G E N ERAL V IEW
O F TH E
4 G R 1 C LI I. U R P
OFE THE COUNTY OF
M 1 D D I. E 8 E X.

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G E NER A I. V 1 E W
O E I1 fH E
A( R I 8 I I. 1 I A
OE THE GOUNTI OE
M D PD E 8 E X.
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WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MEANS OFI
113 1
1 90 MA 8 BAl R D.
†HE CONSIDERATION OEF TPHE BOARD OFP
DRAWN UP FOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
N IEDB J. NIOOLS.
SEA/ 7 15 1'S OV EM
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LAN.
AGRICULTURE

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AGRICULTURAL SURVEYS.
THE Board of Agriculture, will have occaſion to em- ploy, ſome very intelligent Surveyors, or Perſons ſkilled in huſbandry, in examining into the Agricultural ſtate of all the different Counties of England and Scotland, and, in pointing out, in what reſpects, there is room for improvements.
The inquiries principally to be made, will relate to the following POolnts:
1. The nature of the ſoil and climate of the diſtrict to be exa- mined?
2. The manner in which the Land is poſſeſſed, whether by great or by ſmall proprietors?
3. The manner in which the Land is occupied, whether by great or by ſmall farmers?
4. The manner in which the Land is employed, whether in paſture, in huſbandry, or, a mixture of both?
5. If in paſture, what graſſes are cultivated? what ſpecics of ſtock is kept? whether the breeds can be improved, or whether new breeds ought to be tried?
6. Whether any of the land is watered, and whether any con- ſiderable extent of ground is capable of that improvement?
7. If the land is employed in Huſbandry, what are the grains principally cultivated?
8. What is the rotation of crops? and in particular whether green crops, as turnips, clover,&c. are cultivated, and how they are found to anſwer?
9. Whether fallowing is practiſed or otherwiſe?
10. What manures are made uſe of?
11. What are the uſual ſorts of ploughs, carts, and other im- plements of hufbandry?
12. Whether oxen or horſes are made uſe of?
13. What is the ufual ſeed time and harveſt?
14. Whether the land is incloſed or in open fields?
15. What advantages have been found to reſult from incloſing land, in regard to thée increaſe of rent,—— quantity, or quality of produce,— improvement of ſtock,&c.
16. What is the ſize and nature of the incloſures?
12. Whether incloſures have increaſed or decreaſed population?
14. Whethen

( 2)
r8. Whether there are any common fields, and whether any diviſion of them is propoſed?
19. What is the difference of rent, or produce, between com- mon fields and incloſed lands?
20. What is the extent of waſte lands, and the improvement of which they are moſt capable, whether by being planted, con- verted into arable, or into paſture land?
21. What is the rate of wages, and price of labour, and what are the hours at which labour commences and ceafes, at the dif- ferent ſeaſons?
22. Whether proper attention is paid to the draining of land, particularly the fenny part of it, and what ſorts of drains are com- monly made uſe of?
23. Whether paring and burning is practiſed, and how is it managed and found to anfwer?
24. Whether the country is well wooded, and whether the woodlands are kept under a proper ſyſtem?
25. What is the price of proviſions, and whether the price is likely to be ſteady, to riſe, or to fall?
26. What is the ſtate of the roads both public and parochial, whether they are in good order or capable of improvement?
27. What is the ſtate of farm houſes and offices, whether in general they are well ſituated and properly conſtructed?
28. What is the nature of the leaiés commonly granted, and the covenants uſual between landlord and tenant?
29. To what extent have commerce or manufactures been car- ried on in the diſtrict, and have they had either good or bad ef- fects on its agriculture?
30. Are there any practiſes in the diſtrict, that could be of ſer- vice in other places?
31. Are thierc any ſocieties inſtituted in the diſtrict for the im- provement of Agriculture?
32. Whether the people ſeem to have a turn for improvements, or how ſuch a ſpirit could beſt be excited?
33. What improvements can be ſuggeſted either in regard to the ſtock or the huſbandry of the diſtrict:
34. Are there any obſtacles to improvements, and in what manner can they beſt be removed?
35. What are the names, deſcriptions, and addreſs of thoſe proprietors, or farmers, who are the moſt active, or the moſt ſkilful improvers in the diſtrict, and who are the moſt likely to be uſeful correſpondents to the Board of A griculture?
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(3) It is propoſed, for the ſake of making ſuch ſurveys as caſy as poſ- ſible, that each perſon, who may undertake them, ſhall have a diſtrict that may be gone Over in five or ſix weeks: fo that it may be under-
taken by thoſe, who have a good deal of buſimneſs of their own, with- out much inconvenience. Thus alſo the Board, will have a greater variety of information, and a greater maſs of inſtructive obſerva ations, from a greater number of intelligent men, for their confideration and guidance.
It is farther propoſed, that the reports received by the Board, ſhall firſt be circulated as much as pPoſſible, in the counties to which they relate, for the benefit of receiving the obſervations, and 4 dditional remarks of every Farmer and Gentleman in the diſtricct. From the information thus accumulated, a complete ſtate of its Agriculture will be drawn up and pubji iihed; copies of which will be preſented by the Board, to every individual, who may have favoured them with his aſſiſtance.
The Board can only make an allowance, at the rate of 5 1. per week, for the expence of ſuch a tour. Indeed ſome Gentlemen with great public zeal, and much to their credit, have undertaken to ſurv ey ſeveral diſtriets gratuitouſly. But that is not always to be expected, Parti- cularly from Profeſſlonal r men. The payment of their expenc S they are well intitled to expect, if they give their time and trouble for nothing. Profit, however, muſt not be the o object of thoſe who un- dertake fuch an employment; nor could ſuch a Board wiſh to be concerned with any one, who would not willingly make ſome ſacri- fices for the public good, and indeed who would not take a pride in having any fhare in promoting ſo uſeful an undertaking.
P. S. If the diſtrict is remarkable for its orchards, for jts cyder, for its dairy, for its cheeſe, for its butter, for its bree;d of ſhee I. a ca
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horſes, hogs,&c. or the culture of woad, liquorice, c. particular
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attemie on 18 requeſted to thoſe article 8, OTr to any other in which it may
Weßn Drawings alfo, and exact deſcriptions, of the different breeds t ſheep, cattle, and hort ſes, in eac ch diſtrict, would be particular rly deferabl The quantity raiſed of each fort of crop, in the different
parts of the diſtrict, and the quantity of milk producs 2d by the diffe- rent breeds of c-¹ ile, or 6 vool by the different breeds of fhee cannot be too accurate W ſcertained and noted.

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lIo tle R E AP E R.
THE following intelligent paper, reſpecting the preſent ſtate of huſbandry in the county of Middleſex, and the
means of its improvement, drawn up for the conſideration of
the Board of Agriculture, and ſince corrected and improved by Aann reſpectable individuals in the county, is now printed,
merely for the purpoſe of its being SrcHated there, in order that every perſon, intereſted in the welfare of that county, may have it in his power, to examine it fully, before it is publifhed. As it is merely an outline, it is requeſted, that any remark, or additional obſer vation, which may occur to the re- ader, on the peruſal of the following fheets, may be written on the mar- gin, and tranfmitted to the Board of Agriculture, at its office in London, by whom the ſame ſhall be properly attended to; and, when the returns are completed, an account will be drawn up, of the ſtate of agriculture in Middleſex, from the information thus accumulated, Which, it is believed, will be found, greatly ſuperior, to any thing of the kind, ever yet made Pl ublic.
The Board intends to follow the ſame plan, in regard to all the other counties in the united kingdom; and, it is hardl ly neceflary to add, will be happy to give every afſiſtance in its bower, to any perſon, who may be deſirous of improving his breed of cattle, ſheep,&c. or of trying any uſeful experiment in huſbandry.

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1N T RODU C T 1 0 N.
HE county of Middleſex, though the firſt in Great- Britain in point of population, is among the fmalleſt in point of extent, being only about twenty-four miles in length from Eaſt to Weſt, and eighteen in breadth from North to South. It is divided into ſix hundreds and two liberties. It contains two cities, which, united, form thie capital of Great-Britain; and five market-towns; beßdes a great number 0f populous villages. It is bounded on the South by the river Thames; and that part of it, next the river, may be lienhe a portion of the extenſive vale of the Thames, which, for bea auty and rich cultivation, is, perhaps, unequalled by any other vale in Europe. Towards the North and Eaſt, it is moſt beautifully diver- ſified, by ſmall eminencies, or green hills, whoſe verdure is hardly impaired, even by the cold and ſtorms of winter. The number of acres in this county is computed to be about 250,000; by far the greateſt proportion of which confiſts of garden ground, meadow, and pafturage; the vicinity of the capital, rendering that mode of occupy- ing the ſoil, the moſt profitable. In general, it is ſuppoſed by the moſt experienced and beſt informed Perſofis in the county, that about 130,000 acres is in meadow and paf- turage, 50,000 acres in nurſery, gardens and pleaſure- grounds, 50,000 acres in tillage, and about 20,000 acres in
waſtes and commons, or applied to no profitable purpoſe.
he p 13, in fillage js 1IEV The part that is in tillage is, in general, in good cultiva- „ 1 I4A——, 2 Sor. 1 tion, and yields heavy crops of all kinds of grain; but, to
ha atter ASm ne Utter altohnllh-—
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the reproach of the inhabitants, and to
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nent of every ſorelgner who viſfits us, it contains many
thouſand acres, ſtill in a ſtate of nature; and, though with- 1. 1„
—: Ie—; ſ,trI. 1„ in a few miles of the capital, as little improved by the la- 2 1.
1
bour of man, as if they belonged to the Cherokees, or any
For remarks and additional obſervations

For remarks and additional
„ obſervations.
18
other tribe of American ſavages. Upon viewing theſe waſtes, ſuch as Hounſlow-heath, Finchley-common, Xc. and comparing their preſent income and produce, to what it might be raiſed by the art and induſtry of man, it may juſtly be affirmed, that an improving income, of perhaps from C. 30,000 to L. 50,000. per annum, is thrown away, with as careleſs an indifference, as it the owners were afraid of being too rich. And when it is confidered, that ſuch an income is not only loſt to the owners, but that the public at large, loſes the uſe of productions worth, per- haps, f. 200,000 pber annum, it will readily be allowed, that it is a great national object, to purſue the means of pre- venting ſuch a loſs in future; and, at thie ſame time, of removing ſuch a reproach, upon the good ſenſe and in- duſtry of the country.
In regard to the following obſervations, it is to be re- marked, that the occupiers of land, in the neighbourhood of London, are naturally cautious in giving a ſtranger that mi- nute information, reſpecting either rent or produce, which the Board may think it necefſary to have. This may proceed from the hurry of bufineſs, in which they ſeem to be en- gaged, or(which is more natural) from a jealouſy of the motives of the enquiry, which few, or any of them, will give themſclves the trouble to be ſatisfied about. At a greater diſtance from the metropolis, this will not, pro- bably, be the caſe.
This circumſtance, however, it is to be hoped, will be a fufficient apology for the fhortneſs of this paper, and the many defects which might be found in it, as originally
Written, but which the author is happy to acknowledge,
in conſequence of the obliging aſſiſtance of many of the moſt reſpectable characters in the county, have fince been in a great meafure corrected. This is a ſufficient proof, that the inhabitants of Middleſex, when properly called upon, are not behind any other part of the kingdom, in zeal, for extending the knowledge, and promoting the in- tereſts of their country.
2 Part 1.

