A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



The heaths, like that of Hounslow, appear under the heading of non- 

 agricultural land ; the small area of commons described as agricultural 

 consists of agricultural inclosures as in Bushey Park, where the public are 

 by no means allowed to roam over all the public or quasi-public land. 

 The large area of non-agricultural land is mainly a consequence of the 

 extension and expansion of London. 



In 1873 there were in Middlesex some 11,881 landowners and the 

 average rent was 13$ 13*. a year from 1 1 acres, 3 roods, and 32 perches. 

 Land therefore brought in a little over i i per acre, and if we capitalize 

 freeholds at 30 years' purchase, had an average value of about 3 4 an 

 acre. There were, however, only 1,263 f armers an d country gentlemen, 

 the remaining owners possessing less than 10 acres apiece. Large estates, 

 over 100 acres, numbered 276. The largest landowner was the earl of 

 Strafford, who held 4,436 acres. 



The owners of a thousand acres and over were as follows : F. D. 

 Cater, esq., Enfield, 1,364 acres; All Souls College, Oxford, 1,814 acres; 

 Christ Church, Oxford, 1,132 acres ; King's College, Cambridge, 1,097 

 acres ; the Crown, 2,383 acres ; F. H. Deane, esq., Ruislip, 1,449 acres ; 

 the earl of Jersey, 1,982 acres; the Lady Delpierre, Greenford, 1,051 

 acres ; the duchy of Lancaster, 2,273 acres 5 tne Church (Ecclesiastical 

 Commissioners), 1,309 acres ; D. A. Hamborough, esq,, Ventnor, 1,252 

 acres; the earl of Straffbrd, Barnet, 4,436 acres; Sir C. Mill, Hillingdon, 

 2,710 acres ; C. Newdigate, esq., Warwick, 1,492 acres ; the Lord 

 Northwick, London, 1,260 acres ; General Wood, Littleton, 1,572 acres ; 

 here we have sixteen owners of 28,576 acres, or 1,786 acres each. 



There is great and obvious need of a new Domesday Book. Since 

 1873 the changes have been many, and it would be a very useful thing if 

 with every third census a return of landed and agricultural properties was 

 secured according to the precedent of 1873. 



Shorthorns are professionally bred and sold by Mr. George Taylor 

 of Cranford. He is a great upholder of the Bates strain, which he regards 

 as producing deep milkers of the very first quality. Such famous prize 

 animals as Beau Sabreur 74094, Melody, and Barrington Duchess 318! 

 might in 1906 be seen on his farm. The last-named had an extra- 

 ordinary record, winning the first prize inspection, first prize milking, 

 first prize Shorthorn Society, and prize for best pure-bred animal at the 

 Islington Dairy Show in October, 1906. This was the only time she 

 was shown. Beau Sabreur is a stud bull with a splendid record, and 

 other stud bulls are Drumcree, Rowbury, and Kirk Charm. Seeing the 

 great success of Mr. Taylor at Cranford it is somewhat surprising that 

 Shorthorn breeding does not develop faster in the county. 



Channel Islands cattle are kept by all the chief landowners for dairy 

 purposes, but there is -not such strict observance of purity of strain as 

 might be expected. The very best places, such as Osterley and Syon, are 

 an exception to this remark. No flocks of sheep or herds of pigs are 

 professionally bred for sale in Middlesex, but excellent Down sheep may 

 be seen on the leading farms, and the best breeds of pigs are kept. Horse- 



220 



