BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, one of the inland counties of England, is bounded on the south by Berkshire and a point of Surrey, from Which it is separated by the Thames ; on the west by Oxfordshire ; on the north by Northamptonshire ; and on the east by the counties of Bedford, Hertford, and Middlesex.
Camden is of opinion, that the name of this county is derived from the Saxon Puckers, indicative of the beech trees with which the county was formerly covered ; while Spelman and Willis affirm, that it is derived from Butters, signifying bucks or deer, with which the forests of the county were at one time stocked.
The Chiltern Hills and their appendages, occupy the southern parts of Buckinghamshire, which is elevated, healthy, and pleasant. These eminences are principally composed of chalk, intermixed with flints ; and, as the soil is very shallow, with a chalk bottom, the flints are regarded as necessary for keeping the surface moist, and protecting the grain from the too powerful of of the sun. On this account, the farmers do not attempt to clear the soil of these stones ; but in many cases they are rather anxious to increase than diminish their num ber. The soil in this part of the county is very much inferior to that of the northern district, though it is extremely productive, from the attention which is paid to the cultivation and improvement of the land. The lightness of the soil calls forth the utmost activity on the part of the farmer. Every material that can be employed as manure, is carefully collected, and judi ciously applied ; and every improvement in agricul ture is readily adopted. The extensive and prolific vale of Aylesbury occupies the centre of the county, and furnishes a rich pasturage to vast quantities of cattle. The dairy and grazing systems are chiefly followed in this part of the county, the amazing fertility of which was known in the days of Drayton, who mentions it in the following lines : " Aylesbury's a vale that walloweth in her wealth ; And (by her wholesome air continually in health) Is lusty, firm, and fat, and holds her youthful strength." The wonderful fertility of the soil about Aylesbury and Buckingham, where the meadows bring forth their produce almost without exertion, has generated among the farmers a remarkable degree of indolence and inactivity. They considered it as a disgrace to suffer a heap of manure to be seen at one end of their field,— to plough in straight lines,—to disturb an ant-hill on his pastures,—or to permit more water than falls from the heavens to pass over their meadows. The fine
brooks and rivulets which flow through the meadows, al e allowed to pursue their course unused ; and, excep ting in the neighbourhood of one or two of the paper mills, there is scarcely an acre of land irrigated through the whole county. The northern parts of Bucking hamshire are diversified with gentle sand hills, which enter it from the county of Bedford.
The soil of this county is composed chiefly of rich loam, strong clay, chalk, and loam upon gravel. Wheat, barley, oats, beans, and sainfoin, are the principal articles of produce in the Chiltern district. Only a small part of the northern division of the county is arable. The great quantity of butter which is made annually on the pasture and meadow farms, is chiefly sold to the London dealers, who contract for it every half year. Eight pounds (sixteen ounces to a pound) is the average weight of butter produced weekly from each cow in summer ; while six pounds is the average weight in winter. A mill churn, wrought by a horse, has been lately introduced into some of the dairies, to facilitate the operation of churning. In other dairies, a barrel churn is used, wrought by two men, who make from six to six score pounds of butter at one churning. The scum and butter-milk are employed for the purpose of fattening swine Calves are suckled in great quantities in the neighbourhood of 1\Iedmenham and Great and Little Hampton ; and, at the town of Aylesbury, and in its vicinity, the rearing of clucks for the supply of the London market is an object of great attention. By a restriction of food, and by other artificial means, the ducks are prevented from laying till the months of October and November ; and, for some weeks previous to this period, they are fed with stimulating provisions ; and when the eggs are ready, a hen is employed to sit, and is frequently obliged to continue in the nes. till three successive broods are hatched. Exhausted with this duty, the animal often dies as soon as it is perform ed. When the young escape from the shell, they are nursed with particular care at the side ul a lire ; and such artificial and unnatural means, ducklings are sent at Christmas to London, where they have sometimes been sold Iron) fifteen shillings to a guinea a pair.