Farming of Kent. 
269 
Kirbv, Dartfortl, &c., lying on the sunny side of the chalk hill, like a 
forward border under the lee of a garden-wall. Its centre is watered 
by the Darwent, which rises near Westerham, and driving in its delight- 
ful course several mills, falls in with ' Old Father Thames' at Darlford. 
The soil is much diversified, and consequently the system of farming. 
Immediately at the foot of the chalk ridge is a tract of dry fertile land 
easily tilled and kept clean, and of sufficient staple to produce excellent 
crops ; it is somewhat intermixed with small stones (stone shattery), 
which in a great measure modifies its otherwise adhesive disposition. 
Next occurs a belt of land denominated ' black ground ' ( Gault), and 
surly ill-tempered stuff to be sure it is to move, frequently requiring six 
horses to get a ])lough through it, and from its adhesiveness the furrow 
is so muddled about that it is difficult to discover which way the plough 
has gone. When it is in a state between wet and dry the ploughman 
may do a day's work and never be able to see either share or chep ; and 
yet this land produces generally very good crops of wheat, beans, cloverr, 
tares, and oats. This soil ought to be worked with the patent cutting- 
plough and laid in ridges, instead of being, as it generally is, plougiied 
with the turn-wrist plough, and laid jjlain. It is far mure aifficult 
than a strong clay to work, and often suffers much from the treading of 
horses. 
" Hops are grown but rather partially all through the valley ; and with 
the increased attention paid of late to the cultivation, picking, and 
management, the growth of this district stands in rather high estimation 
in the Borough Market. The sorts mostly cultivated are, the 'Goldings,' 
' Grape,' ' Jones's,' ' Waring's Imperial Green,' raised by Mr. Waring 
of Shoreham nearly a century back, and the ' Colgate,' raised by my 
father, Mr. David Colgate of Chevening about forty years ago, from a 
single jjlant, probably a seedling which he found growing wild; and 
which are now extensively cultivated 'a, many parts of Kent and Sussex. 
They are found to be very productive, and to retain their colour and 
condition for late picking better than other sorts. 
'■ It has been found that the ' seed,' or male plant, increases the 
growth of the hops, and also the quantity or ' condition,' and conse- 
quently the weight of the crop ; a circumstance nut so generally attended 
to as it ought. 
" The north-western district has no great reputation for the breeding 
of cattle ; and the working of bullocks has almost entirely ceased. The 
Greenwich, Woolwich, Plumsted, and Erith marshes, are the only 
tract of land where grazing to any considerable extent is practised, 
and this chiefly for fattening, to which much of it is well adapted. The 
meadow -land which is interspersed in other parts is not famous for the 
growth and thrift of cattle. Those brought here from the breeding 
counties of Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, &c., are sure to deteriorate 
in their condition. Within 10 or 12 miles of London many milch cows 
are kept, chiefly short-horns. The milk is sent into ' town' by the 
farmer, or fetched from the 'barn' by the retail dealer, who usually 
assists the farmer or cowman in milking, thereby having an opportunity 
of seeing that the neat cattle yield neat milk, reserving to himself (if he 
should find it expedient) the business of rectification. The cows are 
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