18 
On the Farming of Middlesex. 
Another instance may be adduced in which the difference of 
management is due partly to the inclination and antecedents of the 
occupier, and partly to the relative proportions of grass and arable 
— a farm of 350 acres, nearly half grass, chiefly an extensive pad- 
dock, either mown, or fed by a herd of about 20 dairying cows. 
Notwithstanding the state of the London milk trade, the farmer's 
former occupation having been in a dairy district, butter is made 
in preference to the sale of milk, the cows being grazed in the 
summer, and in the winter having a run ; as the soil is of a nature 
to carry stock throughout the year, nearly all the roots are con- 
sumed by the cows and younger neat stock, bred and raised on 
the farm ; a considerable breadth of potatoes is grov/n, which with 
peas and clover highly manured are the preparation for the 
wheat crop ; the peas, with turnips grown in the intervals 
between the rows, which are sometimes taken green, are the 
only traces of garden cultivation, as a part of the hay and straw 
sold connect the cultivation with the London markets and London 
manure. 
Though such farms as these are still to be found within the 
limits of the county of Middlesex, they are gradually giving 
place to the market garden cultivation, called forth by the in- 
creasing area and requirements of London, An increased rent, 
double and even treble the amount of that paid for arable farms 
under ordinary cultivation, is an inducement which landowners 
cannot well resist. Sometimes the land is planted as an or- 
chard by the landlord, with apple, pear, cherry, and other trees at 
wide intervals. The land when let, is deep ploughed with a heavy 
dressing of manure, planted with potatoes, cabbages, or other 
coarser vegetables ; French beans or peas with Brussels sprouts in 
the intervals, winter or spring onions, lettuces, wall-flowers for 
decorations, and all sorts of garden produce fitted for the London 
market are gradually introduced, and the arable farm becomes a 
market garden, the drawback of the distance from London not 
being a sufficient hindrance to the introduction of garden cultiva- 
tion, which by degrees will more and more deprive the south- 
western limb of Middlesex of its agricultural character, so far as 
arable culture is concerned. 
Stock. 
Little interest seems to be taken in breeding or rearing stock 
in Middlesex. On the grass farms the grazing is confined to 
the after or second crop. Barnet Fair furnishes a supply of 
hardy Welsh and other neat cattle, well fitted to thrive on the 
pastures ; the sheep are often of a mountain breed, though most 
favour seems to be shown to a half-bred sheep, having much of that 
