Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (70)agriculture
corn
climate
rivers
Test, River
Stour, River
Avon, River
Itchen, River
Enborn, River
Loddon, River
fish
cattle
sheep
pigs
Hampshire hogs
bees
honey
forestry
ship building
The Natural History.
THIS County hath a Soil very fruitful for Corn, and in many Places well wooded, rich in Herbage, and Plenty of good Pastures: 'Tis true, much of their arable Land is stony, which some think is so far from being an Impediment to the Fruitfulness, that it rather promotes it, by keeping the Ground warm before the Corn comes up, and protecting the Blade whilst it is tender, from parching and blasting Winds; and of this they think this is a good Argument, that Lands sell here dearer than in those Places of England which are esteemed to be the richest; for 'tis common to give here, five or six and twenty Years Purchase for Estates, when at the same Distance, or nearer to London, viz. in Kent, Sussex and Essex, better Land is commonly sold for twenty, or one and twenty Years Purchase.The Air of this County in most Parts of it is fresh and healthy; scarce any Part of England can boast of better in either respect: Where can a Man breathe purer and sweeter Air, than about the Downs of Andover and Winchester? If it be less wholesome in any one Part than other, 'tis in the Bottoms, where the Itching flows; near the Sea by the Creeks, and on the Borders of Sussex; but all these make so small a Part of the County, and are so much better Air than in the Hundreds of Essex, the Coasts of Kent, and the Fens of Lincolnshire, Bedford, and Ely, that they may not lessen the Reputation of the Air in general.
It is well watered with Rivers and Brooks, of which the Principal are, the Stour, the Avon, the Tese or Test, the Alre or Itching, and Hamble, which receive many little Rills and Brooks into them, besides the several Streams, which rising in the North Parts of this County, run into the Anborn and Loddon, two Rivers of Berkshire. These Rivers supply this County with Plenty of good meadowing and Fish, of which latter the neighbouring Sea affords so great a Store, particularly of Soles, Lobsters, Flounders, &c. about Southampton and Portsmouth, that no County of England has more and better.
The Breed of Cattle here necessary for the Plough and Pail, are much the same as in other Parts of England commonly, but it excels most other Counties in three sorts, which are their Sheep, Hogs and Bees, if we may reckon them such, tho' but improperly.
1. Their Sheep, of which feed great Numbers in the Downs, afford them not only sweet and pleasant Mutton for the Table, but store of Wool. This Commodity invites the Inhabitants of many Towns to follow the cloathing Trade, and they have formerly been famous for it; but at this Time, tho' there is a great deal of Cloth there made, yet it is not looked upon as the finest or best.
2. The Hampshire Hogs are allowed generally to make the best Bacon in England, whether it proceed from the Nature of the Flesh, or the good Management of the House Wife, may be disputed; we incline to believe it to arise from both, which they they meet, Dr. Fuller tells us, they make such excellent Bacon, that very judicious Palates have been induced to judge them right Westphalia, especially when they imitate the Shape of the Hams. Their Food is no other but what the Hogs of other Counties have, only perhaps more plentiful in the Forests, into which they put them lean in the Acorn Season, and receive them again full and fat, without Cost or Care: And if so, why are not our Acorns as good as food for Hogs, as the Chesnuts in Germany, which the Hogs in Westphalia are said to be fed with?
3. Bees are much cherished in this Shire, which produce great Quantites of Honey, but of different Natures, according to the Variety of the Soil where they are kept. It is said, that the Honey collected by the Bees from the Heath is the worst English Honey, and will hardly sell for five Pound a Barrel, but that which is collected from the Champion is worth twice as much; but tho' there be a Difference in the Honey, there's none in the Wax, which is made of the Combs, and is sold from this County to London, and other Parts, in great Abundance.
Wood is very plentiful in this County, tho' by Reason of its Nearness to the Sea, there has been made a great Consumption of it; the stout Oaks in the Forests and Woods being not more advantageous to the County it self, than useful to the whole Kingdom, for its Shipping; for from hence it is, that the Builders of Ships at Portsmouth, Southampton, and other Places, are supplied with Timber, not for the Navy Royal only, but also for Merchants, who in this County are pretty plentiful, by reason of its convenient Ports, especally (sic) at Portsmouth and Southampton.
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