1. 9
g theſe on, Rc. 1. PRESENT STAIE OE THE ACRICULTURE OF TME
20 wha t 2 4 3 10 W llat C O0U N TX 86
it may perhaps away. ay, For remarks and additional à wWere—— ehe obſervations.. that. „* 8. 5 Preliminary remarts.—* The greater part of the cultivated ut chat... 1 land in this county, as has been already remarked, is n, per-. 2]* occupied in graſs, gardening, pleaſure-grounds, and nurſe- ed, that 3. 14... 3 . ries. In the more immediate vicinity of London you find OlI pre-—— P almoſt nothing elſe; by which means, the obſervations, Ime..— 1 0f in a ſurvey of this kind, are much more limited, and 1 ⸗.— 1. MI leſs various, than in a county, where the operations of the plough, can be traced, into all the different ſyſtems of be re- huſbandry, practiſed by the intelligent and experienced ood of farmer; or, where every different ſpecies of ſtock has lat mi. been brought to any confiderable degree of perfection. which roceed* The following account of the ſoil and fertility of Middleſex, extracted be en- from Norden's Speculum Britanniæ(written in the reign of Queen Elizabeth), fu may amuſe the reader, who wiſhes to compare ancient and modern times: oi tht**The ſoil of Middleſex is excellent, fat and fertile, and full of profite: it , will** yeeldeth corne and graine, not onelie in aboundance, but moſt excellent good At a ⁵ wheate, eſpsciallie about Heſton, which place may be called Granarium tritici Pro*³⁴regalis, for the ſingularitie of the corne. The vaine of this eſpeciall corn 3) ¹ ſeemeth to extend from Heſton to Harrow on the Hill, betweene which, as a in the midway, is Perivale, more truely Purivale,&c.&c.— Yet doth not this zill be 44 ſo fruitefull ſoyle yeeld comfort to the wayfairing man in the winter time, „ and« by reaſon of the claieſh nature of the ſoyle: which, after it hath taſted the . 1 ¹so autumne ſhowers, waxeth both dyrtie and deep: but unto the countrie ſwaine, inally ¹s it is a fweet and pleaſant garden, in regard to his hope of future profite, for, ledge, The deepe and dirtie loathſome ſoyle of we 4 Neslds golden gaine, to painefal toyle.“. e been The induſtrious and painefull hufbandman will refaſe a pallace to droyle ia. ¹4 theſe golden puddles.“ Fool, The wheat of Heſton was ſo famous, that Queen Elizabeth, as is reported, called bad the moft part of her proviſion from that place, for manchat for her High- 3 , in neſſes own diet. d P The the in⸗ 2.
part J.
—.— 4—

For remarks and additional obſervations.
The county of Middleſex, may in general be very pro- perly conſidered, as a ſort of demeſne to the metropolis, being covered with its villas, interſected by the innumerable roads leading to it, and laid out in gardens, paſtures, and incloſures of all ſorts for its convenience and ſupport. It ſwarms with people in its numerous and extenſive vil- lages; but no large towns can exiſt in the neighbourhood of that, which attracts people ſo ſtrongly, from every part of the kingdom.
The Soil.—In the neighbourhood of London, Mid- dleſex is a diſtrict of no great natural fertility, its gene- ral ſoil being a lean gravel; nevertheleſs, in conſe- quence of its vicinity to the metropolis, and the uncom- mon ſhare of warmth and manure, refulting from that cir- cumſtance, even that part of the county is rendered very fruitful, and clothed with almoſt perpetual verdure. In regard to the more diſtant parts of it, there is a great deal of loam and ſtrong clay, fit for growing corn of every kind. All the level or flat lands on the margin of the Thames, are covered with a very rich mellow ſoil, with a few acres of gravelly ſoil interſperſed in it, but ſo trifling, as not· to afford more than one acre of gravel for 49 of good rich
land.
Garden-ground.—In the Eaſtern parts of Middleſex, round Bow, Bethnal-Green, Stepney,&c. you find the greateſt part of the land converted into nurſeries for raiſing plants, ſhrubs, and trees, of all ſorts. The grounds cloſe by Bow, in the hands of Gordon and Co. and other nurſery-men, ſeem, in point of extent, as well as management, ſuperior to any thing of the kind, in this part of the county. Fancy- flowers, and flowering ſhrubs, are the articles chiefly cul- tivated; but fruit and foreſt trees are alſo raiſed in very
conſi-

cpnſiderable quantities; and the demand for all theſe arti- cles is very great, not only in the neighbourhood of Lon- don, but all over Great Britain, and even Ireland, a great variety of foreign trees and flowering fhrubs being to be had here, that can be proeured no where elſe. The nur- ſeries of Gordon and Co. confiſt of 30 acres of ground and upwards. The general average of men, employed in the nurſeries and garden-grounds near London, is at the rate of one man per acre.
From Kenſington to Hounſlow, on either hand, for ſe- veral miles, may be reckoned the great garden, to the North of the Thames, for the ſupply of London; you meet with nothing in this quarter that is not in the hands of common gardeners, except the pleaſure-grounds of ſome of the nobility, or of private individuals, annexed to their reſpective viflas; the management of which it is not the buſineſs of a ſurvey of this kind to particularize.
About Chelſea, the fields are for the greateſt part in the hands of nurſery-men. The grounds in this neigh- bourhood, in the occupation of common gardeners, are, in general, not ſo well dreſſed, though the ſoil here is lighter than to the Northward; and, conſequently, fitter for gar- den crops. About Brompton, Kenſington, and to the Weſtward, the nurfery and garden-grounds are clean and well cultivated. Fruit-trees and flowering-ſhrubs are here raiſed in great quantities, find a ready market, and turn to Ereat account. They raiſe alſo foreſt-tree plants in great profuſion. It does not, however, appear ſo ſafe or eligible a plan; to truſt to the foreſt-timber plants raiſed in grounds ſo near London, eſpecially where they are to be planted out upon poor lands, or in more expoſed ſituations; as it is obvious, that plants raiſed as it were on hotbeds, and too haſtily brought forward, by the force of manure, will na- turally make but a ſlow and ſickly progreſs, when tranſ- planted to leſs rich and more unkindly ſoils. A medium
B 2 ſoĩil.
For remarks and additional obſervatiens.

For remarks and additional obſervations,
foil, neither too rich nor toe poor, is the beſt for a nurſery. It is therefore humbly ſuggeſted to gentlemen, who have it in contemplation to become conſiderable planters, to turn their attention to raifing their own plants and trees, or at leaſt to buy very fmall plants, at low prices, from nurſeries, aud to keep them, when tranſplanted, for ſome time, in their own nurſery-grounds. By adopting either ef theſe plans, they will find not only a very great ſaving, but a prodigious ſatisfaction afterwards, in the health and fu- ture ſucceſsful progreſs of their plantations.
Cowkeepers— All round London, but particularly near Hackney, Iſſington, and for ſeveral miles thereabouts, the cow-keepers engroſs every inch of land they can procure, The quantity of milk, conſumed by the metropolis, muſt be very great indeed. Some of theſe cow-keepers, have remarkable large ſtocks of cows, for the purpoſe of ſup- plying this neceſſary article: one farmer(Mr. Weſt, of Iflington) has, on the different farms he poſſeſſes in that neighbourhood, very near 1000; in one yard l ſaw about 300 cows; and, as at this ſeaſon of the year(July), they are in the fineſt order, and their colours are different and beautifully variegated, I could not help being much pleaſed with a ſcene ſo near London, at once ſo rich and rural. The cow-keepers are not particular as to their breed; for you will find in their hands, beaſts as various in their kinds, as in their colours,—a cow that gives a great quantity of milk is naturally preferred; quantity, not quality, being the object. They are in general bought from drovers in thie Northern parts of England, who make it a baſineſs to purchaſe cows for the London cow-keepers, for which they give, from ſix to ten pounds per cow, when with calf. The ſpotted cows, ſell for more by twenty ſhillings, than cows of equal goodneſs, but all of oneè colour. The Hol- derneſs breed certainly give the largeſt quantity of nulk;
but

but they are more tender than the Lancaſhire and Stafford- ſhire; which, on that account, are in general preferred. The price of the Holderneſs, per head, is from ten to twelve guineas, at leaſt at Iſlington, where a freſh ſupply from Norkfhire, is regularly expoſed to ſale.
From what I could obſerve, the milk is delivered, en- tirely free from adulteration, to the people who retail it in London; and as they have it unadulterated, at the rate of three-farthings a pint, and retail it at three-halfpence, their profit is furely ſo great, as ought not to tempt them to any adulteration. But when it is confidered, how much their milk is lowered by water, and other worſe mixtures, it is matter of regret, that no method has hitherto been fallen upon, to prevent the abuſes, ſo juſtly complained of, in regard to this very neceſſary article of life*. This is an objec, well intitled to the particular conſideration of thoſe who ſupply the metropolis with milk, as it cannot be doubted that the generality of the inhabitants of London,
* Not ſat'sfied with the profit above ſtated, which, conſidering the differ- ence of meaſure, is above one hundred per cent. it is a common practice with the retailers of this uſeful article, to carry the milk firſt home to their own houfes, where it is ſet up for half a day; when the cream is taken from it, at leaft all that comes up in that time, and it is then ſold for new-milk;— dy which means, what is delivered in the morning, is no other than the milk of the preced ing afternoon, deprived of the ercam it throws up by ſtanding dur- ing that time. By this means a farther conſicerable profit accrues to the retaller; and the milk is greatly reduced in point of ſtrength and quality. This cream, poor as it is, is afterwards, it is ſaid, mixed with other ingre- dients; and vet finds a quick and ready market in the metropolis.
It is matter of furprize, that in the city of London, ſo long and deſervedly famous for the attention and vigiſance of its magiſtrates, in the conduct and re- gulation of the markets, no notice has hitherto been taken, or any effectual means adopted, to prevent the abuſes, ſo generally and juſtly complained of, in an article, the conſumption of which Cin London and its environs alone) is greater tnan in half the cities of Europe.— Milk has always been a favourite part of the food of Britons; and, in a great and populous city, it is highly conducive to the health of the inhabitants.— Lace& carne vivwunt, ſays Cæſar, in his Com- mentaries.
5 wauld
For remarks and additiona! obſervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
would be ſatisfied, high as the price is, to give ſome addi- tion to the ſum they now pay, if they could purchaſe ſo uſeful an article perfectly genuine-
The cow-Kkeepers breed very few cattle, and thoſe they do breed, only from favourite cows, which become ſo, merely from their giving much milk, and with very little attention to the choice of their bulls. Even in ſummer, and when the graſs is in the greateſt plenty, the cows are regularly fed with grains, which, though the quantity of milk may be thereby increaſed, does by no means add to its quality. The general allowance is 45 quarters of grains per week, at 15. 10d. per quarter, for 25 cows. They are given them twice a day, and they have beſides two meals of turnips and hay. Some of them have tried ſalt, mixed with the grains, more with a view to preſerve the grains longer in a ſound ſtate, than from any conſideration of the health of their ſtock, or the improvement of the quality of the milk. It is acknowledged, that the cows eat the grains ſo mixed with greater avidity; but the proprietors, not getting an adequate return for their trouble and expence, I do not find that it is now much practiſed. Sometimes the grains are buried for a little time, during the brewing- ſeaſon, if they are not much in demand, and afterwards dug up again, when they are ſtill found perfectly fit for uſe. Five or fix men only are employed in attending near 300 cows; but as one woman cannot milk, above eight or nine twice a day, that part of the buſineſs would neceſſarily be attended with a very heavy expence, were it not that the retailer agrees for the milk of a certain num- ber of cows, and takes the milking upon himſelf. Some- times men undertake this branch of female employment, though in general they are very aukward at it.
Conſumption of milk in London.— The quantity of milk conſumed in the metropolis, and the ſum of money it coſts the
in

