For remarks,&c.

[. 33

MARKETS AND FAIRS.

BeRKSHIRE, with respect to situation of markets, is peculiarly fortunate. They are distributed so well, that a distance of ten miles to a market, is difficult to be found.

Newbury, Reading, Abingdon, Wallingford, and Windsor, have all the advantage of water-carriage to London, and the in- terior parts of the kingdom. The two former send a prodigious quantity of flour to London; and the others barley and malt, to a considerable amount.

IIsley has also, of late, become a sheep market, of the first im- portance, not only to Berkshire, but its neighbouring counties. Not less than 20, OOoO sheep have sometimes been sold in one mar- ket day; and it is computed, that the annual average is not under 250,000, comprizing lambs, tags, wethers, and ewes; but they are chiefly lean sheep.

Newbury has, time out of mind, been justly considered a most

excellent corn market; and still retains some customs, that would be of great use were they observed, in all other markets. Here

the grain is pitched in open market, is ingenuously offered to the

public, in small, as well as large quantities: thus defeating, as much as possible, the artifices of monopolizers; and holding out

to the industrious lowly hand, the chief nourisher of his existence, at a fair market price.

Another good custom is also observed here; that the farmer, let him sell much, or little, has his money paid on delivery of the article, verifying the old observation on Newbury market, that

«The farmer may take back « His money in his sack.“

There are several large fairs held in this county for horses, neat cattle, and sheep. Faringdon and Abingdon have great horse fairs; and Lambourn, and some other towns, have a great mart

0

for in-calf heifers, colts,&c.