoes
for cleaning the fallows ; and not to plough fo frequently,
but occafionally to plough much deeper than what is gene-
rally done.

10. To leave the fallows that are laid up for fpring corn,
as carefully well gripped and water furrowed as if a crop of
wheat was in the ground.

11. To fow particularly early with winter or fpring corn,
all thofe light and hollow bottomed lands, which from
a fuperabundance of flraw, become abnoxious to the blight
or mildew.

■12. To be careful in feeding the ground, and to guard
particularly againft over covering the feed of white ftraw

Z 2 crops,

( iSo )

crops ; to be particularly mindful that the feed of the brown
flravv crops is put to a proper depth in the ground.

13. To relieve the wet gravelly and fandy loams, of their
furplus water, by hollow or open drains ; and to cultivate
them occafionally with turnips, according to the Scotch
two-furrow, or ridge practice — To leave the field well
water- furrowed, and with the aid of fledges to get the crop
completely from off the ground before Chriftmas.

14. In the operation of ploughing, to be 'particularly
cautious in cutting the bottom of the furrow clean ; even,
and of an uniform depth— To bury every weed by whelm-
ing the flice or furrow completely over ; and to guard as
much as poflible againft unnecelTary draught, by forming
and expofmg a frefli furface too frequently, in the prepara-
tion for turnips.

15. To purfue the dibbing and the drilling hufbandry in alF
cafes, where circumflances will admit, in preference to that
of broadcafl:.

16.T0 forbear the ufe of thehorfe hoe amongiTcorn ; (unlefs
the intervals are of an extraordinary width) — To hand hoe
with particular caution; and rather among white ftraw
crops, to depend upon the weed hook, than the hoe, for the
deftrudion of thiflles.

17. To difcontinue the pra(5lice of boarding the harveft
men, and to put out to them by the acre, the cutting and
inning of the harveft.

18. To cut wheat with fome fap in the ftraw, rather than
fufFer it to be full ripe before it is reaped— By the former
pra£lice the fample will be much improved, the head corn
■will be faved from /bedding ; and by giving it plenty of field
room, it will leave the flraw as freely, and be thrafhed with
as much eafe as- if it were dead ripe before that it was

fliom

( i8r )

fhorn— By the latter pradlce a great deal of the prime
wheat is ihelled out in harvefling, and the fample is un-
queftionably left of a very inferior quality.

19. To avoid threfhing wheat upon a clay or brick
floor, not only from their want of elafticity, but from an in-
jurious damp, that will be contra6led, by the grain redu-
cino- its weight and eflential value, from two and an half
to five per cent.

20. To fubje(3:cows to occafional bleedings upon change -
of food, or when about one-third gone with calf; and
among the fuckling herds, when the milk gets fo rich as to
produce fymptoms of fcovvering, or of furfeit in the calf;
to thin it by feeding the cow with grains; and vice verfa to
thicken and enrich the milk by giving the cow a propor-
tionable quantity of malt coombs.

21. To weigh with equal candour and judgment, the
proven excellencies in the feveral breeds of hogs, flieep,
cows, and horfes, and then to flock with fuch a choice as
on due confideration appears beft adapted to the foil, the
herbage, and the appropriation of the land.

22. To relieve the wet heavy woodlands of their furplus '
water, in the mode pra£lifed at Finchingfield ; inducing
thereby a more healthy timber ; and a more valuable under-
growth.

23. T6 level the ants hills in the frefli marfhes, and to
cleanfe out and deepen the partition drains, fo that without
injury to the fences, the water maybe run down to a lower
level.

24. To form tanks or refervoirs of rain water for fup-
plying the inhabitants of the iflands, embanked marfhes, and
tliofe parts of the county which in dry feafons, labour

under

( i82 )

under great inconvenlencies and dlftrefs, through the want of
fprings, or wholefome drinking water,

25. To enclofe the farm yards in the iflands, and upon
all the emabnked marflies ; and to keep a proper (lock of
ftore cattle through the winter ; to convert the large quan-
tities of itraw that are annually produced from thofe lands
into manure.

26. To refift the monopoly of farms, or the confblida-
tion of them beyond a certain extent — Say 300I. per annum,
heavy land — 500I. per annum, light lands.

27. To encourage the eftablifhment of box clubs through
every parifh ; and upon every occafion to ftigmatize as igno-
minious every fturdy labourer who (hall receive alTiltance
from the parifh, when he might have been relieved as a
member of fo laudable an inftitution.

To efFe(fl the purpofes contained in the following propofi-
tions would certainly contribute very much to excite a
general fpirit of improvement throughout the county, and
prove the bafis of its perfect and more univerfal cultivation ;
but, as this depends entirely upon the will of the legifla-
ture, it is impoflible to fay, how long they may continue
to withhold their authority and confent.

1. To put the occupiers of the county upon a more cer-
tain footing with regard to the payment of tythes.

2. To compel the yeoman, or the occupier of his own
eftate, to be as equally affelFed and as fully contributary to the
parifli rates as the tenant farmer.

3. To fubjefl perfonal as well as property in lands and
houfes to be proportionately anelTed to the parifh rates.

.4. To make fuch an arrangement in the management of

the poor, as may have a tendency to check the further in-

creafe in the poor's rates,

5. To

(183)

5- To reftrain from carrying on during hay time and harveft,
all fuch public, civil, and military works, as are not imme-
diately connected with the fafety and welfare of the nation.

6. To do away the partial burthen of fupporting frontage
banks — To put every I-evel of mi.rfh land expofed to the
fame hazard from the irruption of the fea, or the overflowing
of land waters, into diftincft diftrids — To make the ex-
pence of their general drainage, and defence againft fuch ca-
lamities to be equally divided, and to have the whole under the
regulation and controul of commiflioners of fewers. --

O

7. To empower the faid commiflioners of feWers to lower
the mill dams, and the Haunches of head water kept up for
fifli ponds, navigable rivers and canals ; and further, to
make fuch regulations touching thefe points, as may effec-
tually conferva the fame, without injury to the lands, through
which fuch ftreams may neceflarily pafs.

The apparently incurable evils,^ under which the further
agricultural improvement of the county labours, are

I . The want of a conftant fupply of wholefome water
in the marfli iflands, and in moll of the lands embanked
from the fea ; as alfo upon the major part of the tough
ftrong and deep ftrata of clay, in the higher parts of the
county.

1. The abfence of clay, chalk, or marl, in the vicinity
of the greater part of the light gravelly lands, and vice
verfa.

3. The want of chalk, marl, or filicious matter, within
reach of the tough ftrong and compadl clays ; and laftly,

4. To the blights and mildews, and to the infeds that
prey upon the roots, tender leaves, bloflbms, and feeds of
corn and graffes, are to be added thofe evils which from the

fame

( iS4 )

ffame fources prove fo injurious to the growth of oak and
other valuable limber.

It is impoffible to {late with the leaft probable certainty,
the extent of individual, and alfo of national benefit, that
muft confequently flow from a general adoption of the moft
perfedl fyftem of agricultural management, which the
fcience, the foil, the climate of this ^ifland, would poflibly
admit of: fuffice it in this place, therefore to fay, that in
the humble apprehenfion of the author of this report, fuch
a general improvement in the agricultural economics of this
kingdom, muft produce an increafe in its internal refources
that would be immenfe : upon the prefent occaflon, he can
only'ftate what appears from the general average table, to
be the extent of improvement of which this county is capa-
ble, were its common fields and waftes, under fuch cir-
cumftances as would admit their being improved to the fame
level of perfedion as are the adjacent lands, which however
they may be in a more advanced Itage of profitable cultsva-
tion; are yet by no means fo produ6live as they might be
made, by a fuperior management ; a truth that is very
clearly illuftrated in the two or three inftances which occured
in the progrefs of the furvey. Upon thefe principles then,
and according to the data deduced from the journal, and
exibited in the general average table ; the extent of im-
provement of which this county is immediately capable
(and without further fkill or improvement in the fcience of
agriculture) will ftand thus ;

A general

( i85 )

A general Jiatemtnt of the improvement y which by enclofing and
laying into Jeve rally, may be annually made on the prefent rent
or value of the open common fields and wafle landsy in this
County.

By a reference to the minutes taken on the furvey, it
appears, that the arable land in about forty parilhes
in the county, lies • ery much in open common
fields ; and which, in point of quantity, is found
to average about 1,200 acres per parilh. This
amounts in the whole to 48,000 acres ; the ex-
cefs whereof in the annual rent or value from
enclofure and laying into leveralty, would ac-
cording to the general average table, be 4s. 6d. per
acre, and confequently form an annually increafed
income or revenue of----- - -- 10,801 o o

By enclofing or embanking from the fea 4,600 acres
of fait rnarfh, an acquifition to that extent wo ild
be made to the national territory, and yield to the
individual owners-annually 15s. 6d. per acre,equal to 3,565 00

By enclofing for cultivation 10,370 acres of thicks or
foreft lands, unfit for the growth of oak timber,
thereby improving its rent or annual value 1 2s. 6d.
per acre 6,481 5 o

By enclofing and laying into feveralty 14,237 acres of
wafle or common land, thereby increafing its
annual rent or value iis. 4d. per acre, i^quals - 5,067 12 8

Exclufive of the improvement that may be made upon the rough
and coarfe marflies and pafture land. The extent of which, not
being poflible to be afcertained, no account can here be ftated of
the value of their improvement, which however mufi: be very
eonfiderable.

A a The

C 186 )

JL H E Surveyor cannot clofc this report without exprefling in the fulleft
manner, his warmeft acknowledgements to the following gentlemen, who, not
only in the moft handfome and liberal manner, afforded and procured for him
all the afTiftance, and information in their power, but many of them received
and treated him with much attention, politenefs and hofpitality.

