RICHARD WARNER (1711-1775). 213
"sional small hills. The whole journey consisted of nothing
"but an alternation of beautiful houses, fruitful fields, green
"pastures and such-like. There was generally a separate garden
"to every house, filled with all kinds of fine trees. Even the
"walls were covered with the slender leafless wood of shrubs.
"In some places instead of palings the gardens were divided
"by live hedges of yew, elm, hawthorn or other trees. All
"the land was divided into inclosures surrounded by hedge-
"rows of hawthorn, sloe, bramble and holly. In some places,
"especially near London, there were, instead of hedges, mounds
"of earth two yards high round the fields. They were made
"of the reddish-yellow clay prevalent hereabouts, mixed with
"sand, gravel and pebbles. . . . The charming aspect
"of the land must be mainly ascribed to the labour expended
"upon it. It is like one continuous pleasure-garden from
"the many evergreen hedgerows which everywhere occur,
"as far as the eye can reach. The innumerable towers of London
"could only be but dimly seen in the distance, although the
"air was clear, since a sort of cloud hung over the city from
"the coal-smoke which proceeded continuously from the closely-
"grouped chimneys. The roads are so full of passengers on
"foot and on horseback, with waggons and carts going and com-
"ing, that it seems as if one must cut one's way through them.
"At some points the Thames was visible covered with many
"sailing-vessels and ships from afar. Canals, constructed
"with much industry and skill, flow in various directions. . . .
"To the north and east of Woodford is a charming forest. The
soil here is, as in the main throughout the district, a coarse,
"reddish, or rather reddish-yellow, sand, here called 'gravel,'
"mixed with finer soil and a large proportion of ordinary black
"flints. The forest itself is on rather high ground. There
"are said to be many rabbits and deer; but I did not see any
"as I passed through, nor could I find any plants as yet (March
"7th) in flower. The trees, however, and the ground itself,
"were already all green. The trees were not, however, allowed
"to grow to their proper height, but were cut down to nine or
"twelve feet from the ground for firewood. This cutting had
"caused numerous branches to shoot out on all sides so that
"the stem ended in a round crown."
Kalm stayed with Warner from February 28th to March