Farming of Kent. 
259 
The Isle of Tlianet, which, strictly speaking, is not now an 
island, it being connected with the mainland of the county by 
bridges over a small stream or sewer, has been celebrated from 
time immemorial for the excellence of its agriculture. The soil 
in many parts, particularly on the eastward, bordering on the sea, 
is by no means rich, consisting of a thin lightish layer of mould 
not more than a few inches in thickness, resting immediately on a 
pebbled chalk, which at 4 or 5 feet deep becomes a hard rock : to 
the westward the soil is both richer and deeper ; while that porliou 
of the elevated or arable land which adjoins the marsh constitutes 
a belt of soil unsurpassed in fertility perhaps by any in the king- 
dom. This land is of a heavier texture, although not difficult to 
work, than the thinner and lighter soils above, and is excellent for 
wheat, beans, canary^ and clover ; indeed for any crop whatever. 
A peculiar feature of Thanet, with a coasiderable portion of the 
eastern part of Kent, is the almost total absence of hedges or 
fences. There are scarcely any trees, except around the home- 
stead, consequently the country is exposed to all the fury of the 
winds ; which circumstance, connected with the peculiar character 
of the soil, render the climate cold and dry, and the ground can 
be worked at all seasons. What little shelter in the form of 
trees and hedges that existed a few years since have been of late 
removed in order to make every foot of ground available for cul- 
tivation. The openness of the country has, for an arable district, 
many advantages; but it is not unattendetl by some drawbacks, 
such as beating out the ripe corn by high winds, and injurious 
exposure of sheep in folds during rough and inclement weather. 
Large thatched hurdles placed on the windward side would tend 
materially to shelter and promote the comfort of the animals. 
Even along the highways there are generally no fences, and farms 
are frequently dinded only by stones as landmarks. 
Although the soil is generally so light and dry as not to re- 
quire, except in verj- rare instances, any furrows, ditches, or under- 
drains, yet the old heavy turn-wrist plough, with four horses 
working in pairs, is universally prevalent. Other ploughs of a 
lighter and different construction have been repeatedly tried and 
thrown aside; or at best but very partially employed. It must 
be confessed that this plough, which appears indigenous to this 
county, makes very superior work, thoroughly moving and turning 
over every particle of the soil ; but in a district like this I cannot 
help thinking that ploughs of a lighter kind, drawn by two horses 
abreast, might, with painstaking and perseverance, in some 
measure supersede the necessity of the heavier implement; par- 
ticularly in summer working the land : yet it is urged against 
this view by practical men, that as their soil is peculiarly liable 
to be overrun with weeds, they require a share from 6 to 10 inches 
