On the Farming of Essex. 
31 
the late period of sowino^ giving opportunity to the slug, which 
frequently destroys the plant of wheat altogether. 
The poor, highway, and church rates average about 5s. per 
acre ; the tithe rent-charge about 6s. per acre, and the wages 
of agricultural labourers from 10s. to 12s. per week. 
Thatching is paid for by the square of 100 feet, upon buildings 
from 4s. 6rf. to 5s. are charged for labour only requiring about 20 
trusses to the square. 
The labourers pay high rents for cottages; from 3Z. 10s. to bl. 
per annum are paid, and even more in the vicinity of large towns, 
without the advantage of gardens, and sometimes with insuffi- 
ciency of room. Excellent cottages, however, are common 
throughout this district, and are built chiefly of brick, or lath and 
plaster, containing three or four rooms of about 10 or 12 feet 
square. 
The quantity of waste land is limited, but is good in quality, 
might be easily brought into cultivation, and would be of especial 
benefit if enclosed and cultivated. 
Upon the whole the north-eastern part of Essex may challenge 
competition with the best farmed districts in the kingdom ; and 
although great variation of soil takes place upon every farm, the 
farmer turns this to advantage by producing crops suited to all his 
purposes. He has ground adapted to the growth of turnips, man- 
gold-wurzel, cabbages, tares, grasses, lucerne, and every descrip- 
tion of grain upon the same farm. 
The farm-houses and buildings are for the most part substantial, 
and ornamented with neat gardens and choice evergreens taste- 
fully planted and maintained, and upon some estates a great 
outlay has taken place in this respect. Buildings in brick and 
slated throughout in the most substantial manner, have been 
erected at an expense beyond the mere capabilities of the estate 
to repay. The estates of the late Dr. Cline, Lord Petre, Sir 
Henry Smith, and others, have excellent specimens of buildings in 
the modern style ; whilst numerous instances are to be found of 
buildings of older date improved so as to render them everything 
a tenant requires or could even wish for. 
The buildings are mostly situated adjoining to excellent roads, 
and much caie has been taken from time to time to make the 
farms upon large estates complete by an exchange of lands. The 
proportion of pasture is, however, small ; but excellent artificial 
pasturage is produced for one or two years, and, so far, is more 
productive than the old grass lands ; but after that period it 
becomes of little value for several years, until at last the na- 
tural grasses have arisen and become fully established. The seed 
usually applied is the Pacey and Italian rye-grass, mixed with 
while and red clover and trefoil, and in some cases sheep-plantain. 
