A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



The importance and methods of manuring the land are then dis- 

 cussed. The carriage of the manure by water or land, rather than the 

 manure itself, formed one of the most costly items in the farmer's 

 expenditure. The burden could only be decreased, not by neglecting to 

 dress the land, but by feeding cattle on arable fields. The expense fell 

 chiefly on the gardeners, who were obliged to apply manure more fre- 

 quently than the farmers. 16 



Foot, with most of the writers of his time, condemns the system 

 of commons as wasteful in agriculture. 17 In this connexion he describes at 

 some length the agricultural conditions of Enfield Chase, part of which 

 had just been inclosed. Even after a short time, and in spite of the 

 difficulties of changing cultivation, the results, he thinks, had been 

 favourable, thus : 



South Mimms inclosure is also part of Enfield Chace, and consists of nearly 1,000 

 acres. In its open state it was supposed not to have yielded the parish at large more 

 than two shillings an acre per annum, but since its inclosure it is worth on an average 

 fifteen shillings an acre. 



It is at present in tillage ; but in a few years it may be converted to grass, which 

 will give it an increased value of at least five shillings an acre. 18 



Drainage had been much required on these new inclosures ; ' the 

 common shoulder-draining spade and scoop have been used with great 

 success.' 19 In clearing the land also various methods had been used. 

 Paring and burning were done by some, while others said that this pro- 

 cess destroyed the pabulum for future plants. Foot adds that ' marie is 

 one of the most valuable manures upon the Chace.' so In many cases, 

 owing to want of experience, the best methods had not been followed, 

 but even then inclosures had been found more profitable than the 

 common lands where rights were abused and the land over-burdened. 



Foot goes on to say that ' hay-making in Middlesex is carried on by 

 a process peculiar to the county.' 21 He describes it in detail : 



On the first day the grass was mown before 9 a.m., tedded, broken up as much 

 as possible, and well turned by mid-day. It was then raked into wind-rows and made 

 into small cocks. On the second day the grass mown after 9 a.m. on the first day 

 was tedded, while all grass mown before 9 a.m. on this day was treated as before. 

 Meanwhile the cocks already made were shaken into straddles or separate plats of five 

 or six yards square, and the spaces, if any, were raked clean. The plats were turned 

 first, then the second day's mowing all before the dinner hour. After that the 

 straddles were raked into double wind-rows, and the grass into single wind-rows ; the 

 hay was cocked into bastard or medium cocks, and the grass cocked as on the first 

 day. On the third day the same order was pursued as before. Medium cocks were 

 spread into straddles, then turned ; grass cocks and grass were also turned before i p.m. 

 If fine, the medium cocks of yesterday could now be carried. The second day's hay 

 was then made into double wind-rows, and the grass into single wind-rows. The 

 first day's hay was made into large cocks with a fork, and the rakings put on the top 

 of each cock. The hay in double wind-rows was made into medium cocks, and the 

 grass in single wind-rows was made into small cocks. The hay in the large cocks 

 could then be carried, and the medium cocks could be made into large cocks, the grass 

 cocks into medium cocks, and the grass (tedded that morning) into small cocks. On 

 the fourth day the hay was put into stacks, ' well tucked and thatched.' 



Ie Peter Foot, Gen. View of Agnc. of MM. z6. " Ibid. 30. 



" Ibid. 55. " Ibid. 42. "Ibid. 53. " Ibid. 55. 



2tO 