b addi. aſe ſo
they ne ſo, little imer, s are ty ot dd to grains y are neals nxed ains kthe tj of rains not nee, imes Ning. Vards it for ding bove ould re it um-
—
the inhabitants, to be ſupplied with that article, it would be extremely deſirable to aſcertain. But there are not ſuf- ficient data to do it with any great preciſion. The follow- ing calculation, however, may be improved and perfe cted by more minute and careful enquiries, which the Board may afterwards cauſe to be inſtituted.
„Though the yielding a great quantity of milk, is natu- rally the principal quality wiſhed for by the London cow- keepers in the cows they purchaſe, yet ſo indifferently have they as yet fucceeded in attaining that object, that though it is well known that cows in Scotland, of the true Dutch breed, yield at the rate of 16 Scotch pints, or 8 Engliſh gallons per day, and ſometimes more, yet in the neigh- bourhood of London they ſeldom give more than 6 gallons even in the heighth of the ſeaſon; indeed 5 gallons in fummer, and 4 in winter, is a high enough average.
The account of each cow will then ſtand as follows: No. of gall. Value of milk.
Five gallons per day for 182„ days, at 6d. per gallon, 910 L 2²² 15 0 Four gallons per day for 183 days, at 6d. per gallon, 73² H*8 6 0 Total each cow, 1642 4a 0
On the ſuppoſition that there are 6,000 cows neceſſary for the ſupply of London and its ſuburbs, there are conſe- quently 9,852, 000 gallons of milk ſold there in a year, or at an average, about 27,046 gallons daily; for which the cow-keepers get(.246, 300.; and as the retailers get 15. per gallon, it coſts the inhabitants of London L.492, 600. ber arnum, or about 1350 per day, to be ſupplied with milk and cream. The butter conſumed there, comes at a greater diſtance, particularly from Epping, Cambridge,&c.
Syſtem of huſbanary.— The ſyſtem of huſbandry practiſed in Middleſex, is in general nearly the ſame. At the ex- tremities,
For remarks and additiona! obſervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
tremities, the caſe is otherwiſe, but in the neighbourhood of the City, the lands are principally occupied in ralſing hay for the London-market. From the lower and richer grounds, they cut two crops in the ſeaſon; a practice which could no where be adopted, but where land is pro- perly watered, or in the vicinity of a great City, where the command of manure is ſuperabundant. In the higher grounds, round Highgate and Hampſtead, and farther on to Barnet and that neighbourhood, they cut only once.
That part of the county of Middleſex beyond Houn- ſlow-heath, and towards Cranford, Uxbridge,&c. is in a ſtate of high cultivation; a conſiderable part of it is alſo occupied in raiſing hay for the London market; and thia affords ſo fure a profit, that all the lands in this county, in the immediate contiguity of London, dot employed as garden-ground, may be ſaid to be devoted to that purpoſe. Two loads an acre, is reckoned a moderate crop;(the load here is only 1800 weight;) but two and a half is not Duncommon, and ſometimes more. When hay is at L. 5. a ton, or. 4. 10s5. a load, as it is at preſent,(July 1793), and land in a ſituation to yield two cuttings, and after- graſs beſides, no plan can yield more profitable returns, with ſuch little riſk and trouble*†.
* No good farmer, however, thinks of mowing his meadow lands more than once a year, unleſs he has, or can eaſily procure, dung ſufficient to cover the ground immediately after a ſecond mowing. It is worthy of remark, that in the beautiful pariſh of Hendon, in this county(7 miles from London), where the ſoil is in generel a very ſtrong clay, the farmers uſed to mow as much hay from 15e awole of their grounds as they could get, wuhout thinking of the ill conſequences that might attend it; but experience hath taught them a very different mode of occupying their grounds, viz. to depaſture about a third part of their graſs lands, with bullocks, cows,&c. for which they find a ready ſale at Smi hfield abou the months of October and November.— The mode which was there formerly purſued, obliged them to ſell off their ſtock about Michael- mas; for if they had not done ſo, their grounds would not have carried the cattle, without being very much poached, and thereby greatl) injured:— dut now theſe capital farmers, by depafturing a part of their grounds every year, find, that the grounds which they had depaſtured the preceding year, will dear their ſtock a confiderable time longer, without being injured by the feet of the cattle. This enables them to bring their ſtock to a much better market, and is alſo a great ſaving in the manuring of the land.
Ii

—
———————— 3—
raA 1„1,134 For remarks and addittonal
obſervations.
urhood raſfng It is towards the more Weſtern boundaries of the richer county, that corn is principally attended to. At 18 miles racice diſtance fro mithe metropolis, it is hardly worth while to a pro. fend hay to the London-market(having nothing but ma- Cle tle nute to carry back again), unleſs the price is very tempt- leies ing; in which caſe, indeed, hay is brought from a ſtill ler o Arestor diſtance. Fowards Harrow and that part of the county, the cul- ſinu ture of hay continues to Prevail where the ground is in- n cloſed, but not to the ſame extent; for you frequently ahe 1 meet with fields under wheat, beans,&c. Though the 3 n crops, however, are abundantly rich, yet the owner does nSrrihg noöt find it his intereſt, to continue his incloſed ground in 1 perpetual tillage. He lays it down, therefore, to meadow ſ 2 again, after a crop or two, which generally anſwers the Tpene. purpoſe for which it was broken up. But whether it is to (he free old grafs grounds from fogging, or whatever other d reaſons Inr induce the farmer to convert his fields into ls⸗ 1b tillage, it has been matter of ſurprize to many intelligent 793, perſons, why artificial graſſes, particularly clover and rye aider. graſs, are ſo ſeldom uſed, when the huſbandmen of this Müiſ county lay down their grounds to hay-crops. Perhaps they may have very fubſtantial reaſons for preferring na- arethan tural graſſes; but it might be worth the attention of the ver the Board, to make this a more particular ſubject of future en- that in quiry, as in the courſe of my communications, I never uter⸗ had the good fortune to fall in with any one, that could n give me ſatisfactory reaſons, for their conduc: in this parti- a very cular. ira part In the more remote parts of the county, it may be ob- aiß ſas ſerved, that clover and rye graſs are occaſionally gone into, un as a preparation for wheat; but the hay ſent to the Lon- 6 de don market principally confiſts of natural graffes. eg:dut In ſome parts of Middleſex, the cultivation of green wrj jer, peaſe and turnips brebais on ſo large a ſcale, as to make a vilen part of their regular courſe of agriculture ea C 3 The market,) 6 lt
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For remarks and additional
eTVatlo
The green peaſe are ſold in-baſkets, or half-buſhel ſacks, at different prices, from 5s. to 10 Or 125. per baſket, from the beginning of june to the end of July. The expence of picking is about 44. per bufhel, As they manure for the peaſe, which are got in early in the ſpring, they find this advantage in ſowing them on a clover-lay, that the ground more readily bears the weight of the dung-cart in winter. When the ground is cleared of the peaſe, turnips are immediately ſown in hopes of ſecuring two crops in one year; this, however, will only ſucceed on ground well cultivated and richly manured. In a favourable year the peaſe will produce ten pounds per acre. The excellent ſtate of the pea-haulm, when cut green and dried ſuddenly while in the full vigour of its ſap, is another recommenda- tion of this ſyſtem of huſbandry where practicable. Horſes are found to thrive on it nearly as well as on hay.
Turnips are cultivated chiefly for the cow-keepers, who fetch them at the diſtance of even ſixteen miles from the metropolis. The price varies from three guineas and a half to eight guineas per acre, according to the diſtance and goodneſs of the crop: ſix guineas is a good price for a good crop at the diſtance of 10 miles from London, Two years ago, Dr. Wilkinſon had a field of five acres, for which he refuſed eight guineas per acre from a cow-Keeper. The turnips grew on a part of Enfield-Chace, which he had himſelf reclaimed from its natural wildneſs and ſterility.— The ſale of the turnip-crop to the cow-keepers, and the general practice of mowing the meadow land for a ſecond crop, will prevent the ſheep huſbandry from prevailing much in this diſtrict. The clover too, is frequently ſold to be cut green, inſtead of being grazed. A good crop will bring ſix guineas an acre.
Manure.— The increaſed price of manure, is a ſufficient proof, either of greater attention to huſbandry, or that a greater quantity of ground is in cultivation. Formerly, the
different

—
different wards in the city, hired people to clean their ſtreets, now they receive confiderable ſums for a grant of that pri- vilege. 30 years ago, dung ſold for 3d. a load, 15 years ago at 9d. 10 years ago at 1s. and now common ſtable dung is at an average about 2s. and the finer ſorts, as bones, aſhes,&c. from 4 to 5s5. The expence of carriage on the turnpike roads, may be calculated at 25. per mile der load, when it is even back freight, but the barges on the Thames, ſupply the cultivators near the banks of the river, at a much cheaper rate, about 6d. per mile per load. It requires from 20 to 24 loads of fermented dung, or 35 loads of freſh dung, to manure an acre. Gardeners manure twice every three years; huſbandmen only once. The expence is from. 5. to.9. per acre, according to the diſtance, Xc.
Praprietors.—8In diſtricts ſituated in the neighbourhood of a metropolis, where the ground is rich and valuable, it may always be expected, that the land fhould be divided into ſmall portions, and Middleſex accordingly is poſſeſſed by a great number of proprietors. Of theſe, his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, enjoys, in the neighbour- hood of his well-known villa at Sion, the moſt conſiderable property, of any amongſt the nobility; and the grounds there, notwithſtanding the abſence and bad health of its noble owner, are kept in very excellent order. Of the commoners, Kichard Page, Eſq. of Wimbley-Park, James Clitherow, Eſq, of Boſton-Houſe, and Thomas Wood, Eſq. of Littleton, are to be reckoned among the greatelt proprietors; their placcs of refidence are diſtinguiſhed by peculiar neatneſs; and the poſſeſſion of conſiderable pro- perty in land, ſo near a luxurious capital, by landlords who attend to the improvement of their eſtates, and the com- fort of the people about them, is no unpleaſing circum- ſtance to mention. Caen—, or more properly Ken-wood,
C 2 the
For remarks and additions! obſervations-