LoBD HOWARD,
Honorable Mr. ALMIERS,

- STRUT, Es(i. M. P. TiRMNG Place,

BRAMPSTON, Esc^, M. P. Roxwell,

— . CONYERS, Es<^ Copthall,

— — SPERLING, Es(j_. Little Maplested,
—— MAJENDIE, EsQ_. Castle Hedingham,

- YELDHAM, Esq_. Saling Grove,
^— TUFFNTAL, Esc^. Great Waltham,

HANBURY, [Esq.. Cogcerskall,

■ BULL, Esq.. Bursted,

- WHEELY, Esq.. Wheely,
— - GREGGS, Esq.. Messing,

- CORCELLIS, Es<i. WivENHOE,

SUMNER, Es(i. South Church,'

' SMITH, Esq. Sutton,

COLCHESTER, Esq.. Great Hollanp,

HANDSON, Esq^ Great Bromley,

— — LEE, Esq. Toolsbury,

— — DEN, Esq.. Onsar,
— — DYER, Esq. Chipping Onoar,

- FISKE, Esq. Rickling,

WALFORD, Esq.. Birdbrook:,

— • BELL, Esq.. Little VVakering,
— — TODD, Sen. Esq.. Stirmsr,

— — TODD, JuN. Esq.. Birdbrook,

. . PATTERSON, Es<i. Malden,

— . GREEN, Esq.. Lexden,

. SCALE, Esq.. Gre^-^t Baddo-.v,

. PAWLETT, Esq.. Great Baddow,

T.A.YL1R, Esq. Wimbish,

— ^ Wright, Esq,. Woodham Mortimer,

Captain BAILEY, Stamford Rivers,

The Hon. and Rev. Mr. MAYNARD,

TheRev. ABDY ABDV,

The Rev. Mr. THURLOW, Gossfield,

TheRev. Mr. GRILLION, Saffron Wal don,

The Rev. Mi. LUGAR, Ardleigh,

The Rev. Mr.Oneley, Stisted,

The Rev. Mr. HOWLETT, Dcnmow,

The Rev, BATE DUDLEY,

TheRev,———, Torrington,

The Rev. , Latton,

The Rev. Mr. CANNING, Elsenham,

The Rev. Mr. BISKE, Widdington,

Mr. BURLEIGH, Attorney at lawjHaverih,,

Mr. king, Haverill,

Mr. BIDDAL, Finchingfisld,"

Mr. HARRIS, Kedington,

Mr. CARTER, Sen. Bumsted Helion,

Mr. CARTER, Jux. Radwinter,

Mr. COCKE, Hemsted,

Mr. archer, Saffron Walden,

Mr. JOHNS, Littlebury,

Mr. JOHNS, Du^fMow,

Mr. NASH, Chesterford,

Mr. CORNWALL, Chisshill,

Mr. WRIGHT, Elmdon,

Mr. KING, Lang ley,

Mr. BRAND, Claverikg,

Mr. H.AWKES, Berden,

Mr. JACKSON, Much Easton,

Mr. CATER, Broxted,

Mr. STOCK, Morrell Roding^

C 187 )

Mg. BARNARD, Lindseli.,

Mr. POLLETT, Great Bardfield,

Mr. BARNARD, Stebbing,

Mr. blithe. Little Dunmow,

Mr. WOOD, Barnstow,

Mr. WATKINSON, Felstead,

Mr. DAVY, Weathersfield,

Mr. BARKER, Myall Stambourn,

Mr. AMBROSE, Myall Great Mapi,ested,

Mr. SEWELL, Little Maplested,

Mr. BRYANT, Ovington,

Mr.JOCEYLIN, Tilbury,

Mr. HARDY, Great Yeldham,

Mr. PIPER, RiDGEWELL,

Mr. '• , Great Yeldham,

Mr. SYMS, Pentlow,

Mr. BULLOCK, Foxearth,

Mr. PUNG, Bullmer,

Mr. SMOOTHY, Halsted,

Mr. SIDEY, Mount Buers,

Mr. constable, Wormingford,

Mr. ELY, Dedham,

Mr. GARDINER, BROMtEY,

Mr. DANIEL, Thorpe,

Mr. martin, St. Osyth,

Mr. firman, Wivenhok,

Mr. BLOOMFIELD, Beard Church.

Mr. cooper, Langjcnhoe,

Mr. — — , North Okenden,

Mr. FREEMAN, East. Hornden

Mr, LAKEN, Chelmsford,

Mr. smith, Hornchurch

Mr. halls. Havering Park

Mr. crab. Shelly,

Mr. UTTERTON, Waltham Abbey,

Mr. HARVEY, Mersea Island,

Mr. SACH, Layer Marney,

Mr. AMBROSE, Coptford,

Mr. HAYWARD, Kelvedon,

Mr. , WooDHAM Walter,

Mr. PHILLIPS, Purley,

Mr. S. COOKE, Colchester,

Mr. DYER, Stan away,

Mr. FRANKS, Althorni,

Mr. BAWTREE, Southminster,

Mr-. HAMMOND, Latchington, .

Mr. LAMPERELL, Ret tend en,

Mr. MASON, Stock,

Mr, DAVY, South Fambridge,

Mr. dale, Hawkewell,

Mr. COCKERTON, Sutton,

Mr. CHALLACE, Vange,

Mr. , West Tilbury,

Mr. Sadler, Horsley,

Mr. lay, Boxted,

Mr. AMBROSE, Mistley,

Mr. salmon, Beaumont,

Mr. ' " ■ , Little Holland,

Mr. BLITHE, Kir by,

Mr. HOWES, Torrikgton,

Mr. BAILEY, East [Don yl and

Mr. BRIDGE, Thurrock

Mr. NOKES, Upminster

Mr. buck, Mountneysing

Mr. ADDEY, Whittle,

Mr. TABRAHAM, Aveley

Mr. FITCHE, Blackmoos,

Mr. perry. Little Layer,

Mr.POLLETT, North Weald,

Mr.————, Sen. Great Wigborough,

Mr. — — , JuN. Little Wigborough,

Mr. PATRICK, Marks Tey,
Mr. freeman. Great Braxsted,
MR, woodward, Feering,
Mr. tweed, Sandon,
Mr. , Munden,

Mr.WAYLAND, Cricksea,
Mr. PATTERSON, St. Lawrence,
Mr. ■ , WooDHAM Ferrers,
Mr. SHANE, Hatfield Peterill,
Mr. brand, Langdon Hills,
Mr. KEYS, AsHELDoiN,
Mr. BECKWORTH, Pakeisham,
Mr. TABRAHAM, ThundersiEY,
Mr. SPITTY, Horndon,
» Mb. COKER, BotEY,

A a 2

Nor

( i88 )

Nor can he take his leave of the above Gentlemen, or thofe
from whom he derived fimilar affiltance, and by whom he
was equally well received in Cambridgefhii., without ex-
prefling much concern, for that preirurc of circumftances
which prevented his more full and complete invefligation of
the fubjecls of the refpeclive furveys. In the loofe man-
ner in which he has confequently been obhged to execute
thefe inquiries and to haflen them out of hand, they have cofl
him For unavoidable expences only, more than two hundred
guineas, over and above the one hundred and twenty-five
pounds the Board of Agriculture has allowed for his indem-
nification of all the expences he has been put to, together
with the fixteen months labour, he has fo unremittingly be-
flowed upon the bufinefs. Laftly ; under the fullefl con-
vi6lion of the necellity and importance of fo noble a na-
tional inftitution ; and ferioufly impreffed with the extent
and value of benefit that mufl: refult from its labours, he
takes his leave of the Board of Agriculture ; but not without
very fenfibly regretting the peculiar circumftances of his
prefent fituation, that will no longer allow him to in-
dulge in a purfuit to which he is fo fondly attached— at
the fame time he wiflies very refpedfully to aflure the
Board of Agriculture, no change of circumftances, can
in any wife abate that defire and zeal w^jth which he muft
ever be adluated, to contribute even the fmalleft of his very
humble efforts towards furthering the truly great, and
important objeds of the inftitution.

No. 8, Arundel Street^ Strand,
March I, 1795.

APPENDIX

!ae?

APPENDIX.

The following very valuable communication was made to the Surveyor by the
Rev, H. bate DUDLEY, of Bradwell, and is now inferted with,
the hope of obtaining fome further enervations.

JjRADWELL, mar the Sea, is a peninfular parifli, at the eaftern extremity of the hundred
of DENGEY, on the conflux of the river Black-vjater^ which here falls into the German Ocean.
It contains in feveralty about 4,000 acres of upland, which is chiefly in tillage, and i,;oo in
marflies: nearly a moiety of which is under the plough ; the other part continues to be grazed.
Thefe marflies, in common with thofe in adjoining pariflies, are under a commiffion of fewers,
who regulate the management of the flnices, fea walls, and the frefh water courfes which pafs
through .them. The commiffioners, in confequence of a general inundation from the great tide in
the fpringof 1791, raifed the fea walls and banks, two feet more in perpendicular height, which
will prove a fafe barrier from any fimilar misfortune. The efFe6ls of the fait water, where it lay
fourteen days, were not found injurious to the pafturage, nor even the tillage lands, after that
year. On the fouth fide of the parifh the fea retires ; and three portions of rich land were em-
banked from it, in addition to the glebe in 1786; the completion of which was rewarded by
the Society of Arts and Sciences with their gold medal of that year. This newly acquired land,
fo lately fait ooze, has fpontaneoufly throv/n out the licheft herbage, in which aie found many
of the choiceft grafs plants in the botanic fyftem. About 150 acres has been gained in Bradwel/^
and the example is fuccefsfully adopting in the neighbouring pariflies on the coaft,

SOIL. — The foil is various ; the uplands are generally a tender, fandy loam, deep in ftaple,
and forcing in almofl every kind of vegetation. The * marfhes under the plough, though Wronger

* Thefe marflies from the many old embankments ftill remaining, have evidently been enclofed from the fea by
fucce/Tive advancements; and many of them are ftill divided, as tlic old rills, and fea water courfes left tliem. The
removal of the two large fluices on the glebe marflies, nearer the fea, on the late embankments, with ftraight
outfalls from them, has been of great advantage to the whole level by a freer drainrge of the frelh waters,

land.

