AGRICULTURE 



Norden evidently wishes by these words to urge the inhabitants to take 

 fuller advantage of these favourable circumstances. With this intention, 

 he adds : 



This part of Myddlesex may for fertilitie compare with Tandeane, in the west 

 part of Somersetshire. But that Tandeane, farre surpasseth it for sundrie fruites, and 

 commodities, which this countrie might also yeeld, were it to the like imployed : but 

 it seemeth they onely covet to maintaine their auncient course of life, and observe the 

 husbandrie of their fathers, without adding anything to their greater profile. 



In mentioning orchards he seems to regard them as indicating a 

 pastime rather than a serious pursuit ; thus, in describing the larger 

 houses, he says that they are ' invironed with Orchards of sundrie delicate 

 fruites.' 6 He afterwards adds a list of ' Cities, Townes, Hamlets, Vil- 

 lages, and howses of name within Middelsex ;' 6 and says of Greenford, 

 ' A very fertile place of corne standing in the pureva/e.' 7 Heston, how- 

 ever, was pre-eminent in fertility ; it was 



A most fertyle place of wheate yet not so much to be commended for the quantitie, 

 as for the qualitie, for the wheat is most pure, accompted the purest in manie shires. 

 And therefore Queene Elizabeth hath the most part of her provision from that place 

 for manchet for her Highnes owne diet, as is reported. 8 



Michael Drayton, again, in his Polyolbion introduces Perivale 

 * vaunting her rich estate.' 



Why should I not be coy and of my beauties nice, 

 Since this my goodly grain is held of greatest price ? 

 No manchet can so well the courtly palate please, 

 As that made of the meal fetch'd from my fertile leaze. 

 Their finest of that kind, compared with my wheat, 

 For whiteness of the bread doth look like common cheat. 

 What barley is there found, whose fair and bearded ear 

 Makes stouter English ale, or stronger English beer ? 

 The oat, the bean and pease, with me but pulses are ; 

 The coarse and browner rye, no more than fitch and tare. 



And further the poet notices her ' sure abode near goodly London,' 

 the ready mart for all her ' fruitful store.' 



In the Tudor period 9 rural Middlesex especially Islington and 

 the neighbouring parishes was called upon to supply much cf the 

 milk, cream, and cheese required in London. A curious illustration of 

 this fact appears in the introduction at the famous festivities at Ktiiil- 

 worth in 1575 of a minstrel from Islington who in mock heroic style 

 celebrated the praises of his ' worshipful village,' and gravely described 

 and explained as the arms of Islington ' On a Field Argent, a fess 

 tenny three platez between three mylk tankerds proper,' while the scroll 

 or badge was to be ' Lac, Caseus Infans that is goode milke and yonge 

 cheez.' 



Agricultural activity was at its height in the county in the 

 eighteenth century, and the beginning of the nineteenth. In addition 



4 John Norden, op. cit. pt. i, p. 12. * Ibid. 15. ' Ibid. 21. 



' Ibid. 25. ' Lewis, Hist. oflsKngton, 15 et seq. 



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