Por remarks and additional
obſervations.
—
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the celebrated villa of the Earl of Mansfield, is not more
y h beauty of its fituation, than the rich- elds about it; in the cultivation of which, its late Sorwi owner took particular pleaſure. In Ahis he is likely to be imitated by his reſpectable ſucceſſor, who alſo PropO oſes Paying Pa articular attention to tne 111- provement of the breed of cattle to be kept there. Sir Joſeph Banks, the Preſident of the Royal Society, fre- quently reſides, during the ſummer ſeaſon, at Spring- Grove, in this county, where he is trying many experl- ments for the improvement of wool,&c. the reſult of which, it would be deſirable to have inſerted, when the account, of which this paper is merely the outline, enters more into detail.
Rent. The rent varies according to the ſituation and quality of the ground, and other circumſtances which muſt be taken into confideration. Perhaps there is no county in England, where the value of farming kan as it may be
called, in contradiſtinction to nurſery grounds, Xc. differs ſo much as in Middleſex. Indeed, lands of the ſame quality and goodneſs, ſhall, in one ſituation, let, on an average, for 31. an acre, whilſt others uſed for the ſelf ſame purpoſe, not more than a mile diſtant, and having the ſame market to go to, do not fetch on an average more than 20s. The average rent of land in the pariſhes of Heſton, Bedfont, Stanwell, and many others in the neighbourhood of Hounflow Heath, does not exceed 205. per acre. Even near London, ſome few who rent under old leafes, do not pay above 505. per acre. In the common fields ncar Ful- ham, the rent is 37. Incloſed land pays 41. Garden ground walled in, from 5l. to 87. and it is ſaid in the neighbourhood of Chelſea and Kenſington, even 107. but the rent in that caſe is regulated by the quantity of walls and fruit trees thereon, and not by the bare value of the
land⸗
0

For remarks and additional!
land. Beſides the rent, the tenant has a variety of taxes to pay. Iythes from 85. to 125. per acre. Poor rates from 25. to 5s, in the pound. Highways from 44. to 64. in the pound, and ſometimes other taxes, ſo that conſi- ſidering rent, taxes, the expences of manure, and the price of labour, it is evident, that with all the advantages. of vicinity to the metropolis, it requires in ſome places a great deal of attention and induſtry, to make a living profit
by renting ſuch land.
Price of labour.— The price of labour is pretty much the ſame all over Middleſex: men are hired at twelve fhillings a week in ſummer, and nine in winter. Nurſery-men have their hands, in general, cheaper than the common gardener or farmer; which can only be attributed to this, that their employment is more conſtant, more to be de- pended on, and perhaps leſs ſevere. During the ſummer ſeaſon, great numbers of women are employed by the gar- deners. They principally come from the neighbourhood of Shrewſbury and Dudley. They receive 6s. per week in ſummer, and ss. in winter. This working in the open air is found conducive to their health, and much preferable to the ſpinning in which the ſex are employed in other parts of the kingdom. Mowing barley or oats coſts 5s. per acre. Reaping and ſhocking wheat from 103. to 125. In ſummer they begin to labour at z in the morning, and end at 7 in the evening. In winter they begin at 7 in the morning, and end at 4 in the evening. They are allowed an hour at breakfaſt, and another at dinner. On the whole, it cannot be ſaid tliat the price of labour is high, for a country in which the metropolis of ſo great an em-
pire happens to be ſituated.
Commons.— Hounſlow-heath, one of the moſt extenſive commons in this part of England, preſents itfelf to

For remarks and additional obſervations.
l 22
the eye of a ſtranger, as a very noble field of improvement. Within ten miles of the capital, and in the midſt of a country, which, in point of cultivation, is almoſt wholly a garden, it is wonderful that means have not been fallen upon, to convert this extenſive waſte into arable land; and it is the more to be regretted, as it could be done at po great expence, the ſoil in general being of an excellent qua- lity, and capable of producing crops equal to any in its neighbourhood. It is faid, that twelve contiguous parifhes, have an intereſt in this extenſive common. To the poorer claſs there, the right of paſturage, may be a matter of ſome little conveniency as well as emolument; but the ad-— vantages that would redound to the community at large, from its improvement, would, it is obvious, greatly over- balance any trifling private convenience of that kind. In regard to the right of cutting fuel and turf, which the poor än the neighbourhood of thoſe commons alſo enjoy, it has been proved in a variety of inſtances beyond a pofſi- bility of doubt, that the exerciſe of ſuch a right is not half ſo beneficial to the poor, as their conſtant labour being required in the cultivation and improvement of the ſame foil. A portion of their wages, will purchaſe fuel of an- other deſcription, ſuch as coals or wood, at a much cheaper rate.
To enter into any minute detail, of the means of im- proving this common, may not at preſent be neceſſary. But in the mean time it may be proper to ſuggeſt, whether in the event of a diviſion of this extenſive waſte, this pur- poſe would not be as well and more quickly promoted, under leaſes of reaſonable endurance, ſubject to a pro- greſſive increaſe of rent, than on any other plan. Such a mode of payment of rent, is not only natural upon new lands, but is the beſt and moſt effectual ſtimulus to in- duſtry. The exertions of a number of men, ſetting out upon a bufineſs of this kind, and improving upon the
knowledge
C

ſement. ſt of a wholly vfallen
d; and
2t D0 lt qua- in its arilhes, poorer 5f ſome he ad- large, over- kind.
ch the
f im- ſlary. ether pur⸗ oted, pro- duch a n new to in- ng out on the yledge
Knowledge and experience of one another, would not only be an excellent ſchool for the obſervation of others, but would prove the ſureſt and moſt rapid means, of bringing the ground to the higheſt pitch of cultivation.
But whatever method may be adopted, it is certain that the incloſing and improving this very extenſive waſte is an object of great national concern, and ſhould be paid im- mediate attention to. The pariſh of Stanwell hath begun; and why ſfhould not the other pariſhes follow ſo good an example?— Almoſt the whole of the heath is ſacrificed to a few opulent farmers who live on the borders of it, and put on immenſe numbers of greyhound-like ſheep, that hunt about for their food, and devour with avidity every pile of graſs they can meet with. Theſe, with a few cottagers who cut turf or fuel for ſale*, and keep a parcel of ragged ſhabby horſes, that are continually breaking into the neighbouring fields, and doing miſchief to their neigh- bours, are the only perſons who have any benefit by the commons lying in their preſent uncultivated ſtate. There are a confiderable number of reſpectable perſons, who, in virtue of their property in ſome one of the neighbouring pariſhes, are entitled to a right upon the commons, but they live ſo remote from it, that they cannot receive any advantage by it; conſequently, in its preſent ſtate, it can be of no value to them; or, at leaſt, it is of ſo little value, that no account, or notice, is taken by them, of the cattle of ſtrangers that may be ſent to graze upon it.
Einchley-common is another extenſive waſte, in which there is large quantities of excellent gravel for roads, but
* In regard to the cutting of fuel, that is mere turf or ſods(for there are no peats that I ever ſaw), that liberty is very much abuſed; it is a common practice for theſe poor cottagers, as well as ſtrangers, to cut turf, under pre- tence that it is for their own houſe uſe, and ſell it to any cuſtomer they can get for it; and their beſt cuſtomers are to be found among the market- gardeners, who conſume it in their hot-houſes.
the
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additlonal obfervations. the greater part is a clay ſoil, and capable of high cultiva-
tion; the means of improving a ſoil of this quality, by
the common methods of ſummer fallow and liming, or paring and burning, where the ſurface is covered with ſtrong heath or ling, with the command of manure,
which can at all times be obtained, and a proper rotation
of crops at the commencement, would quickly and effectu- ally convert this ſterile waſte into a tract of corn aud graſs ground, of fertility equal to the moſt ſanguine expectations of the improver*. The remains of Enfield-chace, which ſtill contains from 2 to 3000 acres unimproved, is alſo another of thoſe tracts, which demands the attention of the public, and calls loudly for the operation of the induſtrious farmer. The ſoil is naturally good, and very improvable, conſequently the ſame obſervations are applicable to it, which have already been
made, in regard to Hounflow-heath and Finchley-com-
mon; and the time, it is hoped, is not far diſtant, when ſuch waſtes fhall no longex remain a diſgrace to the coun- try. In regard to Enfield-chace, in conſequence of an act which paſſed about fifteen years ago, a conſiderable part of it has been incloſed, and brought into cultivation. The
improvements there have been conſiderable, particularly
* According to Rocque's map of Middleſex, Hounflow Heath contained, in 1754, about 66 58, and Finchley Common 1243, acres. Some parts of Hounflow was incloſed about 5o years ago; the particulars reſpecting which may be worth the enquiry. In 1789, ſuch part of this heath, as belonged to the pariſh of Stanwell, was incloſed by act of parliament. By a clauſe in the act, power was given to the commiſſioners named in it, to ſell by auction ſuch Part of the heath as was neceſſary to defray the expences of the incloſure. The waſte land thus ſold produced H. 21. per acre. The greater part was purchaſed by Edmund Hill, Eſq. and was ſoon brought into a very good ſtate of cultivation. The open fields of Stanwell was, at the ſame time, incloſed;
by which the proprietors greatly improved the value of their eſtates.
thoſe
——————QO-—O—O—O—O————

cultiya- lity, by ing, or d with nanure, otation ffectu- d gras Aations
s from tracts, loudly ſoil is eſame ybeen -com-
when coun- of an le part The
cularly
otained, parts of r which nged to e in the on ſuch Aoſore. art Was 00d Ktare
incloſed;
woſe
thoſe of Francis Ruſſel, Eſq, and of Doctor Wilkinſon 4, but, in ſome inſtances, the expences, it is ſaid, ex- ceeded the profit, and that good land might have been bought at a cheaper rate. It is doubted, whether the beſt mode of improving waſte lands, was then known, or at Jeaſt univerſally practiſed. It is certain, that unleſs a judicious ſyſtem is purſued, the profit cannot be great. But now, ſo much additional light has been thrown upon the fub- ject, that any perſon, deſirous of improving a waſte, can- not find any difficulty, in procuring information, reſpecting the beſt method of doing it to advantage, according to the nature and quality of the ſoil, and the other circumſtances to be taken into conſideration. Where the ſoil of a new improved common, is inclined to be a ſtiff cold clay, the application and operation of lime, as a manure, is attended with the moſt beneficial and happy effects, and if the ground is thoroughly drained, can be ſafely recommended from experience †. Aſterwacds, every thing depends upon a proper rotation of crops, and laying down the ground to graſs in the higheſt heart and order, without exhauſting it on the firſt outſet by a repetition of impoveriſhing crop⸗ of corn; which, with a view to a too carly reimburſement,
is too often unhappily the caſe. In
* In the Annals of Agriculture, vol. XV. p. 341, vol. XVII. p. 352, and vol. XX. p. 451. Dr. Wilkinſon has given a great deal of curious informa- tion reſpecting Enfield-chace, and made many important obſervations, reſpect- ing the beſt mode of cultivating waſte Jands.
† It is well obſerved by Mr. Selby, in the courſe of ſome excellent obſerva- tions he made on this paper, as originally written, that it is in a great meaſure owing to the high price, and ſcarcity of that moſt invaluable ſtimulus to vegeta- tion,(lime), that large and very conſiderable quantities of land, lie dormant and uncultivated, in manyſparts of this kingdom, particularly inthe northern counties, where there is abundance both of limeſtone and coal, but theſe articles are fre- quently ſo far ſeparated from each other, that it is impoſſible to convey the coal, to burn the limeſtone into lime, but by ſhipping. In this caſe, the duty at
D preſent
For remarks and additional obſervations.