( I90 )

land, are not lefs produfllve: thofe in grafs, are fine in herbage, well watered, and will fat
an ox expeditioufly of any weight. The various farnisare in feveralty, from 600, down 1040 acres
each, all well fenced, wooded and watered. The glebe^ reckoned the largeft in England, is
about 400 acrey. Throughout this parifla the fineft white ivheats are grown, fonne of which,
even the prefent year, weighed 651b. the Winchefter bufhel. The rentals have increafed withia
thefe ten years from 12s. to 20s. per acre, vi^hich is now the average price on new tenures ; fo
general is the fpirit of cultivation, that there are fcarcely twenty fquare yards of common, or
wafte lands throughout the parifn.

CROPS. — All kinds of corn are abundantly grown here ; but lefs of barley than any other,
it being found to run fo much to flraw, as" to produce the grain of a lean, and coarfe quality.
Rape feed, coriander^ mujlards, white and brown, and carravjay^ are likewife grown occafionally
to a confiderable amount.

The beft courfe of hulhandry is as follows :

1 Fallow for oats (if tender land with turnips.)

2 Clover.
5 Wheat.

4 Beans or Peas.
And if the land is in good heart, and has been cleanly hoed, another crop of wheat is {bme-
times taken before the next fallow. This fyflem is not much departed from, except towards the
end of a leafe. V/here the foil appears tired with the repetition of clo'vers, which in that cafe die
off in the fpring, tares are frequently fubftituted in their room, and the change is found advan--
tageous beyond the fucceeding crop of wheat.

The average produce is Wheat 32 bufhels

Oats 48 bufhels

Beans 32 bufliels

Peas 36 bufhels

Colefeed 34 bufiiels per acre.

The lands in high cultivation will yield one-fourth more — The marfli corn, though not fo ■
bulky on the ground, is generally better fet, and weighs heavier.

HOPS have lately been introduced on the glebe, with a profpe^l of confiderable fuccefs; the
quantity and quality grown laft year on twelve acres, refute the general opinion, that the fea air
is detrimental to this plant.

MANURE. — Chalk Rubbish brought in vefTels from the Kentifli cliffs has been the principal
manure, or rather alterati've, to the ploughed lands here time immemorially. Horfe, and other
dung, till within a few yeare, were efteemed of no value, and therefore not carted on the land. —

Eight

( 191 )

Eight waggon loads of chalk, value irs. a load, without cartage, are a good dieirmg per acre
which in fair hufbandry will be produdtive twenty years.

Theuniverfal opinion, that land once chalked would never receive benefit from rubbjfh a fecond
time, is now found fallacious by daily experience ; but the flifF-foiled old chalked lands, i-equire
that the fecond dreffing fliould be previoufly mixed witli bank or other earth. No 7narlc^ or under-
ftratum of that kind, has been difcovered in that parifli. Cole/eed, huck-nxhtat^ and even clovers^
are often turned in, upon old ploughed lands, and much benefit has been derived from their
vegetable fermentation.

or

IMPROVEMENTS, — HoUonv- draining has not been long pradlifed here, but is now becoming
general: the ditches are cut a rod afunder, from twenty to twenty-four inches deep, and well filled
with wood and Itraw at from four fliillings, to five fliillings per fcore rods. — SheepfoJding has like-
wife been recently introduced, and is found highly beneficial to the pafturage, as well as ploughed
lands. — Taking down tlie numerous pollard trees and lofty hedges throughout all the road fides,
under the highv/ay ftatutes in this parifti, has fo apparently improved the adjoining lands, by
laying them open to the fun, and the free circulation of air, that the mode is generally adopted
through the hundred, where the fences are now handfomely clipped low by choice,which were at firfl
taken down by compulfion.— 7"ar«iy6i increafe in proportion to the extent of land-ditching. — The
drumhead cabbage \s partially introduced for fpring feed, and anfwers well, except where an im-,
mediate crop of Lent corn is expeded to fucceed; this failing as a natural confequence, confirms
the general prejudice that cabbages are a more exhaufting crop than is truly the fa£l. Colefeed feed
is declining much, from the general experience, that it leaves the bell fallowed lands in anunfavor-
able ftate iavcats and clover, and is of courfe prejudicial to the next winter crop ia fucceffion. As
an improvement pretty general in its operation, may be fairly reckoned the advance of rents;
a fure fpur to induftrious emulation, from which the tenantry and landlords evidently derive a
mutual advantage.

DEFECT. — The expenfive management of cart bor/es here, in common with the whole d'S-
trift, is a ferions defcft that demands immediate reformation. The ploughing, which is done by
a pair of horfes and one man with reins, is certainly as foundly and adroitly executed, as in any
part of the kingdom ; but the great expenditure of hay and oats, even at the dead feafon of
the year, is a ferious drawback from other advantages. Independently of the ordinary favinvs,
the introduflion of oxen on farms, where grazing and tillage are fo generally blended, would
prove extremely productive : but the difiiculty of weaning the prejudices of a country from an
old fyftem, however en'oneous, and the rifque of throwing an extenfive bufinefs out of its re-
gular courfe, deter thofe who experience the lofs, from attempting a reformation. Having
full-aged oxen from the yoke, to graze on the fpot, without the lofs attendant on overdriven
beafls, would give afaving of full twenty-five per cent, inaddtion to the advantages derived from

their draught.

STOCK.

( 192 )

STOCK.'—BiU few horned cattle are bred here. The general flock confifts of Fl/cjhhe, V/efl
Highland, and Galloi\)c:y Scots, 'North and South Wales runts, and fometimes a lot of Ihort-hornad
To-.kjhire beafts, and of late fome Irijh fteers. Thefe are fatted off within the year; and thofe of
fuperior quality and condition, within from fix to nine months. — Formerly a great number of
calves were fatted for the London market; but this has declined much within the laft ten years.—
The Norfolk Jhcep were lately the principal flocks : but they are now fucceeded by the Southdo^vn
breed, which aru found to be a hardier and every way a more profitable race ; The fmaller farmers
keep the HertforJjhirc breed, which are much improved by a crofs of the fViltfhire tups. — A con-
fiderable number of the Shroppire and Berkjhirc hogs are grazed here on clovers for the diftillers,
which for the laft two or three years have paid well. — Some ufeful cart colts are bred on the marlhes,
but thefe are only fufficient for the teams of the breeders.

There are two decoys for the different fpecies of wild fowl, and breeding fliores for oyjiers: but
any detail of their management and terraqueous produce, would here be fuperfluous.

WORKMANSHIP. — The labour is principally by the piece, and is generally well executed:

. the wages are adequate to the price of provilions. — Ploughmen lol. per ann to be in the houfe;

or I OS. per week living out, each having their harveft month made up five guineas. Day-labour

is IS. 6d. in winter and r6d. in fummer without beer; the hpurs from fix to fix in fummer, and

from feven until dark in winter.

The tytbes are chiefly under compofition to the feveral farmers. The number of houfes is
about ICO, containing fomewhat more than 500 inhabitants. A nvorihoufe has been lately efta«
bliflied, which is managed, fo as to leflen rates, while it affords additional comforts to the paro-
chial poor. A ufeful fchool was eftabliflied by a late re6lor, for the education of the children
of inhabitants endowed with land in Mile-end value 60I. per annum

The parilh has increafed much in population within the lafl feven years, fo that it depends
no longer on the cafual vifitation of ftrange hulbandmen to get in its harveft. The roads from
tlie worll, may now be claiTed amongft the bell in the kingdom.

ANSWERS

( '93 )

QUERIES

PROPOSED BY THE

OARD OF AGRICULTURE,

TO BE ANSWERED BY INTELLIGENT FARMERS.

'• VV H A T is the nature of the foil and climate in your neighbourhood ?

2. The manner in which the land is occupied, and whether the farms, arc, in general, fmall or
great i

3. The manner in which the land is employed, whether in pafture, in hulbandry, or a mixture

of both ?

4. If in paftnre, what grafles are cultivated ? what fpecies of flock is kept ? Whether the breeds

can be improved, or whether new breeds ought to be tried.

5. Whether any of the land is watered, and whether any coniiderable extent of ground is
capable of that improvement ?

6. If the land is employed in huftandry, what arc the grains principally cultivated ?

7. What is the rotation of crops? and in particular whether green crops, as turnips, clover,

&c. are cultivated, and how they are found to anfwer ?

2. Whether falUowing is praftifed or otherwife ?

^. What manures are made ufe of, and whether particular attention is paid to the making of
dung-hills?

10. What are the ufual forts of ploughs, carts, and other im.plements of hufbandry ?

11. Whether oxen or horfes are made ufe of?

12. What is the ufual feed time and harveft ?

13. Whether the land is inclofed or in open fields ?

14. What advantages have been found to refult from enclofing land, in regard to the increafe of

rent-~f]uantity or q-iialities of produce — improvement of ftock, &c ?

13 b 15. Wkat

( 194 )

1^. What is the fize and nature of the enclofures ?

16. Whether inclofures have increafcd or decreafed population ?

17. Whether there are any common fields, and whether any divifionof them is propofed?

•18. What is the extent of wafte lands, and in what manner are they at prefent depaftured ?

ig. Of what improvement are thofe wafte lands moft capable, whether by being planted, con-
verted into arable, or into pafture land, or by correfting the prefent mode of commonage ?

20. What is the rate of wages, and price of labour, by the day or the piece, and what are the
hours at which labour commences and ceafes, at the different feafons?

21. Whether proper attention is paid to the draining of land, particularly the fenny part of it,
- and what forts of drains are commonly made ufe of?

22. Whether paring and burning is pratflifed, and how it is managed and found to anfwer?
2 5. Whether the country is well wooded, and under what fyftem are the woodlands kept ?

