Page:Agricultural Notes on Hertfordshire.pdf/9

Rh The average rainfall registered for 29 years is 22.5, percolation 7.5 inches. The Table shows 25.8 of rainfall and 4.9 percolation for the last 10 years. It will be seen that the amount of rainfall increases with the longitude westward.

The geographical extent of the county may be taken to be, in length, south-west to north-east, 36 miles; south-east to north-west, 26 miles; with a circumference of from 130 to 140 miles. Halley is quoted as estimating its superficial area at 451,000 acres. The population returns 1861 give it at 391,141 acres. Clutterbuck gives the population, in 1801, 97,577; 1811, 111,654: increase, 14,077. The last returns, 1851, 167,298; 1861, 173,294: increase, 5996. Total increase since 1801, 75,717. The persons employed chiefly in agriculture in 1801 are 20,611. The families so employed in 1811, 16,998.

Of the old markets, suffice it to say, that there are 18 market towns in which the old system of selling wheat by the load of 5 bushels is still very generally followed. Barnet fair is still famous for its supply of neat cattle, brought from Wales and Scotland, &c.

The modern practice of holding sales of fat stock by auction at such towns as Hitchin, Hertford, Bishop's Stortford, and