5„.L=A For remarks anc
rrrr 0 Mervatioll?.
F 26 1— 1
I, aAe.] EöSAA.—, ,1— n regard to Enfield-chace it is to be obſerved, that 1 a SA,*n O. 112— e 3 wthe cottagers are much in want of ſmall fields of
eA ar 11 3 1d 10 mucl attached are tliey to tllelr ldle
If ſtarved cattle on the chace,
fyſtem of keer a few half 1 often to the ruin of themſelves and their families, without t! 2a2l 8 †2 E—,— ¹ 8 nallelt 2 Itage acc ung toöo ihe public, that tliey — 4 2— —„ 1 617 5— 1 4. 1— conſtantly oppofe any incloſure. In the ſpring, the chace
. 18 COovéèered with
this ſtate they are often carried away in carts, being un-
11118
able to walk, or ſtir from the place where they have fallen. AIilch cows would ſoon be ſtarved, if they had only ſuch paſture to feed on, which is certainly improper for rearing
Pa
any ſort of cattle, unleſs it is for the benefit of the nation,
—
hat the breed, inftead of improving, fhould degenerate.
Ta,-maling.— The method of making hay in this county,
B₰½ ugh reckoned the beſt in the South of England, does not
Sreſent laid upon all coals fhipped and ſent by ſea, is ſo hig )* 8
as a direct prohibition againſt the eſtabliſnment of lime-Kilus upon the coaſt,
h, that it operates by ſpirited and enterprifing men, which might ſupply, at a moderate price, this aſtoniſhing preparer of the food of plants, to all the different Parts of the Kingdom, where the improvement of land is to be attended to, and where, on that account, the eaſy attainment of lime is an object of the firſt importance. Would it not then be a matter worthy the attention of Parliament, under the recommendation of the Honourable the Board of Agriculture, to conſider of the propriety of entirely taking off, or at leaſt of having a draw-back of the duty on fmall, and all inferior ſorts of coals, ſhipped for the purpoſe of being conſumed in the burning of lime-ſtones into lime. None of theſe fſorts of coals are ſhipped at preſent, and in general they are waſted and allowed to lie near the pit in heaps, till they are conſumed by the taking fire of them- ſelves. It would increaſe the Revenue, by augmenting the quantity of barley to make into malt for the uſe of the inhabitants, as well for beer as for the diſtillery. It would be an additional nurſery for ſeamen, and it would employ a great number of men and boys, in gaining an honeſt livelihood, by hard labour and induſtry, which ought to be encouraged as much as poffible, in this, and every other kingdom.
appear

For remarks and additional obſervations. appear to differ eſſentially, from the mode practiſed in the
Northern counties. Here, having the advantage of an
lelds of
eit d earlier harveſt, and conſequently having leſs riſque of the lle.
ch hay-crop being injured by the tropical rains, it is generally
El ace,. 7
rit got in remarkably green. They do not, however, pretend
Wllllout
to any regular method; nor is it poffible for the moſt in-
V telligent farmer, to preſcribe any fixed mode of making or chace—.. 2 getting in hay*. The courſe of management muſt be
ad bv
6 determined ney ale
and in* The method of making hay moſt commonly uſed in Middleſex(but there ng un- is no univerſal rule) is as follows: What is cut in the morning, or fore part of fallen. the day, is turned out of the ſwath, and ted in the afternoon, in which ſituation it remains till the dew is off(if any has fallen). Next morning it is again J fuch ted or thrown out; immediately after which, it is raked together in wind-row's; caring and, towards evening, if there has been no rain, it is put up into ſmall Kyles
or hand-cocks. Some let it remain in theſe kyles; while others judge it ſafer
to throw three or four of theſe into one larger hand-côck; in which ſtate,
e 5 having ſtood a few days, it is put into the large pike; from which, after
ſtanding till it is fuſſiciently dry, it is carted off the field to the hay-ſtack: ounlty, probably, if it were to remain longer in theſe pikes, there would be leſs riſk of es not its firing afſterwards. In the making of hay, ſo much depends upon the wea-
ther, that no preciſe rules can be laid down. In a dry ſeaſon, like thie preſent,
the proceſs is very ſimple, and the expence moderate, but when it happens to opertes be wet, it requires ſome degree of ingenuity and attention, to ſave and get it in e coiſt green, befides being attended with a heavy additional expence. üe price, In very fine dry ſummers, ſuch as the preſent year, 1793, it is a common ts ol the and juſt remark, that more hay is ſpolled by heating, in conſequence of the here, on farmer being in too great a haſte to get it ſtacked, or put into a rick, than in ortanle. wet ſeaſons. The reafon of Which is, that although the graſs appears to be er the dead and dry, yet it oſten happens, that the ſap of it is not ſufficiently evaporated ſider of before it is ſtacked. This it is which cauſes it to heat, ſo as frequently to take— ack of fire. To prevent this, experience has taught us, that by putting a funnel of 4 pole 0f pieces of wood nailed together, and bored full of holes, into the middle of the ſe ſorts ſtack, and drawing it up, as you proceed in the finiſhing your ſtack or ricl, owed to and letting the funnel remain, till after the rick has been finiſned ſome days, wem⸗ the hay will be preſerved, and prevented from heating too much. of barley It is certain that there cannot be a more important object, in the whole line as for the of agriculture, than to diſcover a method of making hay, to advantage, in oe: ld employ abeatber; and it ſeems not a little ſtrange, that among all the improvements car- , Vf M rying on in this improving age, no public attent on has been paid tothis necefſary ofldde in buſineſs till within theſe two years, when the Society for the Encouragement
D 2 of r apdeal — A
—-— 2.

For remarks and additional
obſervations.
determined by the weather; the fole object being to avoid unneceſſary labour and expence, and to get it into ſtack, as green and full of juices as poffible, without running any riſque of its fuffering there, from not being(what is tech- nically called) fufficiently hayed. The ſtacks in general being very high, they are obliged, in forming them, to make uſe of a kind of ſtage or ſcaffolding, which ſaves labour, is more expeditious, and infinitely preferable, both for corn and hay, to the old practice of carrying loads up ladders on the backs of the labourers.
he number of accidents, and conſequent loſſes, which happen annually by the firing of hay-ſtacks, in different places through England, may render it proper to mention, a method equally ſenfible and ſimple, which I once ſaw tried with ſucceſs in Suſſex. When a ſtack is ſo hot, as to raiſe apprehenſions of its taking fire, let a man be directed 0 that part of it which is moſt likely to begin to burn, which will be known by a greater degree of finking in the roof, and there cut out acroſs the ridge, and throw down, a ſpace no broader than juſt to allow him to work; and ſo continue cutting and throwing down the hay, till he gets below the heat. The warmth and fteam will be ſo great, as to make it impoſſfible for one man to work long at a rime; but this may be remedied, at leaſt in ſome degree made eaſier, by making two or three men take it in turn, Perhaps it may be neceſſary to make more than one open-
of Arts,&c. oflered a premium for ſuch a diſcovery. It is not to be expected, that under the preſent ſyſtem of haymaking, any thing very advantageous can be done; but let the ingenious turn their thoughts to the object, and it is to be hoped, that ſome means may be found out, by which this deſirable end may be attained; and we may be the more ſanguine in our expectations, when it is conſidered, how many things, formeriy judged impoſſible, have of late been found practicable. To inſtance one, among many others, the pinning above two hundred threads, by one perſon, is now common, which, within our memory, was treated as a chimera, and declared totally im-
practicable.
——————————————J——— ———--:'————f———————

d avoid kack, a8 ng any 8 tech- general em, to ſaves „ both ads up
which ffelent ntion, e ſaw as to reded burn, in the lown, ind ſo
e gets
great, g ata degree turn,
pen-
ecled, ageous AN is ple enâ Kations, haye of ets, the — which, dally im-
ing;
129
ing; but when the cure is effected, the apertures, or ſpaces ſo cut out, can be filled up again without injuring the ſtack, even in its external appearance.
The firing of ſtacks, alſo, might be prevented, were baſkets put at firſt into the middle, and drawn up by a cord, as the ſtack riſes. By this means a kind of chimney is made in the ſtack, which draws off the foul air, and prevents any riſk of the ſtack being burnt
Otbers recommend hay-barns covered in with tiles and chimneys in them, with holes in the ſhafts to let out the foul air, and a communication below between the ſhafts, and the open air, made with brick, in the manner of a drain. By improving the quality of the hay, and faving it from accidents, any expence attending their conſtruction, will, it is ſaid, be amply repaid in the ſpace of two or three years, and, conſequently, the firſt coſt is the only objegt of confſideration.
Strauw.— The price of ſtraw, as might naturally be ex- pected, is dearer in the neighbourhood of London than in any part of England. It is at preſent as high as from 30 to 32s. a load. The load conſifts of 36 truſſes, at 36 libs per truſs. Two loads of Wheat ſtraw per acre is reckoned a tolerable crop, which may be averaged at 87. a truſs, or 24s. a load, or 2. 85. per acre. In other parts of the kingdom, the value of the ſtraw is ſuppoſed equal to nearly the expence of reaping. Here, there is probably a furplus of very near 2 per acre, a material addition in- deed to the profit of the huſbandman.
Here it may be obſerved that the Middleſex threſhers manage the flail differently from thoſe of many other counties. Inſtead of downright ſtrokes, they always make ſloping ones, not to break the ſtraw, which is ſo material an article of fale for the London market. This mode of
threſhing may improve the appearance of the ſtraw, but,
For remarks and additional obſervations.

—
—õ———
For remarks and additional obſervations.
1 30 1
at the ſame time, a good deal of wheat muſt be loſt by ſo imperfect a mode of operation.
Straw is made uſe of for various purpoſes in Middleſex- Some at brickfields; ſome as thatch; much is cut down into chaff, for the food of cart-horſes,&c. and immenſe quantities is uſed for litter in ſtables, where an attention and nicety is to be ſcen in London, ſcarcely any where
elſe to be met with.
2. MI S-

nmenſe tention where
MI5
—
— 992 —4
— 41 4 11 1 —
of its great popu-
t ployed than in anv county The draught horſfes to be feen in the ſtreets of this city are, univerſally allowed to be the fineſt in the produce of any particular
†havV mn ⸗ but thev are not the produ
12 A 1 d11-
„f vorlel;
En being ranſacked by the
diſtrict, the whole o dealers, and the higheſt prices given for horſes of ſtren and figure, for the dray-work of the metropolis. value of land in this county is fuch, as to exclude every idea of breeding either cattle or horſes, as an article of profit. Some of the Middleſex breed ſome horſes on their own grounds, and contend
that they live longer, and do more work, than any they
farmers, however, do
can purchaſe.
Sheep. There are not many ſheep bred, or fed in Middle- ſex. Some are to be ſeen on Hounſlow-heath; but they are ſuch pitifal ſtarved-looking animals, as hardly to de- ſerve notice, except merely for the purpoſe of remarking, to what better purpoſes the ground might be devoted. As theſe fheep are very apt, from neglect, and miſmanage- ment, to die of the rot, and other diſorders, this is an ad- ditional argument, for incloſing ſuch commons, as in general they prove injurious, even to thoſe, for whoſe ſup- poſed intereſts, they are kept in their preſent miſerable ſtate. In ſome pariſhes, it is the cuſtom, as ſoon as the
cattle are off the grounds, to ſtock them with ſheep, which they
remarks and additional
1— Öbiervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
they buy at different markets, and which tliey ſell off again at Smithfield, between Chriſtmas and Ladyday. By which the farmer gains a very confiderable advantage, both im- proving his land and enriching his pocket.
Houſc- lambs.— Among the articles for which Middleſex is celebrated, that of breeding and fattening houſe-lambs for the London market, is undoubtedly one which merits par- ticular attention. It is an art which, it is believed, ori- ginated in this county, though it is now gradually ſpread- ing itſelf over other parts of the ifland, but it ſtill con- tinues to be carried on here to more advantage, and on a larger ſcale, than in any other part of the kingdom. With- out entering into any minute detail of this ſpecies of traf- fick, it may be ſuffcient, in this haſty ſketch, to remark, that it not only involves in it a very profitable branch of farming, but alſo furniſhes a market for the aftermath of the country, when made into hay, which, if ſtacked, in to- lerable order, is ſaid to afford a food very proper for the ewes during the time of ſuckling; and, if the ſeaſon proves ſo unfavourable that this ſecond,(and ſometimes third) crop of graſs, is not fit for the above uſe, it is ſold in London for packing China, glaſs, and other goods, for which the ſoftneſs of its texture makes it a proper material. Some calves are alſo reared in this county, but not to the ſame extent as houſe-lamb.
Earhy graſidamb.— The vicinity to Smithfield- market makes early graſs-lambs an object of confiderable im- portance. The Dorſet ewes are chiefly ſelected for this purpoſe. They are purchaſed at Wey-hill-fair the be- ginning of October, forward enough to drop their lambs about Chriſtmas. The price from 24 to 285. They give them turnips in the ſpring, and will ſometimes ſell the lambs in the months of April and May at 205. a head.
The
————
—