24. What is the price of provifions, and whether the price is likely to be Heady, to rife, or to
fall ?

25. What is the fiate of the roads both public and parochial, whether they are in good order,
and whether any improvements in regard to making roads have been difcovered ?

26. What is the ftate of farni houfes and offices, whether, in general .they are well fituated
and properly conftruded ?

27. What is the nature of the leafes commonly granted, and what are found to be the mod

advantageous covenants between the landlord and tenant, for the improvement of the ground?

28. To what extent have commerce or manufactures been carried on in the diftrift, and have
they had either good or bad effefts on its agriculture ?

2). Are there any pra(Elices in agriculture within the county that could be of fervice to other
counties ?

30. Are there any focieties inftituted in the County for the Improvement of Agriculture ?

3 1 . Whether the people feem to have a turn for improvement, or how fuch a fpirit could beft be

excited ?

32. What improvements can be fiiggefled either In regard to the Hock or the hufbandry of
the County ?

33. Are there any obftacle to Improvements, and what manner ean they beft be removed ?

ANSWERS

( 195 )

ANSWERS to the QUERIES of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE.

To Mr. VANCOUVER from the Rev. C. ONLEY, Stipd, Ejjcx.

I- X HE climate good, many finall rivulets running into the Pant, alias Blackwater, at the
bottom of Stifted and Pattiswick, through about fifty acres of meadow ground, fubjeft to
floods.

2. In farms from 50I. to 20ol. per annum, chiefly nearer to, and fome even beneath the former

fum, at from los. to 153. per acre, an average of 12s. per annum, is as much, as with
parochial charges, the foil will to an improving tenant admit.

3. Almofl: entirely in the beft mode of comman hufbandry.

4. Scarcely any natural upland pafture. No fpecies of ftock bred ; flieep, ewes in lamb, or
young wethers, or a few bullocks annually bought, fattened and fold j fmall dau-ies, of no
particular breed.

5. The watering imknown, but fome land probably capable of it.

6. All the ufual grain and pulfe, at the average rate of z\ quarters of wheat, 4I of barLy, 4.
of oats, 3 of beans, and 2| of peas per acre per annum.

", The rotation is fallow, barley, clover, wheat, then according to the nature of the foil (which
here varies from field to field, fom.e clay, much moift brick earth, light wet loam, and fome
diy) may, according to the quantity of ftock eflential to the annual confumption for the
farm, (for winter grazing merely never anfwers) beans, peas, winter tares, or turnips, very
fmall portions proper for the latter, as they can neither be fed upon, nor carted off, without
prejudice to the future crop ; wheat and barley are the ftaple corn, as tares and clover are
the vegetable crops ; oats, beans and peas, and turnips, occafional ones.

%. Fallowing is thought eflential, efpecially for barley, by leafe is required after two crops of
corn, and one either of pulfe or herbage, under a tenant of capital intelligence, induftry,
and integrity. The fallow by the alternation of an hoeing pulfe with a feeding vegetable,
after a corn crop, might, with perfect juflice to the foil, and lecurity to the landlord, here
be longer deferred.

9. Having no navigable communication with any fea port for chalk or lime, thefe come too dear
for any general or material ufe, though neceflary as manure, which is almoft entirely what is
merely raifed by the ftock, kept chiefly in winter, mixed occafionally with earth on the
fides of the field. This a motive for fallowing, as remedying the want of manure, and
correfting, what hand-hoing will not do, the weeds raifed by fuch manure.
10. The Norfolk wheel and foot plough with only two horfes; four horfes fuflicient in the
above culture, allowing ten acres for natural pafture, for ninety acres in the farm. Light
narrow-wheel waggons ; fmall low, as well as large carts, with wheels of fix to nine inches
breadth ; a double breafted plough to earth up.
J I. No oxeo ufed infuch farms, and fmall inclofures probably not eligible.

B b 2 -12. Wlieat

C 196 )

12. Wheat in September; bailey, beans and peas in February j oats, March; begin to be fovra
and to be reaped and mown in Angufi:.

13. Very old inclofure, fo much fo, as now to require enlargement.

14. It is conjeftured, that blight and fmut are increafed by want of air.

15. From fix to twenty acres, more nearer the former, furroiinded with trees.

16. The population always confiderable in part, perhaps from this.

17. None.

i8. In Pattifwick a fine down common, under the manorial right of the Bifliop of London, of
about 1 CO acres.

ig. Scandoudy abufed by the adjoining farmers laying dung, and breaking up the turf every
where to mix with it, and confequently a nice farm, or fine flieep pafture, to the prejudice
of the poor, who have in general right of herbage, grofsly plundered and deftroyed.

20. A ^o<? J labourer gains at leaft 8s. per week, the year round, beer included, more if working

as much is frequently done, when convenient on both fides, by the piece; this varies as to
the depth, breadth, or quantity. Land-ditching, a furrow ploughed, then two fpade
deep, one fpade with the fmall land ditch-fpade, cleanfed at this bottom with the fcoop,
filled with flraw and wood ; levelled at 3s. 6d. per fcore rods ; ditching four feet wide,
three feet deep, and hedging it is. 2d. per rod, beer included. 2s. 6d. per acre
mowing good grafs. Barley 2s. oats is. 6d. beans 5s. 6d. peas 5s. wheat 6s. haulming wheat
ftubble 28. 6d. hoeing by hand beans twice 9s. peas, if twice 7s. wheat once 5s. turnips
twice 7s. My conflant labourer at 8s. per week, exclufive of boufe and garden^ and fome
trifling benefit with a wife, who, when fpinning can be got, and at a toleiablc rat«, may
earn 4d. per day, an eldert girl 3d. a boy, occafionally under his father 4d. and three more,
too young for any earnings, coft; him in maintenance 10s. per week, at the ioweft,

21. Draining, as mentioned above, here eflential and well uixierilood.

22. Paring and burnirrg totally unknown.

23. Numerous woods, though gradually lefllened, when well attended to, in griping, ditching,
and planting afhes, and the underwood thus running to hop poles, pay clear at twelve or
fourteen years growth, from 7s. to 10s. per acre per ann. and in fome places 14s. the timber
therefore, in them in general a prejudice: It is far from growing very large, forty
feet, a well grown old tree, top and bark included, the buyer falling, it fells at 2s. per foot.

54. The beft mutton, pork, veal, lamb, 5d. per lb. beef 4|d. per lb. inferior in quality and
joints, fomewhat lefs ; butter ^d. per lb. cheefe jd. per lb. pickled pork 7d. per lb. not
any profpeft of thofe high prices lowering; good bread, the fineft fk)ur and pollard bi-aiv
taken out, fcarcely ever at id. per lb. the poor efteem this, though dear, heartieft, and is
cheapeft ; but the heartieft and cheapeft bread, and what, to enforce its ufe, fliould pro-
bably be alone aflized, is from wheat excclletitly ground, ?iudL7mthitig taken out j this might be
fold at id. per lb.

35. The principal roads in each parifh very tolerable; might be hereabouts fo very good, as'

nearly to fpare turnpikes, if the magiftrates would but enforce the laws for the ditches to be

well fcowered, the hedges kept low, and all pollard trees in thefe, ac'joining each principal

road, removed ; But in their attention to the Road Aft they are fi:rangely neglev:lful.

26. IMaay

f 197 )

26. Many of the farm hoiifes were old manlions too large, nnd encumbered with buildings, and
Imalier being laid to the principal farm, they are frequently tiot well liiuated, nor conllniAed
comparatively with a modern planned farm houfe.

27. The bell: leafes run from fourteen to rwenty-one years, and allow two corn crops, ift, Of
hoeing pulfe or turnips, and adly, Of palhirage, and then a fallow ; in addition to thele,
winter tares, fown immediately after wheat, is not regarded as any interfering crop, if in
fpring fed off. Repairs belt done by the tenant, the landlord allowing materials.

28. A large baize manufailory, for fome years, and particularly of late, declining, has been very
long etlabliflied ; from its necellary confequence, a large population muft have early contii-
buted here to agriculture, but now has equally contributed to its burthens, by an enormous
poor rate, which fcarcely, in any tolerable degree, affords food or cloathing for this number.
Chained to pariflies by the aft of fettlement, where employment cannot be had ; and thi-ough
hazard of granting parochial cei tificates, incapable, when willing to migrate, where their
labour is wanted, and would afford them the common comforts of life. Could the ad of
Elizabeth, which requir'es each parifli to provide materials for the conftant employment of its
poor been enforced, indullry would have its due maintenance : but this feems only
prafticable in himdreds, or diflric^s, or large towns ; in which the capital raifed, the number
aifembled, and the economy and Ikill of the fuperintendence applied, can render fuch a
family a manufaftory within itfelf j and libei'ate the individuals compofmg It, from the
very fluftuating trade, partial treatment, unequal payment, and arbitrary power they muft'
fubuut to when difpeifed into feparate fmall pariilies, and dependent on the neighbouring
manufaclui-ers. The adding farms together, in order to leffen the expence of repairs on
numerous buildings, and tofecure rent, with probably a juft view, from the larger capital
veiled, of greater improvement, has certainly here coatributedyowf-iu^^?/ to a more dependent
poor ; lince in fuch fmall bufinefs (a motive and fort of reward for parfimony, to fave enough
to engage in) the family could not apply to the parifli without ruin. It would flruggle
thei-efor-e to the utmoit ; every child would be domellically employed, and thus earn its
prefent bread, and prepare for its future hopes of becoming a fkilfuHarming fervant ; and thus
in treading in its parent's fteady track, another little farmer, and the reputable independent
mailer or miftrefs of an induflrious family. The number of the people has not, on this
account been in the lead pr-obably reduced, but their morals have been greatly injured ; the
children of the cottagers being early trained to bad language, every petty theft, and totally
dlvefted of thofe examples that might habituate them to any duty of neatnefs and decency,
excluilve of morality and religion. A national i-evenue too railed on the vices of the populace,
by petty (hops and petty alehoufes, removes the little chance, by their temptations, of any
parfimony or decorum. The neccffity of labour n.ay be proiuoted by the expenfive cravings
of vice: but then induflry is purchafed at 3 rate defperate to the individual, and dangerous
to the community.

