The West Kent 67 



THE WEST KENT.* 



A CONSIDEEABLE similarity of country runs througli 

 tlie whole of Kent. Its distinguishing features may 

 be more strongly developed in one locality than 

 another; but in the main its leading points are the 

 same throughout. More hill or less hill, more big 

 woods or fewer, more wold or fewer valleys — it is 

 only a question of degree. The East Kent and the 

 Tickham have already been dealt with ; and a sketch 

 of the West Kent, to stand by itself, would necessarily 

 contain a rechauffe of much that has been written 

 about the other two. As a matter of comparison, the 

 West Kent has, perhaps, more open country, less 

 rough and flinty highland, more pronounced vale than, 

 and not quite such immense woods as, the Tickham, 

 which intervenes between, and graduates down to, the 

 East Kent. But its hills are just the same chalk 

 slopes, with flint-covered surface and unfenced tillage ; 

 its frequent woods are of the same hazel, beech and 

 unthorned undergrowth, with narrow straggling rides. 

 Hop gardens fill its rich and sheltered nooks ; fruit is 

 freely grown where the soil favours orchard or garden ; 



* Yide Stanford's " Himtiug Map," Sheets 22 and 23, and 

 Hobson's Foxhunting Atlas. 



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