Farming of Kent. 
257 
annals of British history — the Isle of Sheppy. In addition to a 
personal examination of this island, I have been favoured with 
an account of its husbandry by a gentleman eminently qualified, 
from his long residence there, and extensive experience as a prac- 
tical agriculturist : * — 
" The principal entrance to the Isle of Sheppy is by the King's 
Ferry, which crosses the Swale nearlwade. It contains seven parishes, 
upwards of 20,000 acres, and a population of nearly 11,000. Sheppy 
has been famed from time immemorial for its breed of sheep, and the 
exquisite flavour of its mutton ; and the epicure of the present day 
feasts on a Sheppy haunch with the same zest and satisfaction as did 
his Saxon forefathers. It may be divided, for our purpose, into two 
parts — arable and pasture land : the latter principally marsh ; the whole 
lying on a clay subsoil of various qualities, but not a good brick earth. 
The upland or cliff district, commencing near Sheerness, and extending 
to Warden Point, is nearly all under culture, with a stone-shattery and 
friable soil, open to the sea. The lower district, adjoining the marsh 
land which abuts on the river Swale, is favourable for wheat, beans, 
and canary, but disposed to exuberance of wheat-straw. Farms vary in 
size from 150 to 500 acres. A prejudice formerly existed against 
draining, but the march of intelligence is dispelling rapidly the ab- 
surdity, and draining is now engaging much attention. The farms, 
however, being chiefly held by yearly tenure, and the cost of tile-draining 
being about 1/. per acre, no general adoption of this fundamental im- 
provement can be expected until the landlords grant long leases, or 
provide the capital at a per centage. Matthew Bell, Esq., an extensive 
proprietor, has commenced the latter system. 
" The tillage has been usually six-course, viz. : — 1. Summer fallow, 
with dung, chalk, or lime ; 2. Beans ; 3. Wheat ; 4. Beans and clover ; 
5. Wheat; 6. Oats. But this exensive system is yielding to the farmer's 
necessities; and tares, potatoes, mangold-wurzel, carrots, rape, &c., 
supersede the summer fallow"; and drilled crops of canary-seed, peas, 
&c., are now common instead of the above rotation. Average produce : — 
Wheat, 4 quarters ; beans, 4 quarters ; peas, quarters ; canary, 3i 
quarters; oats, 7 quarters; clover, \\ load per acre. The wheat is 
generally heavy, but inclined to break strong and flinty, yet it is bought 
by the London millers to give strength of flour by mixing with weaker 
samples — the whole produce, except local consumption, going to Mark 
Lane. 
" Turnips are not general, the soil being injured by folding, which 
thorough-draining would remedy. From this discouraging circumstance, 
the sheep-breeder is compelled, at weaning-time, to send his sheep away 
to turnip soils — some thousands annually — to be returned in the spring, 
often a distance of 30 or 40 miles, when, according as they have been 
well or ill done by, depends their future value both in carcass and wool. 
" The quantity of seed sown is generally large. Wheat, 3 bushels; 
beans, &c., 4 bushels per acre. I have not for many years sown more 
• Mr. G. B. Chambers, Holm Place, Queenborough. 