29. The praaice in agriculture here being extremely aid, have noihh^ pmtiaJar to recommend
them to other counties.

30. An agricultural fociety has very lately been eftabliflied,

31. Tolerably

( 198 )

3T. Tolerably thriving under the old mode of culture, they are not eager after improvements,
I but not obftinate againft them.

32. There does not feem to be any county ftock of any fpecies of cattle ; all fiippofed to be better
purchafed from other counties. Whatever may be wanted in their husbandry will be fug-
gefted heft by gentlemen uling thofe inflruments, particularly fnims and fcuffles, which are
not too complicated for co7ntno7i ufe^ and which may Jeffen the neceffity or expence of fallowing.

33. No other obftacles than may arife from the reftraint of leafes, the nature of copyhold and
leafehold tenures, and the very fluftuating burthen even of compounded tythes. The utmoft
freedom in the tenure of their land is the only mode of encouraging a free nation to be good
husbandmen.

34. The befi: mode of feeding horfes is by mowing clover, ray grafs, and efpecially tares; the

winter, mixed with rye; the fpring, tares, with oats, and feeding in the flable, or open yard,
with racks, or cribs, at 2s. 6d. per horfe per week : it is conjefturcd, an acre thus ufed,
amounts to 5I. and the manure thus colle£ted, -may equal the mowing and carting. In winter,
cut chaff, two parts flravv, and one of hay, either natural, or clover, or tare, with a few oats,
is one of the beft. Carrots admirable; but not here to be got reafonable enough, and re-
quiring, on this foil, too much delicacy and expence of culture, for farmers to venture on
railing them. Potatoes have never been rai fed here on a farming principle ; cabbages very
few; turnips the ftaple winter provender.

35. The number of aflefled houfes in Stifted is thirty-two; average of inhabitants 550; varying
. extremely as farms change their occupying families ; poor's rates, at the rack rent, of 4s. 6d.

per pound; compounded tythes lately raif;d from lefs than 200I. to 430I. per ann. The
farmers totally unaccuftomed to the payment of tythes in kind will here fubmit to nearly any,
the mofl oppreffing compofition, whereas by fubmilting to it, they deprive themfelves and
landlords, of a fair counterpoife to this dead weight on hufbandry ; to fome juft reftitution on
■ . this Englifli tailU in the means of faddling the tythes on a rack rent proportion, with a full
fliare of the land-tax, poor, and other rates in Stifted ; thefe would have amounted on the
tythes and glebe, to full 200I. per ann. The number of aflefled houfes in Pattifwick is lO;
of inhabitants 220. Tythes generoufly compounded. Without ome permanent compofition
of tythes, not at all diflicult, unlefs in t\\Q political alliance, the church ought to control the
ftate, all attempts at great and general agricultural improvements, areworfe than nugatory
Within thefe few weeks, three or four fliims, to fix on to the blocks of the wheel plough,
have been ufed in this neighbourhood, for cleanfing bean and pea etches, done by hand-
hoeing at 7s. 6d. per acre. They anfwer thus on ploughed fallovjs, but our foil fo hardens in
dry weather, and fo quickly runs foul with ftrong weeds, (unlefs ufed injlautly, that peas
and beans are carted) as to render this ufeful inftrument, on the prefent trials, inefFeftual.
A Norfolk roll with projeding cylinders, to draw drills for fowing wheat is going to be tried j
not likely to anfwer on our foil : dibbling wheat certainly would on fome of it, as Cook's drill
has in a vtvy few fpots; but there is a notion here that thin fowing promotes the mildew.

OBSERVATIONS

..M(

f 199 )

OBSERVATIONS on Mr. VANCOUVER'S QUERIES.

By the Rev. Z. BISKE, of JFiddington, EJex.

.OSTLY a clay, with fmall trails of gravel and chalk.
2i Chiefly by tenants — Farms vary much in fize — from 40 to 350 acres.

3. A mixture of both, though the paiture, which is in general in itself poor, and befides little
attended to, bears but a fmall proportion to the land employed in hufbandry : paftures may
be worth on an average i6s. per acre; arable incloferd 14s. arable open field los.

4. Some little faintfoin. — Flocks of the mixed Hertfordfliire and Weftern breed. — Wool, the
great objeft with the farmers. — Few or no flieep fattened. — Mr, Chifwell has a flook of
Norfolks, which as he has much ornamental ground laid down in pafture (though it fvvards
very indifferently, being molUy on a clay foil) anfwers well.— Cows on the fmaller farms
chiefly Welfh; on the larger, middle fized Derbyfliires. — Not famous. — Dairying moflly,
praftifed. Cows cannot be computed on an average to yield a neat profit of I believe
more than 4I. 10. per annum. — No pecuUar dlfeafes.

5. None watered, and but fmall extent capable of that improvement.

6. Wheat, barley, peas and oats, mixed and clean, with fome little rye.

7. The produce fliould be computed on a term of three years: the fyftem of farming being
as it were confined by reafon of the open field, to a conftant unvaried fucceffion of two crops
and a fallow, fore crop, wheat or barley; moftly alternate every three years. Produce
wheat, from two to three quarers per acre ; barley three to four ; etch crop, generally
mixed peas and oats, an uncertain crop: average produce about three quarters per acre;
or fometimes clean peas or clean oats, then fallow, and fo on. Turnips, clover, tares, much
fown by the flock mafters, with fome little colefeed and rye, though indeed tares are yearly
becoming more univerfally general ; all anfwers well with good hufbandry.

8. Anfwered in the foregoing.

9. Dung and earth, feparately or turned over together, folding by the flock owners: adlive
farmers very attentive.

10. Much the fame as in the neighbourhood of London.

11. Horfes without exception. '

12. Wheat per acre on the fallows two bufliels one peck ; on what little clover lands are fowri
three bufliels, fown at Michaelmas, or as foon after as poffible ; barley four bufliels, middle
of March ; peas two bufliels as foon after Chrifl:mas as the land will work ; then two and a
half bufliels of black oats, harrowed in the beginning of March; clover feed from twelve
to fourteen pounds: harveft beginning of Augufi:.

13. In Debden mollly enclofed ; in the other pariflies larger proportions of open field lands.

14. No inclofures here taken place.
1 3. Vary from two to twenty acres.

17. No divifions propofcd.

18. Very little wafte land.

20. A fliilling per day and beer ; i4d. without; labour per grate, varies; land ditching at ifd.
and 2d. per rod; hedging and ditching one fpit dry 3d. per rod.

21. Much attention paid in h^. heavy lands to land ditching, the greateft improvement of which,
they are yet found capable ; land ditches drawn generally a rod afunder, moftly ploughed

out

( 200 )

Out deep with a c^ommon plough and three horfes; iind one fpit only dug with the narrow
or tongue fpade, and then filled up with haulm or flrawonly, wood being a very fcarce
and expenfive article in an open field country : but thefe are very liable to be trod in by the
horfes in ploughing, and confequently frequently blown; this done at is. per rod, will laft
in found land fifteen or fixteen years, Soundefl: mode to plough and dig two fpits, and fill
with wood, ftraw, or haulm; this done at 2d. per rod ; depth from furface about twenty
inches, and will laft from twenty to twenty-five years in found land.

22, Nothing of the kind pracbifed.

23. Woods well attended to; quantity fmall ; cut at twelve years growth, worth at the flub
, about 81. per acre; confift of afh, fallow, hornbeam, hazel, and thorn.

25. Generally getting into good order.:

26. Moftly well fituared with regard to the enclofures. Common field lands very inconveniently

difpofed, frequently in very fmall pieces and at great diftances. Houfes chiefly built of lath

and plaifter. Great number of outbuildings, every farmer anxtmjly eager to get all his com
hoiifcd,

27. Generally for the term of twenty-one years, though leafes are by no means fo frequent as
formerly, and daily becoming lefs fo.

28. No commerce or manufadures.

30. One at Chelmsford.

31. Active farmers, much fpirit for improvement; that is, land ditching, manuring, and fal-
lowing well.

33. Common field lands very great ohftacks to improvement , by reafon of their uniform confined
mode of hufljandry, be the condition or quality of the feveral lands^what they will. Thefe
pernicious eflfeds too likewife, operate greatly on the enclofures, -unavoidably fubjeding
them in a great degree to the fame fyflem. In the commons, no gralTes or green crops as
turnips or tares can be fown, and confequently no flock kept (at leaft in very few inllances,
and there in fmall degrees) except by the occupiers of the manor farms, they claiming and
exercifing every where over them, to the exclufion of all others, their rights of fheep-walk,
over-running every thing, doing thereby much injury to their neighbours, (particularly
with their dry flocks, which are driven about by a boy all fummer long, to fliift as they
can) and little proportionate good to themfelves; the fmall occupiers being thereby pre-
vented varying their mode of cropping, and the latter, by the large provifion of turnips,
&.C. required in winter and fpring, in this country, much injuring themfelves in their fub-
fequcnt crops of barley. The commons then aftbruing little or no fuftenance. The fmall-
ncfs too of the pieces, confifting frequently of two, three, four, five roods, and fo on,
preventing in many inftances, attempts at draining; and their aukward diftance and dilpo-
lition, coiifiderably increafing the expence of manure, attended with much lofs of time,
are very confiderabie obftacles to improvements.

"11, The tvthes of Newport and Wendcn in lay hands are taken in kind. The other pariflies
compounded for on an average at about 3s. per acre. Rife within thefe twenty years does
not appear to have much exceeded 6d. per acre.

Y- Poors rates fiom 2s. 6 1. to 3^-. 6 J. in the pound on the rack rents. Population is certainly
kicreafed in all the pariflies.

