Farming of Kent. 
255 
the land. Caraways and coriander, formerly cultivated to a 
small extent, have of late become almost extinct. The whole of 
this district is admirably adapted for beans. They are either 
drilled or dibbled, the old broad-cast system being completely ex- 
ploded. By the former method 3 or 4 bushels of seed are used 
per acre. Dibbling is performed by hand, 1^ bushel to the acre, 
at a cost of Is. 6rf., in rows from 18 to 22 inches apart, and the 
beans 4 or 5 inches asunder. Average produce, 4^ quartez-s per 
acre. The sorts generally cultivated are mazagans and ticks. 
The horse-hoe is universally employed among the row-crops, and 
considerable manual labour is frequently required to keep the 
land clean. This soil is also peculiarly adapted to the growth of 
wheat of the finest quality. The sort most cultivated is the 
" hoary white," much approved of by the millers, and yielding a 
large amount of excellent flour. Wheat is almost invariably sown 
broadcast, from 2 to 3 bushels per acre, the soil generally being 
too wet and adhesive for drilling ; but when thoroughly drained 
and subsoiled, the drill might be, in ordinary seasons, beneficially 
employed, thereby saving a considerable amount of both labour 
and seed. Wheat is generally mown or bagged. The mower 
has a cradle fixed to a scythe, and strikes in towards the standing 
corn, which, when cut, is bound into sheaves, and the ground 
raked, an operation chiefly performed by hand.* Bagging is 
performed with a stout hook without teeth, of the form of a sickle. 
The workman strikes the instrument towards the standing corn, 
as near to the ground as possible. The cost of these operations 
varies from 1 Is. to 14s. an acre, according to the state of the crop. 
Reaping here, as elsewhere, is fast growing obsolete. The wheat 
harvest in this district is early, generally commencing the latter 
end of July, which is the case throughout the north and north- 
eastern portions of the county, except on the stiff and elevated 
ridge of the chalk, where it is a fortnight or three weeks later, or 
even more in wet seasons. Turnips and root-crops are but very 
partially cultivated. Mangold-wurzel has been tried on dry 
ground with considerable success. With the thorough drainage, 
however, of this district, it would be difficult to fix limits either to 
the kinds of crops that might be cultivated, or their amount. 
This part of the county, lying close to the sea, is peculiarly well 
situated for obtaining manures, particularly fish. Sprats, muscles, 
and five-fingers are commonly put into mixens with earthy and 
vegetable matters, forming an exceedingly rich and fertilising 
compost. The cost of sprats is usually about lOc?. a bushel: 50 
or 60 bushels, when used alone as a dressing for wheat, &c., are 
* See Mr. Boys's paper on the Kentish Corn Scythe and Binding Rake 
in the Society's Journal, Vol. I., p. 444. 
