200 EURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



banks of the rivers form almost the only natural mea- 

 dows, excepting, however, the celebrated Komney marsh, 

 one of the richest pastures in the kingdom, situated upon 

 the coast, and covering an area of about forty thousand 

 acres. There the fine race of sheep, known as the New 

 Kent, takes its rise, which combines with a high quality 

 of mutton the advantage of a wool superior to other 

 English breeds. 



With the exception of this valuable breed of sheep, 

 there is nothing remarkable in the stock of Kent : the 

 great national types are not to be found there. The crops 

 even are not what they ought to be, although for some time 

 past improved methods of tillage have been spreading. 

 The agricultural crisis fell severely upon Kent, and induced 

 new efforts. Drainage is extending, and appears destined 

 to alter the character of the clay lands ; but, generally 

 speaking, the old system prevails. Everybody must have 

 remarked, in passing, the heavy plough of the district, 

 drawn by four horses, when two would suffice, and all 

 the rest is just in keeping. 



While the entire island devotes itself to two or three 

 main crops, Kent remains faithful to those special produc- 

 tions which have acquired for it the name of the garden 

 of England. It grows half the hops produced in the king- 

 dom. In the Isle of Thanet, all kinds of seeds are pro- 

 duced for the supply of the London seedsmen ; while 

 those parts nearest to the capital are occupied by kitchen 

 gardens on a large scale. There are to be seen orchards, 

 and whole fields of vegetables. The number of villa resi- 

 dences belonging to the wealthier inhabitants of London 

 is also considerable. The extent of the farms varies a good 

 deal, but small and middling farming prevails. Many 

 are not more than ten to fifteen acres, few exceed two 

 hundred acres. The reasons for this are many ; but the 