Fagain which
h im-
eſex is bs for 8 par- „ ori⸗ pread- lcon- d on a With- traf- nark, h of th of n to⸗- khe toves third) dA ds, for nterial. tto the
market ble im- for this the be ir lambé hey give ſell the a head.
ITle
—
—
33
The ewes being dried early, are brought to market before Michaelmas, and will weigh, perhaps, from ſeven to eight ſtone; average value about 1. 15. The wool about three pounds, which, at 10d. amounts to 2s. 6d. The whole of the ſtock is cleared within the year, and the pro- fit or loſs thereby aſcertained. The profit is, in general, as follows:
The lamb ſells for—— 1 0 0 The ewe for—— 1 1 0 The wool at—— 0 2 6
2 3 6 Deduct prime coſt—— 1 6 0 Profit per head—— 0 17 6
Cattle.— There are various modes adopted in Middleſex for feeding cattle, by grains, oil-cake,&c. But, of late, it has not been unuſual to keep them in ſtalls, and to ſup- ply them with the waſh of thie malt Hdiſtillers, inſtead of employing it in fattening hogs. And here it may be ob- ſerved that any prejudice entertained againſt either the beef orthe pork of malt diſtillers, cannot be well founded. Any food produced from grain, is undoubtedly whole- ſome for all ſorts of animals, It is notorious that the beſt pork for ſea voyages is that ſupplied by the malt diſtillers,(who always finiſh them with hard meat) and it is equally certain that the beſt bacon in the kingdom is made from thoſe hogs*. In regard to the idea that the animals are kept in a perpetual ſtate of intoxication, it may be obſerved, that he would be a bad workman, who left ſpirit enough in his walh, to intoxicate any animal fed with it.
* There is a large market held on Finchley-Common for the ſale of theſe uſeful animals, where great numbers are purchaſed fat by the hog-butchers of London, as well as vaſt quantities of lean ſtore, brought from Shropfhire and other diſtant counties, to be fed by the malt-diſtillers of London.
E Markets.
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
Markels.— To ſtate the amount, of all the various articles produced from the ſoil, ſold for the uſe of the inhabitants of London, would be entering into too extenfive a field,
and will be done to more advantage by thoſe, who undertake,
to draw up a general view of the metropolis. It may be ſuf-
ficient to remark, that the conſumption of London is fup- poſed to be about 110,000 head of cattle, and 730,000 ſheep. It may be proper to add, that any perſon deſirous of look- ing at a great variety of ſtock, cannot ſpend a few hours to more advantage, than in examining the market at Smith- field. He will there ſee, that for want of attending to the breeds of neat cattle and ſheep, TIHIATALAROE PRO- PORTION OF THE HERBAGE OFE ENGL.AND IS WASTED, IN PRODUCING BONES AND OFPAL, INSTEAD OF MEAT. Is it therefore to be wonderedat, that provifions are dear? What a field here preſents itſelf, foe national Wealth and public improvement? Surely the time is not far diſtant, when the diſcoveries of intelligent men, fanctioned by repeated experiments, will overturn every ancient prejudice, and when nothing but truth will prevail, in regard to points, of fuch real importance, to the general intereſts of the community.
Price Proviſions. The price of proviſions in the county of Middleſex, in general, is much the ſame as in the city of Condon. In the remoter villages, milk is retailed at the rate of 5 inſtead of 6 farthings, per pint; but other ar- ticles are much the ſame. Beef and mutton generally run, from 5d. the coarſer pieces, to 7d. per pound the choicer.
7
Pork and veal from 6. to 84. and lamb at 64.. 14 02. to che pound. The bread is regulated by thee city magiſtrates,
in proportion to the price of wheat, and is generally rea-
onable, and of good quality. The price of butcher's meat is higheſt in the ſpring months. All kinds of vegetables are dearer, in proportion, than animal food. Poultry
1 and.

—
1 35
and fifh, however, are the moſt expenſive articles. This occaſioned the remark of a Scotch traveller,“ that a good * fheep, in Scotland, might be purchaſed for almoſt the “ ſfame ſum of money, as a chicken in London.“
Roads.— The ſtrict attention paid to the keeping of the roads in this county, in good repair, is an object of the utmoſt conſequence, and is in general well attended to. By this means, the produce of the country is brought from greater diſtances, and at eaſier and cheaper rates, to market. To this may alfo be attributed, the ſafe, cheap, and expeditious conveyance, in ſtage-coaches, to and from every place round the metropolis; a mode of travelling, for which England ſtands perfectly unrivalled. In the conveniency, as well as in the variety of conſtruction, of theſe public vehicles of conveyance, London alſo excels in a ſuperior degree. Not many years ago, it would have appeared perfectly fabulous, if any one had aſſerted, that at this period, travelling would be ſo cheap and expeditious, that a perſon could be carried from London to South- ampton, a diſtance of ſeventy-five miles, in ten or twelve hours, at the very low rate of half a guinea, and in a car- riage drawn by four horſes. It is true, this machine, to elude the duty, runs upon eight low wheels; but in point of eaſe and expedition, it is little inferior to the mail- coaches, and the difference of expence is very conſiderable.
Drick-fields.— There is one mode of making uſe of earth, which is, probably, carried to a greater extent in Middle- ſex, than in any part of the kingdom, namely, in the ma- nufacture of bricks. Some ycars ago, the ſum uſually paid for an acre of brick earth, was 100. But the price of this, like that of other commodities, has been rapidly increaſing, and indeed has gone as high as.3350 per acre. The common way now is, for the proprietor to get one ſhilling per thou-
E 2 ſand,
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional obſervations.
fand, and to receive the ground in a level ſtate, within a foot of the heighth ofthe adjoining road, when the brick earth is completely manufactured. The common calcu- lation is, that there is one million of bricks per acre, in every foot depth of brick carth,(at leaſt with the addition of the aſhes that is mixed with the earth) and, one field with another, that the brick earth is 4 feet deep. The bricks called greypftocks, for the outſide of houſes, ſell at from 27. to 285. per thouſand, carriage included. Com- mon bricks, for inſide work, at a guinea. Unleſs the earth with which the ground is filled up, is of a very good quality, or unleſs great quantities of manure are laid upon it, ſome time muſt elapſe before the field recovers its for- mer fertility. There are many who object to ſuch a ma- nufacture being ſaffered in the neighbourhood of the me- tropolis, confidering it offenſive and unwholeſome. On the other hand, it is contended that fire is a great purifier of the atmoſphere, and that, in cloſe and hot weather, a number of brick kilns, all round London, is of real uſe to the health of the inhabitants.
Common fields.— Thoughrit is a circumſtance hardly to be credited ſo near the metropolis, yet certain it is, that there are ſtill many common fields in the county of Middleſex. It is unneceſſary to enter into every particular inſtance, it may be fufficient to give a fingle caſe or two, which will prove the abſurdity of that ſyſtem. In the pariſh of Ful- ham there is a tract of above 400 acres of moſt excellent land in that ſtate. Only horſes, however, are admitted on it, and being what is called Lammas Land, it is com- mon only from Lammas to Michaelmas, during which period, at the ſame time, a great deal of miſchief is done by poaching the ground,&œ. The rent of theſe fields, in confequence of their ſituation and natural fertility, is now about(3 per acre, hut would be increaſed at once from
one
——————Q—᷑—ÿꝛ—ꝛ˖;=———

rithin 2 e brick calcu- cre, in ddition ne field
The ſell at Com- eſs the Sood d upon its for- a ma. ne me- . On durifier ther, 2 eal uſe
ito be there lleſex. ce, it mwil Fal- llent itted om⸗ which done ds, in 8 nOW from one
—
—
1 37—
one to perhaps two pounds ber acre per annum, were they divided among the proprietors, and were every ground of diſpute among their reſpective tenants completely obviated. Near Enfield alfo there is a large tract of common field land, watered by the New River, at preſent condemned to lie fallow every third year, which, if incloſed, might be converted into excellent meadow, and would let imme- diately at 405., per acre.
3. IM-
For remarks and additional obſervations.

. 38 1 b 3. 1I MPbORTANT ENPERIMENTS. ſn can b alſo For remarks and additional viſ obſervations. b IN the account of Middleſex, it would be improper to 35 omit taking notice, of ſome particulars I had an opportu- nity of ſeeing, at Earl's Court, in the pariſh of Kenfington, Fe the villa of Mr. John Hunter, the celebrated ſurgeon, who ü 1 is trying many experiments, which may be of conſiderable W ſervice, both to the gardener and the huſbandman. 6 Mr. Hunter's experiments, in regard to the vegetation of i trees, it would be improper much to anticipate, until the re- 101 fult of them can be fully aſcertained. He is very curious in dan plants, and has, in his green-houſes and hot-houſe, a great dr variety of the moſt choice and rare productions of nature, 11), in the collection of which he has neither ſpared pains nor bel expence. of With reſpect to foreſt-timber, this gentleman has at ph preſent an object under experiment, of very great impor- vel tance, whether conſidered as a matter of curioſity, or of I real utility. He conceives, that by a certain method in thie 00 training and management, he ſhall be able to direct or gr determine, the growth of trees,(but to what variety of ſpe- one cies this will extend, he is not yet certain), to any par- But ticular part of the trunk he may chooſe. For example, if fron from an oak, a plank is wanted of any given length and of thoſ an equal breadth at both ends, for a particular purpoſe, he grea is of opinion, that the tree may be trained and diſpoſed to raken V grow in ſuch a manner that it will yield the plank of the each V exact dimenſions required. He has a few under train of Kran different ſpecies, which ſhews the principle; but as Mr. dere Hunter very properly obſerves, there may be ſome trees Kad that may be more eaſily determined in their growth than others; and for this, as well as many other obvious rea- ſons, ſf V —

Pper do portu⸗ Ston, „ Who lerable
jon ol le re- dus in great ature, às nor
3s at wor- or of in the ct or fſpe⸗ par- le, if d of , he d to f we in of Mr. trees than s rea- ſons,
———
T 29 J
ſfons, it will be a work of time, before a complete ſyſtem can be deciſively aſcertained. By a particular operation alſo, he can make a dormant bud grow, where none other- wiſe would have appeared; and has carried his experiments fo far, as to make trees grow thicker above than below, inverting thus the natural order.
To procure turf, in which heath has grown, for his green and hot-houfe plants, Mr. Hunter found was not only expenſive, but, what was ſtill more diſagreeable, he was laid under obligations to others for liberty to cut it off their grounds; he therefore began to conſider, that as this turf was no other than the roots of vegetables rotted, ſomething elſe might be fubſtituted, which would anſwer equally well for raifing his plants:— oak-bark naturally occurred to him; and for a trial he cauſed a quantity of it, after having ſerved the purpoſes of the hot-houſe, to be buried, in this exhauſted ſtate, in the earth for upward's of eight years, when it was taken up, and being uſed in place of the turf, he found it anfwer in every reſpect as well, and continues to uſe nothing elſe.
The variety of birds and beaſts to be met with at Earl's Court, is matter of great entertainment In the fame ground you are furprized to find ſo many living animals, in one herd, from the moſt oppoſite parts of the habitable globe. Buffaloes, rams, and ſheep from Turkey, and a ſhawl-goat from the Eaſt Indies, are among the moſt remarkable of thoſe that meet the eye; and as they feed together in the greateſt harmony, it is natural to enquire, what means are taken, to make them ſo familiar and well acquainted with each other. Mr. Hunter told me, that when he has a ſtranger to introduce, he does it by ordering the whole herd to be taken to a ſtrange place, either a field, an empty ſtable, or any other large out-houſe, with which they are
all
For remarks and additional obſervations.

