Heordshire | Page 9

Ridge, near South Mimms, and at St. Albans. He should also
beware of the descent into Wheathampstead, of the dip between Bushey
and Watford, and of the gritty roadways in the neighbourhood of
Baldock. Most of the roads are well kept, particularly since they have
been cared for by the County Council, and the traveller's book at the
inn usually contains fewer anathemas touching the state of the
highways than in some other counties which might be named.
[Footnote 1: There has been much dispute as to the exact trend of the
"Great North Road". After careful inquiry I believe that the above
paragraph states the case correctly. Much misunderstanding has
doubtless arisen by confounding the "Old" with the "Great" North
Road.]
Railways.--Few counties in England are so well served with railroad
communications; the London and North Western, Midland, Great
Northern and Great Eastern running well across its face.
The London and North Western enters the county ½ mile N.W. of
Pinner, and has stations on its main route at Bushey, Watford, King's
Langley, Boxmoor, Berkhampstead and Tring. It crosses the
Bedfordshire border near Ivinghoe. From Watford it has a branch to
Rickmansworth; and to Bricket Wood, Park Street and St. Albans; it
has also a station at Marston Gate, on its branch line to Aylesbury.
The Midland enters the county during its passage through the Elstree
tunnel and runs nearly due N., having stations at Elstree, Radlett, St.

Albans and Harpenden. It has also a branch with stations at Hemel
Hempstead and Redbourn.
The Great Northern main line crosses a small tongue of the county
upon which it has stations at Oakleigh Park and New Barnet. It then
traverses the Hadley Wood district of Middlesex, entering
Hertfordshire again at Warren Gate, and has stations at Hatfield,
Welwyn, Knebworth, Stevenage and Hitchin. From Hatfield it has three
branches: (1) to Smallford and St. Albans; (2) to Ayot,
Wheathampstead and Harpenden; (3) to Cole Green, Hertingfordbury
and Hertford. At Hitchin it has a branch to Baldock, Ashwell and
Royston.
The Great Eastern enters the county at Waltham Cross and skirts the
whole of the S.E. quarter, running on Essex soil from near the Rye
House almost to Sawbridgeworth. It has stations in Hertfordshire at
Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Broxbourne, Sawbridgeworth and Bishop's
Stortford. It enters Essex again near the last-named station. It has also
important branches, (1) from Broxbourne to Rye House, St. Margaret's,
Ware, and Hertford; (2) from St. Margaret's to Mardock, Widford,
Hadham, Standon, Braughing, West Mill and Buntingford.
In addition, the Metropolitan Railway has an extension which crosses
the S.W. extremity of the county, having stations at Rickmansworth
and Chorley Wood. The Great Northern Railway has a branch from
Finsbury Park to High Barnet, with a station at Totteridge.
VII. INDUSTRIES
1. Agriculture.--Charles Lamb used no mere haphazard expression
when he wrote of Hertfordshire as "that fine corn county". Forty years
ago the county contained 339,187 acres under arable cultivation, of
which considerably more than half were utilised for corn; and the
proportion thus used is still much larger than might be supposed. (In
1897 it amounted to about 125,000 acres.) At the same period there
were about 60,000 acres under wheat alone; for this grain, of which a
large white variety is much cultivated, the county has long been famous.
To this circumstance the village of Wheathampstead is indebted for its

name. Barley and oats are also staple crops. The first Swede turnips
ever produced in England were grown on a farm near Berkhampstead.
Watercress is extensively cultivated, enormous quantities being sent
into London from St. Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhampstead,
Welwyn and many other districts. Much manure is brought to the farms
from the London stables, and by its aid large second crops of
vegetables are frequently obtained. Clover, turnips and tares may be
mentioned among other crops prominently cultivated. Fruit is also sent
to London, particularly from the district lying between Tring, Watford
and St. Albans, but none of the orchards are large.
The number of pigs reared in the county is--or was quite
recently--rather above the average (per 100 acres under cultivation) for
all England; the number of cattle rather below, and of sheep much
below, this average.
2. Manufactures are fairly numerous.
(a) Straw Plait has for over 200 years been extensively made by hand
for the Luton dealers. The wages earned by peasant girls and women in
this employment were formerly high; 100 years ago a woman, if
dexterous, might earn as much as £1 a week, but the increase in
machinery and the competition from foreign plait has almost destroyed
this cottage industry in some districts. During the last four decades
several large straw hat manufactories have been erected in St. Albans,
and the trade enlarged, although the conditions of production are
altered.
(b) Malting