Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

dred loads are commonly spread over every acre, at eighteen barrows-full to the load. Soot, ashes, and bones, are also used in considerable quantities: of the former, from twenty to forty bushels are used per acre; of the ashes, from fifty to one hundred bushels; and of the bones, from three to five chaldrons on the same extent of ground. Burnt bones are regarded as the most proper for pasture land; but for arable land, they are thought best when boiled only. Oil-cake, peat-ashes, woollen rags, hair, and various other substances, are also employed for manure in different parts of the county: the use of the sheep-fold is very general.

The grass lands of Hertfordshire, compared with those under tillage, are extremely small; though a tract of grass, rendered artificially productive, at a great expense, may be found connected with almost every seat in the county. The meadows on the river Stort, which extend from Hockerill to Hertford, are very productive, as are those in the vicinity of the Lea, and in the neighbourhood of Rickmansworth, &c. The many streams which intersect the land, are extremely favorable to irrigation; though that system is not carried on to any great extent, on account of the claims of the mill-owners, and which claims have, in several instances, occasioned much contention and expense. Wherever the practice of watering or flooding the land, has been pursued with judgment, the consequent advantages have been very considerable.

The principal agricultural implements employed are the great Hertfordshire wheel-plough, worked by three and four horses; the swing-plough, the Hereford plough, the skim-coulter, and the threshing-mill; but the latter is by no means in general use. In some parts, but chiefly on the estates of gentlemen farmers, the plough is drawn by oxen; and these are always worked in harness: they are also occasionally employed in the team. Different opinions are entertained of their utility in comparison with horses; but the best informed agriculturists appear to consider the use of both as essential to the interests of a farm. The oxen are sometimes shod, but the general practice is contrary.

In the south-west corner of the county, and particularly in the parishes of Rickmansworth, Sarret, King's Langley, Abbot's Lang

ley, Flaunden, Bovington, and partly in Watford, and Aldenham, are many Orchards: apples and cherries are their principal produce. The apples are most profitable; but the cherries are very beneficial to the poor, in the quantity of employment which they afford in gathering the crop. "In ten years after planting, cherry-trees begin to bear: each tree should have nine square perches of land. A full-grown tree will produce fifty dozen pounds in a favorable year; and from ten to twenty years, six dozen: prices vary from tenpence to three shillings per dozen. The Caroon, and small black, are the favorite sorts; the Kentish will not thrive here. The apples sell at from one shilling and sixpence to eight shillings the basket or bushel; each tree produces from two to twenty-five bushels. The orchards, whether of cherries or apples, should be under grass, and fed with sheep: and for ten years after planting, great care should be taken to keep the trees from the sheep, as their rubbing injures them. The size of the orchards seldom exceeds four or five acres; and their greatest value does not exceed 41. per acre."*

The woodlands of Hertfordshire are extensive; and, indepen dent of those which lie contiguous to the seats of gentlemen, the whole county is interspersed with small woods and copses. The timber trees are chiefly oak, beech, and elm; the oak and beech are particularly flourishing at Ashridge, Beach-wood, Hatfield, and Cashiobury, &c. The underwood is generally cut once in about ten or twelve years. The copses adjoining Essex, abound in hazel and hornbeam, which are also grown in various other parts, together with ash, birch, poplar, fir, alders, &c. The beech is occasionally burnt into charcoal. Where necessary, the woods have been hollow-drained, and with much success. The quantity of waste lands is but inconsiderable, when compared with that of other counties: the aggregate does not appear to exceed 4500 acres; and of this extent, many acres are appropriated as sheep downs. The common and open fields in the northern part of the County, as well as in the western district, and in one or two other

parts,

Young's General View, p. 143, 144.

parts, are pretty numerous; though more than 20,000 acres have been inclosed under different acts within the last ten years. The fences are generally good, and under such a judicious course of management on the plashing system, that almost every farm is supplied from its own hedges, with sufficient fuel for its consumption.

As the land in this county is chiefly arable, live stock has become an object of very inferior regard. The sorts of cattle that are kept on farms, are principally of the Welsh, Devon, Suffolk, and Hereford breeds; the Suffolk breed is considered as the best. The sheep are mostly ewes, of the South Down and Wiltshire kinds; the former are esteemed as the most profitable in a general point of view: on some farms, a breed between the Cotswold and Leicester has been introduced. In several parts, the sheep are fed on oil-cake, and with great success, though not to so much advantage as formerly, the price of the cake having been considerably advanced of late years. The horses are of various kinds; the Suffolk breed appears to have the preference: tares and clover constitute a principal part of the feed of these animals, and have so done for a long period. The buildings and offices on the most considerable farms are well arranged, and convenient; but the diversity of plans on which they are built, is very great. The prices for labor have been greatly increased within the last thirty years, though certainly not in proportion to the augmented expenses for living, &c. the average price for day-laborers varies from nine shillings to twelve shillings per week. "The wages of annual (domestic) servants are nearly as follow: of a carter or ploughman, from six guineas to nine guineas; of a thresher or tasker, from six guineas to seven guineas; their task is five bushels per day, and they are paid at the rate of one shilling for every five bushels extra, and one shilling per load for binding wheat-straw for market. Boys receive from two to four guineas, and maid servants about five guineas annually."+ The

* See particulars of the management in Young's General View, p. 49-51; where the description is illustrated by seven plates.

