CULTURE AND PRODUCTION IN ENGLAND. 73 



Western Division, where blight steadily held its ground 

 throughout the season. 



"Yery good returns for the year were made at Eye, 

 Peasmarsh, Northam, Brightling, Ticehurst, Wadhurst, 

 Lamherhurst, and other parishes where the farming is 

 generally hi^h. The East Kent plantations suffered hut 

 little from blight. Mould vexed them considerably, so that 

 pieces of hops were left unpicked here and there ; but, taking 

 it round, this district grew more per acre than any other, 

 and with some few exceptions its produce is of fair quality 

 and of brilliant colour. About 8 cwt. per acre, it is thought, 

 has been grown here. Some parishes where the cultivation 

 was very good, as it always is, yielded from 9 cwt. to 12 cwt. 

 per acre. ' Among these Bobbing, Faversham, Eainham, 

 Hackington, Hardres, Petham, Selling, Chilham, may be 

 cited, while the Ashford and the bastard East Kent dis- 

 tricts were not so productive. In point of quality West 

 Kent ranks next, having yielded an average crop of 7 cwt. 

 per acre, of very good quality. The neighbourhood of Maid- 

 stone was much favoured. Excellent lots of Groldings of 

 superior merit were obtained at West and East Farleigh, 

 Linton, Otham, Langley, Zalding, Wateringbury, Mere- 

 worth, Hunton ; some good managers in these villages 

 having grown as much as 10 cwt. round. North and 

 West Kent were hard hit by blight, and have hardly 

 produced 4 cwt. per acre. About 6 cwt. per acre were 

 grown in the usually prolific Weald of Kent, where blight 

 did infinite mischief. Near Farnham town the hop gardens 

 escaped blight, mould, and all disorder. Bine was not over 

 plentiful, but about 8 cwt. of choice hops were gathered 



