14 
On the Farming of Essex. 
as quantity is considerably improved, and 2s. per quarter is the 
lowest estimate at which such improvement can be calculated ; 
the soil containing a large portion of chalky matter is partially 
converted into lime, potash too is formed from the combustion of 
the inert vegetable matter, and other salts are generated, con- 
ducive to the increased production of crops of vegetables and 
grain. The cost of producing this manure is less than that of any 
other description equally beneficial to the land ; it is produced 
upon the spot where it is required without the expense of car- 
riage, and the whole outlay does not exceed in any case 40s. per 
acre. The burning into ashes is paid for either by the cubic 
yard or at so much per heap ; for digging and burning od. to 6rf. 
per cubic yard of ashes is paid, and in some cases 7d. ; for burn- 
ing in heaps of 4 perches each, of which there are forty to the 
acre, 8d. per heap, and the use of a horse, or donkey, and cart. 
Upon land containing a greater proportion of silica the cost is in- 
creased, as the waste is greater than where pure clay abounds, as 
each heap will then contain about 1^ to 2 yards, and 60 to 80 yards 
will be given to each acre : when carted on from large heaps from 
40 to 50 yards per acre are usually applied, but this depends upon 
circumstances ; w hen applied for turnips the ashes are sometimes 
spread in drills and ploughed in as other manure. It has been 
suggested and proved that if the finest portions are sifted from the 
coarser, and drilled in with the turnipseed^ the crop will be more 
benefited than by adding a larger portion in the ordinary way. 
Some farmers combine the ashes with bone-dust and other arti- 
ficial manures with decided advantage ; and setting all other con- 
siderations aside, the process assuredly induces a clean system of 
culture, and finds much useful employment for the labourers, not 
the least important consideration at this time. 
The live stock kept in this district varies with the opinion of the 
respective occupiers ; and from Essex being but in a limited 
degree a bree(ling county, all the varieties of Welch, Scotch, and 
homebred inferior short-horn cattle are found. In this district 
especially, the Welch breeds are preferred and used ; as cow s they 
are considered better adapted than any other kind. The polled 
Suffolk cow is also kept, and is w ell adapted for either dairying or 
for suckling calves for the London markets. These calves are 
brought from London and other dairying districts when about 
7 davs old, and are sold from 15s. to 40s., and sometimes as high 
as 45s. each ; they are usually kept on milk alone ibr 10 weeks, 
leaving a profit of about 4s. 6d. per week in the summer, and 
from 5s. to .5s. 6rf. in the w inter months ; but of late the trade has 
been greatly depressed and the profits materially reduced. A cow 
is considered to pay well if she produce a net profit of 8/. yearly ; 
but unless the pastures are good few reach that amount, as the 
