168 THE DOVER ROAD 



cherries, orooseberries, currants, and strawberries ; and 

 the frequency and perfection of the market-gardens, 

 orchards, and hojD-gardens strike the pedestrian with 

 admiration and amazement. A visit in early spring, 

 when the orchards are in blossom, and others in the 

 cherry- and hop-picking seasons, convince the 

 sceptical that Kent is, in sober truth, the " garden of 

 England." The stranger needs but to spend a week 

 between this and Canterbury ; to tramp the high-road 

 and the bye-lanes in the direction of Heme Hill and 

 Whitstable, and he will see abundant evidences of how 

 important is the fruit-growing industry, not only in the 

 fields and gardens, where he may see the fruit growing, 

 but also in the great barns and outhouses bursting with 

 many, thousands of bushel-baskets only awaiting the 

 ripening of the cherries and currants to be filled and 

 put upon the rails at Faversham Junction, whence 

 numerous special trains are daily run during the season 

 to London and the Borough Market. Somewhat 

 earlier in the year-^generally in mid-June — other 

 evidences of the magnitude of the fruit interest are 

 seen in the auctioneers' sale bills posted on every 

 available board and fence, announcing that the 

 growing crops are presently to be sold by auction. 



But, in spite of the fertility of Kentish orchards, 

 the countryman will not forego his privilege of 

 grumbling. Singularly enough, he never thinks of 

 eating any of the fruit he grows, and the more plentiful 

 the crops, the less pleased he professes himself to be. 

 Not that, should you come upon him at a season when 

 plenty is less marked, he will be any the more gratified. 

 Hold the peasant proprietor of an orchard in conversa- 

 tion during the fruit season, and you will think him 

 one of the most miserable and unfortunate men in the 

 country. 



" Good day to you," you say. 



(Hodge nods his head, and mumbles, " Mor'n'n.") 



" Splendid croi3s you have down here. I should 

 think things must be going pretty well in these parts ? " 