( 201 )

ANSWERS to the QUERIES propofed by the Board of Agriculture

To Mr. VANCOUVER,

Jls they apply to the Neighbourhood and FanJJj of Boreham in EJfex.

i' X HE foil of this neighbourhood is very variable; gravel, fand, loam, and clay, being
fometimes to be found within loo yards of each other.

2. Our lands are occupied in farms of all fizes from lo or 12 to 300 or 400 acres.

3. And are chiefly employed in hufbandry ; many of our farms having only a clofc or two of
pafture adjoining to the farm-yard, for the convenience of the cattle, that are wintered at
the barn-door.

4. Our lands being chiefly arable, there is not much ftock kept more than draught hoifes,
except three or four cows for fuckling, and the ufe of the family, and a few flieep to pick
up from the fallows, under the hedge-rows, that which would otherwife be loft; but little
Itock therefore is bred, andof the little our farmers do rear, they are wretchedly inattentive
to the breed: in Ihort, chief of the ftock, whether horfes, cows, or flieep, are bought of
dealers, who bring them to our markets from diftant counties. The farmers are therefore
induced to buy fuch as coft them leaft money, fo that their lands exhibit a bad fample of
ftock of all kinds.

This obfervation relates to the generality of middle fized farms, without any meadows
attached to them: not but there are ^farms which have the advantage of con fiderable por-
tions of meadow land by the fides of our rivers and rivulets, and on thofe lands a larger
proportion of ftock is kept, and of a better quality.

5. Watering land is not at all praaifed or underftood here, though we have fome grounds capa-
ble of that improvement.

6. Wheat, barley and oats, are the grains principally cultivated, though peas and beans, and

alfo a little rapefeed, are occafionally fown.

7. The general rotation of crops (on fuch lands however as are light enough for the purpofe)

is—ift. turnips, for which a very clean fallow is made, and the land manured ; 2dly, barley
or oats J 3dly, clover j 4thly, wheat, after which, when a farmer is about quitting his
farm, or towards the expiration of his leafe, he will take another crop of oats. And we are
inclined to think that this mode of cultivation is the moft advantageous.

8. The leafes of this country, not admitting more than two crops of grain to be taken fucces-

fively, the farmer is compelled to make a fallow every third year; but where the foregoing
rotation of crops is attended to, he may be faid to fallow his land every other year, for the

C c clover

C 202 )

clover crop (or where th:5t fails, a crop of tares) by the cuftom of the country fs deemed a
fallow, as is ahla a crop of peas or beans, provided they are twice well and feafouabiy hued ia
the courfe of the fummer.

9. Various manures are partially ufed ; but in general the farmfers depend chifly on that which
arifes from their own land?: th^ dung from the farm yard therefore is carted out in the
fpring, which is carefully turned over and mixed with foil, wherever it can be fparcd from
the fides of lanes or roads, or from the fkirts of the enclofures; and fometimes a portion of
Hue, chalk or rubbifti, is added, where it can eafily be obtained: but to the pooreft of our
li^ht lands, nothing is lb great an improvement as clay or marl, which is generally laid -on
at the rate of about lixty loads to an acre; but on land particularly light, and where this
buiinefs is intended to be done very efledually, eighty loads per acre is frequently laid, which
is" a dreffing of fifteen bufliels to every fcjuare rod, fuppofing our dung carts to hold thirty
bufnels. The clay is dug, the carts filled, and the clay fpread on the land, at about fix
Ihillings for every twenty loads : this, as wellas being an efFedual and cheap improvement,
is alfo a lading one, as the good effefts af it, are experienced twelve, fifteen, and fometimes
almoft twenty years afterwards.

10. The foot-plough is here ufed more than the wheel-plough, as being cheaper, and eafier
repaired ; which with the waggons and dung carts, with deep buck and upright fides, and
harrows and rolls of various conflrudions, are the ufual implements of hufljandry.

11. Oxen are very rarely ufed here for draught.

12. Barley feed time (if the weather permits) commences early in February, and it is frequently
the middle of April before the oats are all fown ; for our farmers (for the fake of a little
more feed) are very «pt to let their turnips, colefeed, or cabbages, remain too long in the
ground. Wheat is fown from the middle of September to the middle of November.
Harveft frequently commences the middle of July, and fometimes is not finiflied till the
firfi: or fecond week in September.

13. Our lands are all enclofed, and have been from time immemorial.
15. And our enclofures are of all fizes from two to thirty acres.

18. There is fcarcely any wafte land in this parifh.

20. The price of labour is is. 6d, per day of twelve hours, from fix in the morning to fix at eve ;
orjn winter, as long as it is light ; but the chief of the work is done by the piece, where it
will admit of being let ; but the prices of work vary fo much, according to fituation,
foil, feafon, and other circumftunces, that it is impoffible to ftate particulars of all kind of
work. Corn is generally cut, and fometimes even houfed per acre; it is threfhed per
quarter ; wheat at 2s. 6d. barley about is. 6d. or is. 8d. and oats is. 2d. per quarter. Fencing
is done by the rod. Land-ditching (or under-ditching) in the ufucl mode, is done at abdut
2S. gd. for every twenty rods, though the leading ditches, which are cut deeper, and require
more attention, are paid for at the rate of 2|d, per rod, or perhaps 4s. 6d. per fcore. Timber

is

( 203 )

is felled at is. 6d. per Jot of fifty feet. Oak timber is ilrippej and felled at about 21s. per
lot of bark, which confifts of twenty-five fathom, or fifty yards ; the coat of bark (as it is
called) being fet thee rinds thick, and well capped to fecure it from wet.

21. Under-ditching (or as it is here called land-ditching) is very much praftifed, and with great
fuccefs, there being no part of hufbandry from which our lands receive greater benefit:
indeed it is not uncommon for a farmer to extend the practice over almoft the whole of his
land. The ditches, when cut, are filled very differently, as the farmer has opportunity
of getting materials: fometimes they are filled with ftraw, or haulm only, butoftener with
wood and ftraw : green broom is much fought after for that purpofe, and the lops of elm
pollards are much efteemcd. Straw twifted into a thick kind of rope hs been ufed for the
purpofe in fome parts of this county, and it is faid with fuccefs.

22. Paring and burning is fcarcely ever pradifed here.

23. This neighbourhood is plentifully wooded. The woodlands, which are generally kept in the
hands of the proprietors, are for the moft part cut at fifteen, fixteen, or feventeen years
growth, and are more or lefs valuable, according to the quantity of hop- poles they produce,
which is the chief article worth attention, as fire wood is very cheap ; owing to which,
confiderable portions of vi^oodlands are cleared annually, and brought under the plough.

24. Diilant from the metropolis, but little more than thirty miles; the price of provlfions is
confequently high, and depends in a great meafure on the London markets.

25. Our roads, both public and private, are tolerably good, though with the advantages of
excellent materials upon the fpot, they might be kept in excellent order, were the inftroc-
tions laid down in the Highway Aft, fully attended to and complied with.

26. The flate of farm houfes and the offices, depend fomuch on the attention, the purfe and the
caprice, both of the proprietor and occupier, that it is difficult to anfwer this query. There
are many farm houfes with their out-buildings, which are properly fituated, and well con.
ftruded: but here property is diftributed in a variety of fmall portions, and the buildings on
many of thofe little farms are in a moll forlorn Hate. ^

J

27. The leafes commonly granted, contain fuch a variety of covenants, that it is difficult to
- enumerate them: the chief aim of them however is to prevent the tenant exhaufting the

land, by over-cropping, or fuffering the buildings to run to ruin. They point out his mode
of farming, admitting him to fow only half of the arable. land with grain in the fame feafon,
direding a fourth of it to be laid down with clover, or other artificial grafTes, and com-
pelling him to make a fallow of the remaining fourth part, great part of which, if light lands,
he fows v.'ith turnips or colefeed for feed ; and if ftrong and heavy, he lays up in Oi'lober,.
or November, for receiving his barley in the enfuing fpring; for wheat is not fown upon
the fallows in general-. Penalties are annexed to mowing twice in the fame feafon, taking

C c 2 a third

( 204 )

a third fuccefiive crop of corn, or breaking up any part of the fmall fliare of paflure land,
which ufiially falls to the lot of farms in general. Many leafes do not admit of rape or cole-
feed being grown, except for feed, more efpecially within the four or five laft years of the term.
Atfthe time of granting a leafe, the proprietor generally takes care to have the bir.idings
put into proper repair; after which the tenant is bound to keep them fo, and at the end of
the leafe to leave them in tenantable repair, being allowed rough timber on the premifes,
with brick, tile and lime, for fo doing.

28. There is no manufafture eftabliftred near this place; there is however a little yam fpun for
thecoarfe woollens manufaflured in different parts of the county by a few of the women and
children, but the generality of the poor will not condefcend to the employment.

sc). A part of the hufbandry pradifed in this county might certainly be introduced with great ad-
vantage into various other parts of the kingdom, where they ftand much in need of improve-
ment. To be inftrudled in the mode of ploughing here pradifed would furely be of vaft
iitility in fome of our midland counties ; for inftead of employing four, five, or even fix horfes
at length, with a miferable, ill-fliaped, unwieldy plough at their heels, and two men to
attend them, the farmer would find his advantage, if he could be brought to do the fame
work with one man, a plough on a better conftrudion, and two or at mofl three
horfes abreafi:. PofTibly fome remarkably heavy ftiff lands, may in wet feafons, require the
farmer to work his horfes at length, in order that the land, after it is raifed, may not be
trampled upon more than is neceffary ; but in fome of the midland counties this mode of
ploughing is indifcriminately ufed, where the land is even lighter and eafier to plough than
a large tra£t of this county, in the raifing of which a greater power than that of three
,j^ horfes abreaft is feldom, if ever, exerted. Were a man to be feen hoeing his crop of
wheat in the fpring, he would in many counties be conlidered as a madman, and yel here it is
very commonly praflifed, and found, under certain circumflances, to anfwer exceedingly
well. A better and more cleanly way of preparing land for turnips, and alfo a more accurate
mode of fetting out the plants in hoeing, feems requifite in many parts of the kingdom. It
is not much more than ten years ago, fince in one of the northern counties, turnips feemed to
be grownfor the fake of the blade, rather than the apple ; and a farmer who was boafling of
a fine thick crop Cfor the turnips literally flood as thick as cabbage plants in the feed-bed)
really thought himfelf laughed at, on being told that his crop ought to have been twice hoed,
and the plants regularly fet out nine or ten inches afunder.

