ENCLOSURES : ESSEX AGRICULTURE, 1500-1900. 23
used a map of the "solid" geology for his survey, but though
he appeared to regard all the soil of Eastern Essex as developed
primarily from London Clay, he noticed differences of soil
texture within the area. He indicated the presence of sandier
soils and lighter clays (Boulder Clay) which he distinguished
as "two horse land" when compared with the London Clay-
land or "three horse land."
The "three horse land" evinced all those qualities that have
made it remarkable as a soil of low value. It was—so he states
—heavy to plough and needed much ploughing to keep it open.
In wet winters the crops were drowned: in dry seasons the
ground baked, and, since both extremes were common in this
zone, adequate provision could be made against neither. Mr.
Pringle also pointed out that the "two horse land" (the Boulder
Clay) had been fairly successful in weathering the agricultural
storm, and not enough had fallen out of cultivation to merit
a detailed examination. The London Clay area of the Winstree
and Thurstable Hundreds were beyond the district he sur-
veyed, but they, apparently, were included with the Boulder
Clay. The district where the greatest conversion to pastoral