1 40 1 For remarks and additional obſervations.
all alike unaccuſtomed. The ſtrangeneſs of the place ſo totally engages their attention, as to prevent them from running at, and fighting with, the new-comer, as they would moſt probably do in their own field,(in regard to which they entertain very high notions of their excluſive right of property) and here they are confined for ſome hours, till they appear reconciled to the ſtranger, who is then turned out with his new friends, and is generally afterwards well treated. The ſhawl-goat was not, however, ſo eaſily reconciled to his future companions: he attacked them, inſtead of waiting to be attacked, fought ſeveral battles, and at preſent appears maſter of the field. It is from the down that grows under the coarſe hair of this ſpecies of goat, that the fine India fhawls are manu- factured. This beautiful as well as uſeful animal, was brought over only laſt June from Bombay, in the Duke of Montroſe Indiaman, Captain Dorin. The female unfortunately died. It was very obligingly preſented by the Directors, to Sir John Sinclair, the Preſident of the Britiſn Wool Society. It is propoſed, under Mr. Hunter's care, to try ſome experiments with it in England, by croſſing it with other breeds of the goat ſpecies before it is ſent to the North*.
Mr. Hunter has built his ſtables half under ground; alſo vaults, in which he keeps his cows, buffaloes, and hogs. Such buildings, more eſpecially the arched byres, or cow- houſes, retain a more equal temperature at all times, in re- gard both to heat and cold, and conſequently are cooler
* Extract of the letter from Bombay, to the directors, reſpecting this goat, tranſmitted by Mr. Dominicus, of the India-Houſe, to fir John Sinclair: * our ſervants at Buffora, contrary to their expectations, have lately pro- „ccured and ſent to this preſidency(Bombay) two animals that produce the 4 ſhawl-wool. They adviſe us that they are of the beſt colour, and tolerably ¹hardy. The wool, which grows on different parts of their bodies, under ² very long hair, is obtained by gently combing them.“— A South America ſhe-goat, it is ſuppoſed, is already with kid by him, at Mr. Hunter's.
in

place ſo n from as they gard to xcluſiye hours, s then rwards eaüly ithem, battles, s from this nanu- , Was Duke female ed by f the ter' 1, b nis
ound; lhogs. r com- in re- cooler
dis goat, Sinclair: ately pro- roduce the tolerably ies, under America
in
in ſammer, and warmer in winter; and in ſituations, where ground is ſo valuable as in the neighbourhood of
1 1
Londen, are an excellent contrivance. Mr. Hunter has
his hay-yard over his buffaloe-ſtables. The expence of vaulting, does not exceed that of building and roofing common cow-houſes; and the vaults have this eſfſential advantage or preference, that they require no repairs.
Mr. Hunter has cauſed his buffaloes to be trained to work in a cart; at firſt they were reſtive, and would even lay down; but now they are ſteady and ſo tractable, that they are driven through the ſtreets of London in the loaded cart. Theſe animals do not draw greater loads, than oxen of the ſame ſize and weight; and when one conſiders, to what valuable purpoſes, oxen can be employed in the various labours of the huſbandman, it is matter of regret, that they ſhould be ſo ſeldom uſed in England for draught*.
* The practice of working oxen, as well in the drauglit as the plough, uſed formerly to prevail more in the Northern parts of England than it does at this day. The uſe of horſes has been ſubſtituted in their ſtead, in conſequence of the greater diſpatch with which they perform their work. But ſtiff, heavy, clay-ſoils are never ſo well ploughed, nor to ſuch good purpofe, without the aid of the bullock, as they would be with it. In regard to Middleſex, Dr. Wilkinſon, of White-Webb-Houſe, near Enfield, has uſed an ox team for theſe laſt three years, and chiafly depended on them for breaking up 100 acres of waſte land on Enfield-chace. He purchaſed ſix in Suſſex, at the price of eleven pounds per head. The ſevereſt labour being now finiſhed, in the firſt breaking up the turf, he now uſes only four in a plough; and when the land is well worked, a pair is fufficient for a light plough. On a large farm, an ox-team will always be ſerviceable for ſtrong work, or for dung-carting from the fold- yard; but they will not ſtand conſtant work on very hard roads. Dr. Wil- kinſon has frequently had them ſhod, but they ſoon caſt their ſnoes. He works them in collars in preference to yokes. In general the Doctor conſiders them not ſo applicable to the fyſtems of huſbandry purſued in Middleſex, which includes ſo much road-work in going to, and returning from, the Lon- don-market.— Mr. Byng(member for the county) has lately had an ox-team from Suſſex, which he works in the neighbourhood of Mims and Potter's Bar. Dr. Wilkinſon calculates that ſix oxen generally conſume a load of hay in nine days: he never gave them oats; but has obſerved that they will not ſtand hard fabour unleſs the hay is of a very good quality.
F That
501 1
5
marks and additional Cbſervations.

That oxen are a ſurer ſtock to the farmer, nobody will deny: they are not only fed at lefs expence thian horſes,
(inſomuch, that ground may be ploughed by o en at half the eXpe
many diſeaſes. Beſides, when a horſe is old and worked
nee it coſts by horſes) but they are not liable to ſo
out, he fetches nothing; whereas, the ox, after ſervin all the uſeful, laborious purpoſes of the farmer for many years, is at laſt turned into the ſtall, being fattene for market, brings the judicious owner a price equal, if not barier to what he could have fccired for him, at a Pees of his life the moſt fit for labour. is Gentleman has at preſent a very beautiful litt
cow Kem a buffaloe and an Alderney. This animal is in ſome meafure kept for her beauty; and, what Tad to it, ſhe is always Plun bHand fat, whether in ſummer or winter, and upon much leſs food, than would be ſufficient to ſup- port a beaſt of the ire 52 of the ordinary breed. I do not find that fhe exceeds in quantity of milk, but the qua- lity is very good; and it is certain that ſhe could be fat- tened at much leſs expence than any roiniry cow of the ſame ſize and weight.
Among the e experiments now going forward in Middle-
1
ſex, one of the moſt important undoubtedly is, a croſs that
has been tried between a Spaniſh ram and two Shetland
ewes: four lambs have been already produced from this mixture. The Spaniſh breed, it is well known, is diſtin- guiſhed for the fineneſs of its beee and the Shetland for äi
ſoftneſs and colour. If theſe qualit ere united(whic ſo far as can be judged from the experiment above-men-
tioned, is likely to be the caſe), the article of wool would
be brought to its higheſt ſtate of perfection.
8
HINT

—
4. HINTS FOR IMpROV
0
TO venture to point out the methods, by which the pre- ſent ſtate of agriculture in Aille eſex might be improved, confidering the very high degree of cultivation which it has already attained, at 1 in ſome parts of it, in conſe— quence of the many concurring circumſtances in its favour, might be conſidered perhaps preſumptuous and unneceſſa Ary. I fhall hazard, however, with great deference, the follow- ing ſhort obſervations.
Hardly any in farther ſeems material to add, to the obſervations already made on the improvement of the waſte lands. To that great object, the attention of the Board 9f 4 Agriculture will naturally be directed: and a happy circumſtance it will be, if, under their au ſpices, every acre this, and in every other county in Great Britain, is brought under ſome uſeful and Piostarle mode of ocou- Pation. On this head, however, it is impoffible to omit men-
tioning, the very important obſervation made by Dr. Wil- kinſon of Enfield, who thinks a general mandatory inclo-
ſure-bill abſolutely Weees. The grand obſtacle to the incloſing of commons ariſes, fromther unpopularity, to which gentlemen who are ive: in the cauſe, expoſe themſelves in their own neighbourhood, from the diſconteut of the poor, when any ſuch queſtion is agitated. No Vo eeariten to ſuch a meaſure, however, would be made, if ſanctioned by the edri of parliament, and enforced by the united wiſdom of the Britiſh legiſlature.
7
The garden-ground, in general, cannot be better culti-
vated tha an t 18.
277 „*
Foi
. 1„ 1 1. remarks and addition
obſervations.
nal
144

For remal!
¹ 00
KS
ſe
1
and additional
rvations.
f 44
The more frequent uſe of the plough, however, as a ſaving of labour to the market-gardeners, in the prepara- tion of great part of their extenſive grounds, for the more common vegetable productions, ſuch as peaſe, cabbages,
c. is worth their confideration. Some gardeners already follow this plan; but inſtead of a light plough, which in garden-ground would require only one horſe and a man, ſtrong heavy ploughs, which four or five horſes can hardly drag along, and which require a ploughman and a driver, are made uſe of for that purpoſe.
The culture of parſnips ought to be more attended to in Middleſex than it is. They are an excellent food for cat- tle, horſes, and pigs. They are, in particular, a very rich food for cows, and yield excellent milk and butter. Horſes fatten quickly upon them; but, like boiled potatoes, though they make them flabby fat, they are not able to perform ſo much work, as when they are fed upon harder food. This root, there is every reaſon to believe, would be a very valuable acquiſition to the farmer for ſpring food, preſerved in dry ſand, in pits, in the ſame manner as car- rots and potatoes are at preſent kept during the winter.
If hay from ſeeds, would fetch an equal price at market, with what is called hay from meadow, the farmer, it is preſumed, would not only find a much greater weight upon the acre, but it would give him an opportunity of having his lands more frequently cropped with grain; as the general reaſon for keeping lands almoſt continually in graſs, is, the difficulty of reſtoring the ſwerd. By ſowing artificial graſſes, the object is obtained at once; and I ſee nothing contrary to the practice, but the prejudice of buyers againſt hay from ſeeds, which it is moſt likely may be got over, upon a fair and comparative trial.
If

—
If this plan of cultivating artificial graſſes were gone into, the production of grain, might be carried on to a confider- able extent in Middleſex, where, from the ſuperabundance of manure, it can be done to great advantage. About 15,000 acres of wheat*, in addition to thoſe now com- monly ſown, would prevent the neceſſity of importing even the ſmalleſt quantity of that article from abroad, and as the county of Middleſex itfelf could ſupply the ground that is neceſſary for that purpoſe; conſequently, it is an eaſy matter, to prevent our being obliged to depend on foreign countries for bread. Fifty years have not elapſed, fince Great Britain was accuſtomed to export grain, to the value of above a million and a half per annum †. The period has again ar- rived, when, under the auſpices of a Board of Agriculture, we may once more look forward to the ſame happy times. Encouragement to the huſbandman, or rather the removal of diſcouragements, is all that is neceſſary for ſecuring that valuable object.
The high price of lime(about 27 ſbillings per load), probably in conſequence of the great demand for that ar- ticle, for the purpoſes of building, makes it but rarely made uſe of as a manure in Middleſex. Means of obtain- ing it at a cheaper rate, ought, if pofſible, to be contrived. Perhaps all over the ifland, there could not be a better plan for employing the poor, than in preparing lime. The de- mand for that article, were it moderate, muſt be unbounded; and if conveyed by ſea(which would often be neceſſary),
* See Sir John Sinclair's Addreſs to the Landed Intereſt on the Corn Bill; in which this calculation is ſtated:— The balance of wheat, imported for 18 years, ending January 5, 1789, is 757,841 quarters; Which is at the rate of 42,657 quarters per annum. This, at the average of 3 quarters per acre, would only require 14,219 acres.
† During the ſpace of only s years, from 1743 to 1749, no leſs a quantity than 3,768,440 quarters of corn, of different Kkinds, the value of which, at the medium price of from 40 to 45s. could not be leſs than 8 millions, were actually exported.
it
For remarks and additional obſervations.

