266 
Farming of Kent. 
chalky soils may, with some variations, be stated as follows : — 1. 
Turnips ; 2. Barley ; 3. \ clover and i peas with rape ; 4. J wheat, 
and 1 oats or wheat. Rents vary from 65. to IO5. ; tithes, 4s. to 
6s. ; rates, Is. 6f?. to 2s. per acre. There is much wood-land in 
some parts of this district, generally of slow growth, and producing 
excellent and durable hop-poles. The beech and yew flourish on 
these soils, the former attaining considerable size. 
That interesting and important portion of the county occupying 
its north-western angle contiguous to the metropolis I shall 
describe in the words of a highly valued correspondent,* a prac- 
tical farmer, residing in and possessing an extensive knowledge of 
the district. 
" The district to which my communication will apply may be called 
the north-western corner of the county (my farm is on the border), 
comprising the parishes of Greenwich, Woolwich, Deptford, Lewisham, 
Lee-, Beckenham, Bromley, Chiselhurst, Eltham, Plumstead, and their 
vicinities. The prevailing soil is a strong loam varying from 5 inclies 
to 25 in thickness, and depending in its tenacity and fertility partly on 
the subsoil on which it rests, and partly on the means employed in its 
cultivation. It is for the most part what farmers call ' good holding 
land.' Its adhesiveness is considerably ameliorated by the frequent 
application of London manure, of which its proximity to the metropolis 
affords advantages of frequent and heavy dressings. The colour of the 
soil also is somewhat altered, from the frequent admixture of manure, 
and the constant supply of soot wafted in small particles through the 
air, the effects of which are visible for six or eight miles out of town. It 
may be seen on the snow in winter, on linen hung out to dry, and in 
the colour of the sheep grazed in the neighbourhood. This constant 
supply of soot is supposed to account for the fact that a dressing of that 
substance applied in the usual way as manure, and which is found so 
efficacious in many situations, has no visible effect here. It is a difficult 
soil to cultivate; depending so much on the seasons, it requires a great 
proportion of strength to get through the labour while it is in a good 
humour; poaching it with horses when wet is most injurious. Give it 
plenty of those essentials to fertility, sun and air, and keep off as much 
as possible the superabundant water by thorough under-draining and 
water-furrowing, and you may expect good crops. But on the contrary, 
if you farm it ever so well, make the best summer fallow possible (and 
the finer the tilth the worse), and allow the water to remain on it till it 
squashes under your feet in walking over it, and j'ou will grow nothing 
but weeds. Summer fallows, however, are now but seldom made, unless 
in very unfavourable seasons. 
" The subsoil of the centre and level part of this district is a yellow 
clay, varying in its composition from a mild loam, or brick earth, to a 
strong adhesive tile clay, with here and there an admixture of sand. 
" The ordinary mode of farming is to lay the ground in ridges, called 
' half-rod lands,' or oftener ' five-bout lands,' with a round or swing- 
* Mr. George Colgate, Brockley Green Farm, Lewisham. 
