11 KENT. 



is done by the laudlorJ, and the tenant pays interest on the outlay 

 varying from four to six per cent., but five per cent, is the most 

 general rate. 



Xeiit. — The rate of compensation for improvements as between the 

 outgoing and incoming tenant varies considerably in Kent. In the 

 AVeald of Kent nearly everything is paid for. In the eastern part of 

 Kent the custom is not quite so extensive ; generally the dang is not 

 paid for, it is the property of the landlord, and the tenant is paid for 

 labour to it ouly ; but this difference does not exactly occur where the 

 division of the county for other purposes is taken. There is another 

 mode in ]\[id Kent. In the "Weald of Kent, the papnents made to the 

 outgoing tenant are for the underwood down to the stubb, the fallows, 

 including rent and taxes and manures, and generally speaking half 

 manures, but they are in some cases now being bought off by the 

 landlords. Hop poles, hay, straw, ploughings, seeds sowu, dressings, 

 young hops planted, seasons, and generally those things are paid for 

 which are considered to be an improvement of the land, and of which 

 the incoming tenant derives the benefit, such as striking up of land to 

 let off the water. If the hop land is also struck up, and laid up round, 

 to take off the water, that is paid for too. Valuers always charge the 

 incoming tenant with it, and in doing so, if it be wood, they allow 

 four years to run out ; if one year is fallow, it goes over another ; if 

 one crop is taken, they give three-fourths of the outlay ; if two crops, 

 half; if three, three-quarters ; and if four, nothing is allowed. Draining 

 is generally considered as embraced under the term " custom of the 

 country," which is a very common one in the Kent agreements. By 

 the term "custom," is meant rather the mode of valuing; it is very 

 common in agreements that the tenant shall be " valued out by the 

 custom of the country." There is no such thing as chalking, in the 

 Weald of Kent. Sometimes things are done in preparing the grass 

 land for years to come; the seed is occasionally allowed for in those 

 cases. There is scarcely any county in which more is paid for between 

 the outgoing and incoming tenant. Valuers take into account dilapida- 

 tions, both as to farm buildings and detrimental acts of husbandry, when 

 they are permitted to apply the custom. 



In ]\Iid Kent the allowances are more favourable to the outgoing 

 tenant than in East Kent. In the Weald, hay passes from the out- 

 going to the incoming tenant at what is called a feed price, which 

 prevails throughout the "Weald of Kent and Sussex. A feed price is a 

 price between what is termed the foddering or dung price, and the sale 

 price; that is to say, if hay was worth £4 a ton, it would fetch 505. 