Young's General View, p. 217.

• The principal roads in Hertfordshire are very good; being chiefly turnpike, leading directly from the Metropolis: the cross roads partake of a similar character. The chief manufactures of this county are those of cotton and silk: the former is principally carried on in the neighbourhood of St. Alban's and Rickmansworth; the latter, in the vicinity of St. Alban's and Watford. About Berkhampstead, black lace is made: but the principal employment of the laboring females, in most parts of the county, is plaiting of straw, for bonnets, &c. The wages obtained by this employ, are very considerable; even young girls earn from six shillings to twelve and fifteen weekly; and the more expert women, from that sum to a guinea, and even twenty-five shillings, in the same time.

The Grand Junction Canal intersects the western side of this county: it enters on the south from Middlesex, and following the course of the River Colne, passes Rickmansworth; then pursuing the line of the Gade, it crosses Cashiobury, and the Grove, Parks, the noble proprietors of those demesnes having very patriotically given permission for that purpose. Proceeding in a northerly direction to Two-Waters, it there, inclines to the north-west, and pursuing the line of the Bulbourne, it enters Buckinghamshire about two miles above Tring. Another Canal has been projected to extend from St. Alban's, and unite with the Grand Junction Canal below Cashiobury Park; but the estimate of the expense having exceeded the 'sums subscribed, the design has been suspended, though an act of parliament was obtained for carrying it into execution.

[ocr errors]

The principal RIVERS in Hertfordshire, are the Lea, the Rib, the Quin, the Beane, the Gade, the Colne, the Ver, or Meuse, and the Mimeram, or Maran. The Lea rises near Luton in Bedfordshire, and entering the county at Hide Mill, proceeds in a south-east direction through Whethampstead, Brocket Park, and Hatfield Park; thence inclining to the north-east, it flows past Hertford and Ware, in which neighbourhood some of its waters are diverted into the channel of the New River; which is continued, for some miles, in nearly a parallel direction. Changing its course VOL. VII. Nov. 1805. B

to

to the south, after its conflux with the Stort, about one mile east from Hoddesdon, it flows through the pleasant meadows of Broxbourn, Wormley, and Cheshunt, and finally quits the county near Waltham Abbey. This river is navigable to Ware and Hertford. The Rib has its rise near Cornybury, above Buntingford, past which it flows, and, proceeding in a south-east direction, is joined below Braughing, by the Quin, which rises near Biggin. Thence flowing to the south, it passes Standon and Berwicks, near which, suddenly turning to the west, it runs past Wades Mill, and once more inclining southward, falls into the Lea between Hertford and Ware.

The Beane rises near Cromer, in the hundred of Odsey, and taking a southerly course, flows past Watton, and through WoodHall Park; thence continuing its direction, it meets with the Lea at Hertford: this river is sometimes called the Benifician. The Gade has its origin on the borders of Buckinghamshire, and flowing to the south, gives name to the villages of Little and Great Gaddesden: thence proceeding by Hemel-Hempstead, it is joined near Two-Waters by the Bulbourne, which rises near Penley Hall, to the east of Tring, and flows past Berkhampstead, in a southeasterly direction. The Gade thus enlarged, runs to the east of King's Langley, and flowing through the Grove and Cashiobury Parks, inclines to the south-east, and, near Rickmansworth, falls into the Colne, having previously received the waters of the Chesham River from Buckinghamshire.

The Colne is formed by the union of several small streams, one of which rises at Kit's End, in Middlesex: these unite in the vicinity of North Mims, and flowing across Colney Heath, assume a south-westerly course in Tittenhanger Park. Thence giving name to London Colney, Colney Park, and Colney Street, it is increased near the latter by the Ver, or Meuse River, from St. Alban's, and flowing on to Watford, passes that town on the south-east; then assuming a more westerly course, runs by the south of Rickmansworth, about one mile and a half from which it leaves this county, and enters Middlesex. The Ver, or Meuse, rises near Market Street, on the confines of Bedfordshire, and flowing to the south

[blocks in formation]
« ZurückWeiter »