Agriculture of Hertfordshire. 
271 
eminent writer himself occupied a farm in the parish of North 
Myms, and describes it in these graphic words : " I know not 
what epithet to give this soil; sterility falls short of the idea — 
a hungry, vitriolic gravel. I occupied for nine years the jaws 
of a wolf. A nabob's fortune would sink in the attempt to raise 
good crops in such a country." 
It is remarkable that the hedges and timber are thrifty, and 
show no sign of " sterility." This is owing to the subsoil being 
cool, and favourable to their growth. The real sterility — for 
this character is still retained — is partly owing to the mechanical 
condition of the surface-soil, a mixture of sticky clay with the 
gravel, which, cementing together, scarcely suffer the water to 
pass into the chalk rock below. Though, after being drained, 
the land dries more rapidly, even then its mechanical texture is 
not sufficiently altered to admit of treading by sheep in winter. 
Chalking is practised here with great advantage. 
As a whole, the county is heavily wooded. On some estates a 
great improvement has been effected by removing superfluous 
fences ; but the land, especially when heavy, is often encumbered 
with trees to an extent quite incompatible with good farming. 
The strip of thin chalk land crossing the northern part of the 
county, with its wide open fields and turnip and sheep farming, 
is so suggestive of Cambridgeshire that the boundary of the 
counties at Royston may well be passed without being remarked. 
The natural division is found in the hills near Therfield, on the 
great north road, when you plunge at once into Hertfordshire 
proper, with its woods, small enclosures and heavily-timbered 
fences. 
We desire to give an accurate account of the usual system of 
farming without needlessly dwelling on defects; and this is not 
an easy task. In general, on every variety of soil, good and bad 
management are blended together with such slight shades of 
difference that a picture of their general aspect could hardly 
be drawn, and if drawn would be unreadable. It is easy, how- 
ever, as well as agreeable to find for description examples of 
skilful management, such as alone are Avorthy of being copied. 
* 
Management of Light Land. 
The greatest extent of light land is to be found in the southern 
half of the county. The situation of the district within twenty- 
five miles of London greatly influences the farming, and parti- 
cularly the stock-keeping, since much of the produce, such as 
roots, wheat-straw, and clover-hay — which elsewhere are made 
into manure at home — are here sold with greater advantage. 
Still, good examples of the skilful fattening of cattle in yards 
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