Agricultural Notes on Hertfordshire. 313 
importance to the quality of the crop. The best sorts of cresses 
are then selected, that most in request is known as the Dutch 
Brown, from the shade of colour it takes when it has reached 
maturity. The plants are placed in rows, generally with stones 
upon them, to prevent their being removed by the flow of the 
water. All this is done at considerable expense ; besides which 
it is necessary to guard the beds from attacks of birds, especially 
the blackbird, whose ravages at certain seasons are of a very 
serious character. By regulating the height of the water in the 
various divisions a proper succession in the ripening of the 
crop is secured. The cutting is performed either by wading in 
waterproof boots between the rows, or by placing moveable 
planks across the beds. The washing and packing in hampers 
or baskets finishes the operation. The growth of this simple 
and indigenous plant is daily on the increase ; the letting the 
ditches for this purpose is more profitable to the landowner than 
the irrigation of the meadows, if it could be done ; the rent 
cannot be estimated by the acreage under cultivation. Such 
sums as 40/., 50/., and upwards are often paid by persons who 
have little capital but their industry, and employ a great pro- 
portionate amount of other labour in gaining their living. 
Cherry-Orchards. 
In the western parts of the county the cherry-orchards occupy 
so considerable a portion of the soil, and form so great an item 
in the rural economy, as to demand attention. They are gene- 
rally found at a high elevation, where there is a considerable 
depth of loam, clay, or gravel, naturally drained by the chalk 
beneath. The great age of many of the trees shows that their 
culture is of ancient date, as also appears from the agricultural 
histories of Hertfordshire. It does not seem that these orchards 
have been extended of late years, in spite of the access to the 
Manufacturing Districts afforded by the introduction of railways. 
The great drawback to the cultivation is the precarious nature 
of the crop, which is very often destroyed in a single night by an 
untimely frost, apart from other casualties to which fruit-crops 
are liable. The fruit is generally sold on the trees to dealers, 
and realises from 12s. to 16s. per " ped " or basket, holding 
about four dozen pounds. The sorts grown, though not confined 
to the county, are characteristic of Hertfordshire. These are 
known as the Caroon, the largest sort, and small Hertfordshire 
black. Besides the usual uses, they are converted into cherry 
brandy, and, if report says true, enter very largely into the com- 
position of other liquors, to which they do not give their name. 
They arc also used for the purpose of dyeing. 
