POOR EMPLOYMENT. 17 



tered houses along the verge of the forest, con- 

 tain upwards of six hundred and seventy inha- 

 bitants. 



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 themselves greatly by spinning wool, for 

 making of barragons, a genteel corded stuff*, much 

 in vogue at that time for summer wear ; and 

 chiefly manufactured at Alton, a neighbouring 

 town, by some of the people called Quakers. The 

 inhabitants enjoy a good share of health and lon- 

 gevity; and the parish swarms with children. 



VI. 



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 vege- 

 table ; and has often afforded me much entertain- 

 ment, 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 

 proceed eastward, by the parishes of Greatham, 

 Lysse, Rogate, and Trotton, in the county of 

 c 