30. A fociety for the improvement of agriculture was inftituted in this county about a year ago,

3r. There certainly are in this county a number of aftive, intelligent farmers, who have
fliewn a laudable fpirit in the improvement of their lands, and who have fpared neither
trouble or expence iu making experiments.

32. Inan enclofed county like this, the fences of its enclofures ought to be a principal obje6^
of care and attention; but to the great difcredit of the generality of our farmers (though

they

C 205 )

they are attentive to the cultivation of their land) they are juft the reverfe with reCpcQ. lo
their fences, as well as to the breed of their ftock (as was before obfcrved) and in both
tkefe refpeifts this rj^ighbourhood certainly ftands in need of improvement. As to flock,
there is indeed but little breed : but there requires fome emulation to be excited among the
farmers — their pride fliould be touched — in order to induce them to pay more attention to
the breed of what little they attempt to bring up. As to fencing, our common labourers
are moft of them entirely ignorant of the proper mode of planting quick: and after it is
planted, our farmers are quite as inattentive to its welfare: fcldom do they think of
weeding it, or defending it from cattle while young, fo that onr enclofures are generally dis-
figured by a fence full of gaps. When harveft is once over, the farmer thinks no more of his
fences till his fields are fown with corn again ; indeed it is not uncommon for the cattle to
have the range of the whole farm by means of thefe broken gaps, which the farmer fees
without the leaft concern whatever: and when the fences are to be mended, they indeed
Hop the gaps with a few dead bullies, but they never take the leaft pains to inlav a little
frefti quick, that the fence may in time be reHorcd.

33. There is here (as in other counties more or lefs) one grand obftacle to all improvement ;
for great as is the induftry and judgment of our farmers in the cultivation of their land, Hill
they receive fo fevere a check to their fpirit of improvement, when they fee the tythe-owner
taking from them a tenth of all their produce, that it frequently puts an end to all enterprize
and experiment. Perhaps in no part of the kingdom (thofe excepted where hops are more par-
ticularly cultivated) is agriculture carried on in fo expenlive a ftile as here; for it is not
uncommon for a man, who takes a confiderable farm, is the two or three firft years of his
leafe, to expend (according to the fize of his farm) icool. or 1200I, in the improvement of
his land, in levelling, draining, fencing, cleanfing rough ground, and many other cxpenfivc
operations, and perhaps even giving the foil a new furface by carrying on a ftratum of clay ;
yet all this he does without regret, and indeed under the idea and expectation of being amply
repaid, fo long as he is able to compound for his tythe at a moderate rate: but in a parilli,
where the tythe is taken in kind, or (which is nearly the fame thing) where an exceffive com-
pofition is demanded, in confequence of improvements, which the farmer is makimr at fome
hazard and certain expence, he is very likely to flop ftiort and argue in this way " Would the
tythe-owner be content with a compofition equal to a tenth of the produce of my land in its
prefent ftate, I fhoukl then exert myfelf, and lay out my money with pleafure, becaufe I
fhould be able to confider as my own all the extra produce arifing from my land in confequence
of my diligence and the money I expend ; but if he is to reap the benefit of all this, and rob
me of a tenth part of the produce of my improvements (which perhaps after all may be the whole
of my net profit) I will remain quiet, run no hazard, and content myfelf with barely plough-
ing and fowing my land in its prefent ftate, for I never will fubmit to the tythe-owner takinty
from me a tenth of all the money I expend, as well as of my additionallabour." This is

a very

( 2o6 )

a v^vy probable, as well as a very fair and rational argument for a farmer to ufe, who In
many inftances, makes his improvements and lays out his money at considerable hazard —
the expence of his experiments is certain— the event of them is uncertain. Should they not
fully anfwer his expeftation, and only partially fucceed ; in that cafe, even if his improve-
ments are 'not tythed, he lofes his time, his labour, and in part his money : but if his tythes
are taken in kind, although the farmer himfelf is a lofer by his experiments, ftill the tythe-
owner is more or lefs a gainer — he gains an addition to his tythe, which cofl him nothing
to obtain, whilll the farmer is deprived of a tenth of his additional produce, the whole of
which would neither have repaid him his expences, nor made him amends for his trouble.
Thus tythes taken in kind, (here more efpecially, where agriculture is carried on at fo
great an expence) are not only injurious to the farmer, but are every day becoming a great
grievance to the public; inafmuchas they difcourage, and frequently prevent, thofe experi-
inents and improvements, by which the community would receive infinite advantage.

ANSWERS

C 2*7 )

ANSWERS to the feveral QUERIES refpeaing the Pariaiot* Dunmox^

Proposed by Mr. VANCOUVER,

Under DIreaion of the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,

By the Rev. JOHN HOW LETT, Great Dunmow, F-JJex.

!• X HIS you have yoiirfelf doubtlefs acquired fufficicnt knowledge of by your perfonal
enquiries.

2. Our largefl: farm contains about 320 acres, exchifive of woods; which contains 130 more.
We have about twenty-five farms under thirty acres each. All the reft of intermediate fize.
But then we have feveral farmers who occupy three, four, or more farms a piece ; but not-
withftanding this, no individual holds 400 acres.

3. We have 3974 acres of cultivated arable land, 900 of paflure, and 300 of woodland. Of

the pafture 500 is very good, 200 very indifferent, and 200 tolerably good. The hay from
the beft is frequently fold at three guineas an acre, and the feed of the after-grafs let at
twelve (hillings ; and at that price are fonietimes really cheap.

4. No particular grafles are cultivated ; they are here the immediate produce of nature, vary-

ing only according to the variety of foil and fituation. When arable is oceafionally laiii
down to pafture, it is ufually, I believe, by fowing rye grafs and clover. I know not that
our live ftock is fubjeft to any particular maladies, different from thofe common in the
neighbourhood, which you probably informed yourfelf of in your perfonal vifits.

6. T believe very little of our land is capable of being artificially watered.

f

7. Our principal grains are wheat, barley, oats, peas and beans ; our feeds, clover, rape, and
turnips ; of the laft a very fmall proportion. The average rent of our arable land may be
eftimated at about twelve or fourteen ftiillings per acre ; and its produce of wheat twenty
bufhels, of barley and oats about four quarters, of peas and beans between three and JFour,
of clover feed between three and four bufliels, of rape three quarters. This laft year the
wheat was fcarcely fixteen buftiels, the barley little more than three quarters, and peas not
four bufliels, in many inftances none at all.

7. Different

C 208 )

7. Different in various parts of the pariQi, agreeable to the difference of foil. The lighter and
better lands, are turnips, barley, clover, wheat, and then fallow — others, barley, oats and
fallow. Wet and heavy land, wheat or barley, and clover for feed, and then fallowed
rather late in the fummer. Sometimes wheat or barley, peas and fallow. Almoft, if not
quite, one-third of our land is annually in fallow, excepting clover for feed, in the early
months of May and June. Both turnips and clover feed anfwer very well on the lands of
tolerably light foil ; but the proportion of acres fo cultivated is rather fmall ; the annual
average not exceeding fixty or feventy acres of each.

^. Partly anfwered in the preceding. We have no plants for dying, &c. and as to medicinal
ones, I am not botanifl enough to give any fatisfadory information.

9. None but the common dung of flables and farm yards, excepting only the produce of the
tanner's and fellmonger's yards. Thefe are laid upon the land from fifteen to fifty cart
loads, of perhaps about a cubic yard each per acre, according to particular exigencies ;
obferving however that the laft quantity is never beftowed, except when mixt with half
or two thirds earth.

10. The ploughs, carts, harrows, rolls, waggons, the fame with thofe in the neighbourhood

in general which you have feen.

1 1 , Horfes entirely.

J 2. Harveft fometimes begins about the 20th of July; at others, not till the middle of Augufl.
Seed time is equally various, according to the difference of the feafon. Sometimes it com-
mences fo early as the middle of September, and fometimes in the month of 0£lober.
Clover land, wheat, and forward peas, are feldom fown till the beginning of No-
vember.

13. Enclofed from time immemorial.

14.

15. From one acre to forty; by far the greatefl part from three to twelve.
j6.

17. None.

18. Not twenty acres in the whole parifh. The greater part of the wafle lands of this neigh-
bonrhood lies in the adjacent parifh of Felflead, very commonly fuppofed to amount to
nearly 500 acres, but in fa6l there are only about 170. They are chiefly depaftured by
Hieep, cows, and geefe ; but according to what rule, I know not. In this refpeft you are
probably better informed than myfelf j as you confulted the mofl fkilful and experienced

farmer

( 209 )

farmer in that parifli. They principally belong to the infant fon of the late Sir JamesTilney
Long. By enclofure they would probably be of more than double their prefent value, the
foil being in general very good.

ig. By being converted into arable.

so. The beft men fervants for farmers from 7I. to 81. or 9I. a year; maid fer\'ants 3I. to 4I. for
ditto; fervants to gentlemen confiderably higher. Farmer's labourers i4d. aday; by the
piece they earn from 4s. or 6s. to 9s. or 10s. per week, according as the job turns out, or
in proportion to the ftrength or dexterity of the labourer. The daily wages have been
nominally raifed within thefe few years about 2d. in the fliilling; but the annual earnings,
comprehending all defcriptions, young and old, llrong and infirm, are perhaps not greatly
advanced.

21. Fenny grounds we have very little, if any of; a very fmall proportion of the moory foil,
and the requifite draining of it is not fully or properly attended to. The common mode
of draining the wettifli arable and indeed pafture land, is by means of the common Eflex
land ditching, which, within the laft forty years, has more improved our farms than any
other praftice.

