262 
Farming of Kent. 
30s. to 45s. ; parochial rates about 4s. 6c?. ; tithes 12s. arable ; 
2s. Q>d. to 4s. for marsh land per acre. The rents for pasture 
land are much higher. 
This angle of the county lies peculiarly favourable for the ship- 
ment of its agricultural produce for the London market ; while it 
contains several towns celebrated as watering-places, where good 
markets are obtained for all kinds of vegetables, poultry, milk, 
and butter. 
A large portion of country east of Canterbury is in great 
measure, as before observed, uninclosed and entirely arable, except 
the marshes on the south of Thanet and the alluvium formerly 
left by the sea in the neighbourhood of Sandwich. From behind 
Deal and Sandwich, including the parishes of Worth, Ash, 
Wingham, Preston, and their vicinities, to Canterbury, Favers- 
ham, and Sittingbourne, the soil mostly consists of a deep rich 
loam, of a free texture, consequently easily worked, abounding in 
organic matter, and 'so happily blended as regards mineral and 
chemical composition as to be capable of producing, under ordi- 
nary management, the largest crops, and of the finest quality, 
A rich mould is frequently found, which is from IJ to 2 feet 
deep. It should be observed, however, that in so extensive a 
district as that now under review, a diversity of soil obtains, from 
a sandy loam through every intermediate degree of texture to a 
stiff clay within 8 or 9 inches of the surface. The richest land 
occurs in the neighbourhoods of Deal, Sandwich, Canterbury, and 
particularly Faversham, where the surface is generally level or 
slightly undulating, easily cultivated at all seasons of the year, 
and requires but few if any furrows. Patches, however, are to 
be found resting on a heavy clay substratum, which are subject to 
springs where draining is highly advantageous. The course of 
cropping varies considerably; large breadths of turnips being 
sown and folded with sheep. In the country around Sandwich 
and Deal the following is the usual rotation: — 1. Wheat; 
2. Barley; 3. Clover; 4. Wheat; 5. Barley or Oats; 6. Beans; 
when the course with slight variation occurs again. And such is 
the inherent strength of the soil that, with clean culture and 
judicious manuring, this course can be indefinitely sustained. 
In the vicinity of Canterbury a considerable plantation of hops 
has been kept up for a great number of years. The sorts usually 
cultivated are the " Canterbury grape" and " Goldings," a small, 
rich, heavy hop; but the crop is not commonly large as compared 
with other parts of the county, and is frequently subject to blights. 
These hops, however, when grown free from disease, are of the 
first quality and command the highest prices. In addition to 
farm-yard dung, woollen rags and sprats, the latter often applied 
roiuul the hills, are used as manures for hops. The ground is 
