On the Farming of Essex. 
17 
double rows, with a ditch in front from 4 to 5 feet in width ; those 
fences are closely cut about once in eight years; and of part of the 
materials is formed a hedge after the ditch has been scoured out 
and the soil placed upon the top of the bank. 
Upon some of the thin- stapled lands of this district sainfoin is 
grown with success, and affords excellent crops for hay for several 
successive years of from 20 to 35, or even 40 cwt. per acre ; the 
process is, late in April to drill upon the same land on which 
barley has been son n about 5 or 6 bushels per acre of new seed, 
which is generally done acrossways of the stetches ; the sainfoin 
comes on in the following year, and after the crop of hay is taken, 
produces an abundant second crop, which is fed with cattle and 
sheep. It is necessary to the produce of this crop that the land 
be thoroughly drained, and that it have a top-dressing in the 
autumn, of which coal or wood ashes, or soot, are said to be su- 
perior to farmyard-manure ; it succeeds well upon all land having 
chalk or chalk clay as the subsoil, and is a great acquisition to 
farming in districts where lands are too poor for clover and arti- 
ficial grasses. 
This division, comprising fully one-fourth of the county, is 
important as a wheat and barley growing district. The soil is 
more certain as to an average annual return, being less affected 
by either wet or dry seasons than most other districts, and in the 
latter producing crops good in quality as well as quantity. 
Many portions are cultivated at as little expense as in any other 
district in the kingdom ; but from the crops being produced only 
in alternate years, and the quality of wheat being coarse, less jprofit 
is derived than from more fertile districts. 
The amount of wages throughout this district ranges from '2s, 
to 3s. lower per week than in many other districts in the county.. 
The labourers' cottage-rents are, however, fully Is. per week lower 
than elsewhere ; and, for the most part, larger gardens are at- 
tached to the cottages. Flour of a coarser description is eaten, and 
some privileges are enjoyed as regards fuel, which makes the dif- 
ference not so great upon comparison as it appears at first sight — 
the wages at the present moment being from 8s. to 9s. per week ; 
poor-rates from 3s. 6rf. to 4s. per acre (3s. 9c?. may be taken as 
the mean); surveyor's rates, lOJ. ; church-rate, 2 J. ; tithe rent- 
charge from OS. up to 6s. per acre; rent from 15s. to 22s. per 
acre (the average certainly below 20s. per acre). Throughout 
this district, the farm premises are ill arranged : large barns, 
sheds, and waggon-lodges, being placed inconveniently, and de- 
tached from each other — the accumulation of water from their 
thatched roofs falling into yards having large hollows and excava- 
tions made by constant scooping out the clay from time to time 
as the manure is carted out, so that a person unacquainted with 
