Essex

Essex, a county on the south-east coast of England, to the north of the Thames, having Suffolk on the N" the German Ocean on the E., and Hertford and Middlesex on the W. It is 60 miles long by a greatest breadth of 45 miles, and contains 1,055,133 acres. The land is flattish, but has gentle hills and dales, save to the south and east, where it is generally reclaimed marsh. Epping Forest (q.v.) has some beautiful woodland scenery. Essex is one of the first farming counties of the kingdom, and is specially noted for its wheat, its beans, and its peas, while other crops are above the average, and it cultivates also carawaj', coriander, and teazel. There is much grazing on the marsh lands, and fattening of calves for the London market. Epping and its neighbourhood are famous for cream and butter, and fish are plentiful on the coast; while near Colchester and in the rivers Crouch and Roach there are extensive oyster-beds. Silk, crape, and straw-plait manufactures are the special industries. Besides the boundary rivers Thames, Lea, and Stour, the chief are the Chelmer, Colne, Crouch, Roding, and Blackwater. There are eight parliamentary divisions, returning one member each, and two parliamentary boroughs - Colchester (with one member), and West Ham (with two). The county town is Chelmsford, and then come Colchester, Harwich, a frequented port for the Continent, and Maldon. The county is served by the Great Eastern Railway.