For remarks and additional
r, obſen vatlonls.
—1 · —
zt would furniſh a very important ſource of navigation,
and conſequently of naval ſtrength.
The effects of water as manure, is totally unknown all over this diſtrict, though it is perfectly well aſcertained, that there is none more efficacious, when properly applied. Along the banks of the Thames and the Colne, there are extenfive tracts of ground, which might thus be brought, at a fmall expence, to the higheſt pitch of pro- duce. It is faid that the greateſt part of Hounſlow heath might thus be improved. Amongſt the other advantages of watering ground, it is not the leaſt, that the neceſſity of making uſe of any other manure, on the ground thus treated, being totally obviated, the farmer is thence enabled to make uſe of all the dung which his farm produces, in
che enriching of his other fields.
On the banks of the Thames, particularly near Fulham, there are extenfive meadows, which ought to be embanked, being, comparatively ſpeaking, of very little value at pre- ſent, in conſequence of their being ſo frequently over- flowed by the river. They ſometimes produce at the rate of three load of hay per acre, at one cutting; but of ſo coarſe a quality, as not to ſell for half the price of common meadow hay. Such land, at preſent, is hardly worth 40 fhillings per acre; which, were it embanked, and laid out in garden-ground, would, in conſequence of the natural moiſtneſs and richneſs of the ſoil, and the cheap carriage of manure by barges, fetch L.4. and even upwards. The expence could not be great, as neither the tides, nor land- floods, are very ſtrong.
The mixing of ſalt with the food given to cattle, and other forts of animals, in all poſſible ways, ought to be particularly recommended both for preſerving the health of the animal, and, in the caſe of milch-cows, for improving
the
— —.

.
—
I 47 1
the quality, and increaſing the quantity of their milk.
In other countries, we are told, that ſalt diſſolved into
brine, is ſprinkled over the paſture-land, which makes the graſs much whol ſomer, and more nouriſhing. Salt alſo, is mixed amongſt the hay when it is put up, greatly to its and the experience of the cow-keepers in the
adval ae; neighbourhood of London, ſufficiently aſcertains the
greater ariaide with which cattle devour their food, when mixed with falt, than when no ſuch ingredient is put into it; a practice which they have been obliged to give up, in conſequence of the expence attending it. Salt, alſo, is an excellent manure, particularly for rich land. If the im- portance of ſalt to hu ſbandry were ſufficiently underſtood, iſlature, would ſoon be
there can be no doubt, that the leg induced, to raiſe the ſame ſum of money, which the tax on ſalt produces, by ſome other mode, leſs prejudicial to
the general intereſts of the country.
It is remarkable, that all the environs of London, there is hardly a pond to be met with, that a horfe can drink of,
8
or that is almoſt fit for waſhing his heels in.—A few ponds freſh water, eſpecially upon the great roads entering the
0f city, would not only be a very great comfort and eaſe to the traveller, but alſo a great convenience to the people re- fiding in the immediate neighbourhood. It is alſo believed, that in Middleſex fufficient attention is not paid to the
having of ponds in the fields for the uſe of the cattle;
from which circumſtance, in dry ſeafons, they fuffer much.
Middleſex can never be a breeding sof ſtock likely to be attended to in it, are cattle
only kinds ck
and horſes. In regard to the firſt, more n to the breed may be ſafely recommended. The neigbourhood of the metropolis, ought to be diſtinguiſhed h the beſt breed,
of every ſort of animal, cultivated there. In that, as well
For remarks and additional
obſervatio
8.

1 48 For remarks and additional obfervations.
as in other reſpeds, the capital ought to take the lead, and to w ſhew an example to the remoter provinces. Every experi- in ment ought to be tried, where it can certainly be done to inte the beſt advantage; and any breed, when brought to per- rity feion in Middleſex, ought afterwards to be ſpread over or; the reſt of the kingdom. Whereas, in regard to oxen at V con leaſt, the diſtant counties of Durham and Northumberland, inte produce the largeſt and heavieſt bullocks of any in the do united kingdom. The cattle of this county, are certainly gr of a middling, and, in general indeed, rather of an inferior nu fort, whether for the dairy or the butcher. As to horſes, 4 ne thoſe to be found in London, cannot, any where, be ſur- 1 1at paſſed, either for ſtrength or beauty. ha There is every reaſon to believe, that the management of In the dairy, is particularly well underſtood in Holland, and ſia that there are many practiſes there, which might be adopted he in theſe kingdoms with very great advantage. It is there- m fore humbly ſubmitted to the confideration of the Board, laſt whether it would not be adviſable, to ſend a very intelli- 1 ing gent perſon there, ſkilled in dairy management, to examine mel their breed of cattle, and their mode of treating them on We the ſpot, as many hints might thus be obtained, of the TI utmoſt ſervice, in this important branch of rural economy. vie There are ſome commons near certain villages in Mid- 1 dleſex, and in other counties in the neigbourhood of Lon- don, as Clapham, Wimbleton, Putney,&c. the incloſure( of which would be objected to, as tending to prevent that 7
. 3.. tric free circulation of air, ſo conducive to the health of the 4 .. to t inhabitants; and to fhut up places, calculated for the re- b ..„ ec creation and amuſement of themſelves and their families. 1 A 1 Theſe objections, though they have at firſt ſome appear-. 3.. pitc ance of weight, yet are caſily obviated; and the following 3 le plan, for that purpoſe, has occurred to a very zealous 1 7 1 friend to the improvement of the country. 3 annu
It

1 49 1
For remarks and additional
obſervations.
d, and to.. expeti. It is certainly a national loſs, to ſuffer as fine land as any done to in the kingdom, to lie almoſt totally waſte. To bring it tto per⸗ into culture, let a leaſe of it be Branted, under the autho- ea dec rity of an act of parliament, by public auction, for 15, 20, oxen a or 31 Jeals, and 2lwaz relet on the followins or fimilar berhand, Conditions; r. That the tenant ſhall bring the common in nhe into Lomblete good order, within three years; the ground enzile to be ſown with white and yellow clover, and other lhort inker 7 graſſes; and to be fenced in. 2. That he ſhall keep a certain 1 Kün number of milch-cows, and fſhall fupply the poor in the neighbourhood with milk, at a certain fixed and rather lovr be ſur. rate. 3. That he fhall be obliged to furniſh the poor, having an intereſt in the common, with fuel, at a certain nent of fixed and equitable rate, all the year round. 4. That he d, and fhall ſtock the common with the fineſt woolled ſheep, of dopted the clothing ſort, who love ſpacious downs, and a ſhort bite, there- which will preſerve thoſe breeds in the country. And Board, laſtly, the rent to be divided among all concerned, accord- ntelli⸗ ing to their reſpective intereſts. Theſe are ſhort hints, zmine merely to explain, the general nature and tendency of a em on meaſure, which may be intitled to future conſideration. of the This plan may be adopted, either by one individual, with a domy. view of profit, or by a number of gentlemen, who may un- . dertake it for amuſement, and in order to ornament and
M. improve their country.
fLon-
loſure 5 On the whole, when compared to the extent of the diſ- t that trict, the field for improvement, and for additional wealth of the to the public, is very confiderable: to what extent cannot dee re⸗ be exactly aſcertained. But it can hardly be doubted, that amilies, if every acre in Middleſex, were carried to the higheſt appear⸗ pitch of produce of which it is capable, and if the ſtock in Nlowing the county were brought to its greateſt pofſible perfection, zealous that it might be the means of adding, A MILLION per
annum, to the general opulence of the nation; an acquiſfition, lt G which,

For remarks and additional
obſervations.
which, it is to be hoped, will ſoon be obtained, and which, in futurc times, will naturally and juſtly be attributed, to that inſtitution, which has fortunately directed the public attention, to the agriculture and internal improvement of the country, in preference to every other confideration.
London, July, 1793.
N. B. It is well intitled to the attention of every farmer in the county of Middleſex, and, indeed, of every part of the kingdom, to try the method adopted in Ireland of making ſaceet butter; by which that article is rendered by
far more preferable, as well as infinitely more wholeſome.
The general practice of butter-making here, is to fet the milk for cream; which, from day to day, is collected until a proper quantity is procured, and is fit for the churn. In very warm Wweather this proceſs may not be many days in perfecting, ſo as to produce butter for home confumption; but, in cold weather, the cream, thus colleted, IS N A STATE OF PUTREFACTION before it arrives to a proper ſubſtance for churning. This ſuffi- ciently accounts why the butter made in England ſeldom
keeps well for any length of time.
In Ireland the mode is quite different, and the effects more ſalutary. There they quicken the proceſs by churn- ing THE WHBOLE OF THE MILK TOGETHER: In ſumnier, it is prepared in one or two days at moſt*; and it is worthy remark, that the Butter made in the hotteſt
weather in Ireland is as completely cured for exportation as
The Irich, in winter, ripen their milk, as they term it, by adding the Waim meal to the cold one— additional warmth contributes greatly to Paſfen the proceſs—whereas, in England, one cold ſubſtance is added to anotber; and, for want of warmth, the cream will ſometimes appear of various ſickly colours beſore it is ripe.
1 4. that

———
——
rhat which is made in autumn. By churning the whole milz togeihber, it is moſt probable that the waſte will not be ſo great, as in collecting the cream, as in England, conſe- quently the produce of butter will, in a conſiderable pro- portion, be encreaſed; the butter-milk is much more pa⸗- latable and more uſeful, and the butter itſelf will preſerve its purity longer for houſchold uſe or for exportation.
Whence, therefore, do the advantages of the Iriſh dairies over thoſe in England appear to ariſe? not from the cli- mate or ſoil, for they are both nearly the ſame; nor from the ſtock, for that in Ireland is greatly inferior to the ſtock in England; and the beſt breed they have is from Englande certainly then the difference muſt ariſe in the manufackluring only.
For remarks and additional obſervations,

V
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