POOR. 25 



We abound with poor ; many of whom are sober 

 and industrious, and live comfortably, in good stone 

 or brick cottages, which are glazed, and have 

 chambers above stairs ; mud buildings we have 

 none. Besides the employment from husbandry, 

 the men work in hop gardens, of which we have 

 many ; and fell and bark timber. In the spring 

 and summer the women weed the corn ; and enjoy 

 a second harvest in September by hop-picking. 

 Formerly, in the dead months, they availed them- 

 selves greatly by spinning wool, for making of 

 barragons, a genteel corded stuff, much in vogue at 

 that time for summer wear ; and chiefly manufac- 

 tured at Alton, a neighbouring town, by some of 

 the people called Quakers. The inhabitants enjoy 

 a good share of health and longevity ; and the parish 

 swarms with children. 



LETTER VI. 



TO THE SAME. 



SHOULD I omit to describe with some exactness 

 the Forest of Wolmer, of which three-fifths perhaps 

 lie in this parish, my account of Selborne would be 

 very imperfect, as it is a district abounding with many 

 curious productions, both animal and vegetable ; and 

 has often afforded me much entertainment, both as 

 a sportsman and as a naturalist. 



The royal Forest of Wolmer is a tract of land of 

 about seven miles in length, by two and a half in 

 breadth, running nearly from north to south, and is 

 abutted on to begin to the south, and so to pro- 

 ceed eastward by the parishes of Greatham, Lysse, 



