The soil of Worcestershire was fertile and was kind to the farming community. The many forests and small parks supported large herds of deer. There were many orchards carrying good crops of apples and pears. Pear trees also grew well in the fields and hedgerows along the roads. John Speede noted that "with their juice the inhabitants made a bastard kind of wine, called Perry, which is both pleasant and good in taste". The county town of Worcester is shown on the map and, as can be seen from the aerial view, its cathedral physically dominated the city.