Essex, like every other county in the kingdom where agriculture is well understood, and carried on in such a manner as at once to enrich the farmers, and benefit the nation at large, is distinguished for the size of its farms; though it would appear from the account of Mr Young, that there are not so many large farms now as there were in 1767, when he found, in the district of the hundreds, some of above I 000/., I 500/., and even 20001. and up wards per annum. One of the largest farms in the county at present contains 1600 acres. The character of the Essex farmers, in general, is highly respectable, not merely on account of their intimate knowledge of their own profession, both in theory and practice, but also on account of their general acquaintance with the sciences and arts connected with agriculture. The rent given for land in this county is certainly not high, when the general goodness of the soil and climate, and its vici nity to the best market, are taken into consideration. In the year 1806, the average of the Roding district was about 16s. an acre; of the second district of West Gra cey, 25s.; 'of the third district 17s.; of the fourth, 16s.; of the fifth, 17s. ; of the sixth 21s.; of the seventh, 15s.; and of the eighth, 20s. At that time the total rent was estimated at 936,320/. or, on an average of the whole county, not more than 208. an acre. Since that period, rents in Essex, as well as elsewhere, have risen conside rably, but not to the level of other districts not so highly favoured in situation, soil, and climate. The average of the poor rates is about 9s. in the pound ; the composi tion for tithes, per acre, in 1805, was 4s. 9d. Leases, which formerly were almost universal, latterly have be come by no means general; where they are granted, ridiculous or impracticable covenants, which might have been proper a hundred years ago, are too often re tained.
Essex may emphatically be deemed an arable county, not merely because by far the largest portion of the ground is under the plough, but also because its grain is of the best quality, and its fields exhibit some of the best specimens of English arable husbandry. Only two kinds of ploughs have gained a firm and general footing in the county; the swing and wheel ploughs, both con structed ort-a better principle, and much lighter and ea sie• of draught, than are commonly met with in Eng land. They arc worked commonly with two horses, but sometimes with three yoked a-breast, without a driver. The other agricultural implements are equally simple and well constructed with the plough ; none, however, require to he noticed as peculiar to•Essex, except the concave roller, and the bean stubble rake. Thrashing mills of various kinds are not uncommon, and one horse carts have been lately introduced.
Essex has long been an inclosed county; the fences generally consist of various kinds of wood; but they are, in most parts, so high and thick, that they exclude the sun and air.
On all soils, except sound dry turnip soils, fallowing is practised in Essex, and the fallows are uncommonly well and carefully wrought, being frequently ploughed eight times. It has already been mentioned that the Roding district consists of strong wet soil ; in this dis trict a singular rotation is followed, viz. fallow, wheat, fallow, barley. In the other districts, the though various, present nothing peculiar, except what arises from the crops peculiar to Essex, which will af terwards be noticed. This county has long been famed for the excellent quality of its wheat, which, with that from Kent, always obtains the highest price in the Lon don market. This grain is either sown on a fallow, or after beans or clover: in some parts it is drilled and horse-hoed. Dibbling it is also practised, but not to any
extent. Till very lately, scarcely any spring wheat was sown, but now it is gaining ground. The mean produce of the county is about 25 bushels per acre. The barley of Essex is also in great demand: it is sown either after a fallow on strong lands, or on dry land after turnips, seldom after beans, pease, or tares. The average produce of this grain is between four and five quarters: it is seldom made into bread, even the poorest of the people refusing to eat it, except in times of the greatest scarcity. Oats are sown after fallow sometimes, but mole frequently after beans, Er.c. Tar tarian, potatoe, Dutch, and black oats, are sown: in some parts of the county, the produce is very large : the average of the whole probably about live quarters. Though a large portion of the soil of Essex is suited to beans, they and not esteemed so highly, nor cultivated so well and extensively, as they ought to be: where grown, they arc generally put in after wheat, sometimes hut not always dibbled, more frequently drilled; in both cases hand-hoed, but horse-hoeing is neglected : the average crop is supposed to be 27 bushels per acre. Near the metropolis, great quantities of white pease are sown ; but this crop is not very common in other parts of the county. There is not much turnip soil in Essex, but the culture of this root is well understood where it can be practised : they are generally grown after early pease ; sometimes, but not usually, drilled, and fed off either with bullocks or sheep: the average price for feeding on the land with sheep is 31. per acre. They arc found to succeed best near the coast, it is supposed, front the influence of the sea air. Swedish turnips are also grown to a considerable extent, and a few cab bages. Potatoes, which have long been cultivated to a great extent in the northern counties, have compara tively made little progress in the south of England. Essex, however, is an exception to this remark : here they are very largely grown, London receiving its chief supply of this valuable root from Essex. Near Barking is one of the greatest potatoe planters in the kingdom. who seldom grows fewer than between 200 and 300 acres. Clover, which most probably was introduced' into England from Flanders, and first into that part of England which lies opposite that country, has been so long cultivated in Essex, that it is said now not to pro duce such certain and full crops as formerly : the same complaint is made in Norfolk. Rape or cole is much cultivated in most parts for food ; and about Reding ham, Manningtree, &c. for seed : in the rich district of Romford, they have immense crops of this plant, and manage it in a most admirable manner. Hops were formerly much more extensively cultivated than at pre sent ; they are chiefly now grown in the parishes of lledingham, 11Iaplestead, Colne, Chelmsford, Cc.: the sorts arc the Kentish, Essex, Worcester, and sometimes the Farnham : they arc usually gathered in September. It is remarked, that the Kentish hop-pickers pick nearly one half more than those in Essex ; the reason is, that the former work by the piece or task-work. The hops in this county are not very highly esteemed, at least in point of strength they are inferior to the hops of Kent, but not so in flavour. In the neighbourhood of lleding ham, the crops are sometimes very heavy, upwards of 24 cwt. having been gathered from an acre ; the ave rage produce is about eight cwt. hop ground has been sold in this neighbourhood at the rate 182/. per acre, which is equal to 30 years' purchase at 61. per acre.