HERTFORDSHIRE. This county has no minerals of any value. The barns are gene rally well cultivated, but the heavy clays are capable of much improvement. Wherever the turnip husbandry prevails, the superiority of the crops is striking. Wheat, beans, oats, and Mows are the only varieties. Clover is much less in quantity than might be desired. The old heavy plough with four horses in a line may still be seen. The county is remarkable for its high banks and hedges ; in many of the lanes, where two carriages could scarcely pass one another, it is difficult for a man standing on a waggon to see over the hedge; but wherever the old high banks have been levelled, and neat quick hedges have been planted in their stead, the ground which has been gained has soon paid the expense. A species of rough garden husbandry has been introduced on the best soils nearest to Lon don for the growth of early potatoes, cab bales, peas, and other culinary vegetables, which are succeeded in the same year by other crops, the whole being forced by an abundance of manure. The plough is used, but a great portion of the labour is done by the spade and the hoe. There are many orchards
chiefly for apples and cherries, which are sold in London.
Very little manufacturing is carried on in the county. The country around Barnet is celebrated for its hay, and a great deal of business is done at the market. At Bishop's Stortford a great deal of corn is accumulated, and the malting trade carried on to a great extent. At Hemel Hempstead the females are much engaged in making straw plat, and there are corn and paper mills in the neigh bourhood. At Hertford a good deal of busi ness is done in malting, and there are many corn mills on the Lea, the Mimram, and the Beane. At Hitchin much straw-plat is made; there are some breweries, and also a silk mill. At Rickmansworth there are several paper and flour mills near the town ; and some strawplatting and horsehair weaving is carried on. There is considerable trade at the market is one of the'greatest in the county for corn. At Watford considerable silk mills, and also a paper mill.