2Z. Paring and burning have/I believe, not been at all pra£i:ifed in thispariflij; very little in the
neighbourhood, and thefe not anfwering expectation.

23. The proportion of woodland I have already ftated, which is fcarcely a fifteenth part of the
whole; nor do I think it is higher in the neighbourhood in general, if indeed fo high.
The underwood is ufually felled at about fourteen or fifteen years growth, and the anntial
rent from ids. to 14s. or 15s. an acre. I know not that either the underwood or timber
are fubjeft to any peculiar difeafes. The greatefl: enemy to the growth of the timber
trees upon the poorer lands is the white mofs; but I know of no particular means which
have been adopted to remedy this evil.

24. The price of provifions, fuch as butcher's meat, flour, &c. nearly the fame as in the
London markets, and will probably be much dearer before next harvelt for very obvious
reafons. And the other neceifaries of life will probably advance likewife on an average of
the next feven years, from the increafe of taxes.

25. The ftate of our more public roads is very good, excepting only the tempoi'ary efFe£ls of
the late froft. Our private roads are rather bad, but are gradually becoming better. No
improvement in the mode of making or repairing them, unlefs the laying the materials
fomewhat higher and rounder in the middle than formerly be deemed one. For the better

D d prefervation

( 210 )

prefervation of the roads, the greater part of the pollard trees in the hedges, bordering the
highway, have been filled within thefe few years.

s6. The flate of farm houfes you have feen ; it is, I think, tolerable, both in conftruftion and
repair, though in neither by any means extraordinary.

27. Our leafes vary in point of time from nine years to twenty-one, generally in fome proportion

to the fizes of the farms refpe£tively ; but the moft common period is twelve or fourteen.
And the advantage to landlord and tenant muft be eftimated accordingly A few farms
in this parifli, not above three or four perhaps, are let without any leafe at all ; w hich is
iranifeftly, in a fpeculative view, highly difcouraging to a fpirited agriculture ; but, in
facT:, T cannot difcern, either in this parifli or the neighbouring ones, any flriking difference
in the cultivation and improvement of the lands, holden with and without leafes. This
perhaps arifes partly from the farmer's following and imitating the practice of their neigh-
bours, and partly from a confidence in the fairnefs and indulgence of their landlords.
But in this I wiH fay no more, as you do not want I should reafon, but merely flate fads. J

28. The woollen manufatfture flourillied very much in this parifli and neighbourhood about

fifty years ago, but is now greatly on the decline, and in lefs than fifty years hen.e I am
apprehenfive will be totally loft. The influence of this declenfion on the earnings of the
poor is fl:riking. The prefent diminution in price of fpinning work is a lofs of not lefs
than 500I. a year to this fingle parifli alone. We have a fmall manufacture of facks,
which is rather in a flourifliing flate j employing, I believe, thirty hands, and has exifted
about ten or fifteen years.

29. None, except our mode of land-ditching, which is now pretty generally known.

30. An Agricultural Society was inftituted in this county above two years ago. The greatefl:
defideratum was thought to be an improvement in our breed of cattle ; but the fubtlefl
ingenuity could fcarcely have fuggefted a more efFeftual meafure to prevent this improve-
ment, than that adopted by the fociety. Premiums were propofed for the befl flail lon,
bull, boar, ram, &c. of a certain age, bred within the limits of the county. This en-
tirely difcouraged that emulation which, without fuch limitation, would have immedi-
ately taken place amongft the farmers for procuring the finefl: of each kind that could
have been found in any part of the kingdom. Thefe obtained, one condition of granting
premiums might have been, thnt they fliould be under certain reftriftions, for the ufe of
their refpeflive neighbours. This would foon have produced a great advance towards a
confiderable degree of perfeftion in each fpecies, and it would have fully af.ertained
w'-ieth^r it was worth while to attempt this improvement in queflion ; of which I am not
altogether clear, efpecially with regard to flieep and oxen ; it being generally more advan-

tageuos

im-

( 211 )

tagcous to Icnvc breeding to other counties. Otir breed of flieep fifty years ngo was

larger and finer than at prefent ; but not nearly fo profitable to the farmer as thofe now
brought from Norfolk and Wilts annually.

31. The people certainly have a turn for improvement, and a(ftually do from time to time

prove in their agricultural management.

32. After what is faid in article 30, this requires nothing further. ^

2^. Perhaps tythes and want of leafes may have, in feme particular cafes, been obftacles to
improvement; though I muft confefs that I am unable to point out proofs of the fa (fl.
The commutation for tythes I fliould wifh for, is nearly the fame with that propofed in
the Agricultural Survey of Staffordfliire. A navigable canal through this parifli would
probably be the greateft fource of improvement I can at prefent conceive ; as it might
prove the means of bringing great quantity and variety of mamu'es fuited to our feveral
varieties of foil and fituation. Without this I fee very little probability of any confider-
able advance.

34. The diflinftion of houfes and families I have always found extremely difficult to afcertain,
and perhaps were twenty perfons employed to make the enumeration, their accounts
would all be different. As nearly as may be the number of houfes in this parifh is about
325, and of fiimilies 365. The number of perfons on an average of five furveys, made
fucceflively in the years 1785 — 87 — 89 — 91 and 95, 1663. The annual burials on an
average of the lafl 13 years are 39, and confequently the average annual mortality one
in about 42I; an indication of at leafl: tolerable healthinefs.

The poor's rates on an average of four years were, beginning at Eafter,

years.

£' s.

^.

lyig

260 6

8

1731

277 II

8

1736

428 I

7

1 74.1

402 I

6

1746

442 11

i|

1768

7,73 9

5

1773

847 lO

8

J781

951 19

8

1785

807 16

4

J790

698 I J

4

D d 3 You

f

C 212 )

Von fee that during the lafl twelve years the three averages, of four years each, have de-
creafed more than lool. a year. This has been ov/ing, I believe, to thefe two caufes:
firfl, a determination in the parifli officers to fpare their money to the utmofl ; and
fecondly, by admitting as few as poffible into the workhoufe ; where experience has
taught them, that the maintenance of the poor is much more expenfive than out of it.
Perhaps this circumftance alone will account for a very large proportion of the above-
flated decreafe. The price of provifions has all the time been greatly advancing ; the
natural conclufion feems to be, that the neceffities of the poor have not been fo well pro-
vided for. This however is not to be admitted in its full apparent extent ; for it is to
be obferved, that in the year 1782 a putrid fever took place, and carried ofF three times
the average number ; and chiefly prevailing amongft the poor, it at once raifed the rates
from about 800I. to upwards of laool. The workhoufe is, upon the whole, very well
conduced. The rates will be very high this year, befides a voluntary contribution of
upwards of 190I.

35. The feeding, treating, management, and working of the farmer's horfes, is infinitely

various, according to the temper, views and generofity of the farmers. Thofe who take a
pride in having fine horfes, feed them high and work them moderately, that they may always
as it were, be ready for fale, Thofe who have little concern about the appearance of
their horfes, nor their breed, keep an ordinary fort both in fize and figure, and give them
juft fufficient to enable them to hold their work, and often become dreadfully poor and
lean. In ploughing and carting manure, they ufually continue it from fix in the morn-
ing to about two in the afternoon ; are then taken home, fed and drej/ej, as it is here
ufually called, but go out no- more that day, as, I believe, is cuflomary in fome parts of
Norfolk and Suffolk. Our general breed of horfes, in this parifh and neighbourhood,
is greatly improved, within the lafl forty years, both for the plough and the faddle.

36. Our tythes are commuted: the great tythes are, I believe, nearly double what they were
fifty years ago, and are flill moderate. The fmall tythes have not been advanced in the
fame period any thing at all before lafl year, when an addition of about two-thirds of the
former fum was made ; and now they are not charged at one-third of their real value.
The rents within the fame courfe of years have not been raifed above one-eighth, and
were they advanced to the utmofl of which they are capable, it would not be above one-
fourth, if fo much; nor would it be nearly fo much, if the tythes were taken in kind.
I know not any thing that renders tythes more objedionable, than this difproportionate
advance of the value compared with that of the lands which produce them ; and nothing

but

( 213 )

but the forbearance and moderation of the clergy can make them tolerable. As to a ge-
neral commxitation I know not any better than that already referred to as made in
the Agricultural Return for Staffordllaire. The farmers are the only perfons who gene-
rally complain on this head; but if they are wife, they will never wifli for their abolition;
for what they now contingently get, from the moderation of the clergy, the landlords
would-immediately put in their own pockets, and the farmers burdened with increafcd
rents, rates, and taxes, would feel how indifcreet were their former complaints.

FINI S.

ERRATA.

for fmaller rtad fmall
. for powers read progrefs
for follows nad follow
for Norfold rad NorfoK

for furrows upon which read furrows only of which
for continue upon nad attend
for and are as follow read which were as follow
for fays read fayes
for that read which
for corporation read borough
for were they not read were not thefe
for as has alio jvirf as have alfo
for total net profits read total net annual profits
for particular dry read particularly dry
for the limbs read their limbs
for rot in fheep read rot to fheep

for that of the read thofe of the- --line ii for rlleeving read relieving
for Z20J of commons read zioj acres of commons

for a fhort inftance as the Wales cows read for inftance as the Welch COWS
for Harford read Hertford— line 21 for abfolute read abfolutely
for compact read compaftly— line n for tolerable read tolerably
for from the beam read for the beam

for the field that lies nearly level drawing read a field that lies nearly level draw
for requiring read require
for their read its

for in that of chalk read or that of chalk
for effeft the root read the effefts which the roots
foj- lion read lien
for draught read drought
for from their want read from the want

fir from how long they may continue to withhold their authority, read how
long it may continue to withhold its authority
Jn fpeakiJig of the poors rates always read thefe haye increased irjiead of they have incrsafgd.

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