270 
Farming of Kent. 
(a thing not usual with the London cow-keepers) calved in as long as 
their age and constitution admit, and are afterwards fattened. They are 
kept at grass during summer, and on roots, hay, and grains from the 
breweries and distilleries in the winter. It is foimd that the quantity of 
milk is much increased by keeping the cows in a warm sheltered shed, 
instead of being exposed, as is too much the case in some districts, in 
open yards. By keeping them warm they do better on less food. Fur- 
tiier from London the milk is made into butter, or is used in fattening 
calves for the London market." 
The rate of wages in the Holniesdale district is usually 12.9. a 
week; bj' piece work, however, the labourer gets more, I4s. to \Q>s. 
In the Lewisham level, 1 5s. a week for good workmen is common ; 
and for piece-work the average earnings may be stated at 18*. 
These prices have varied but little for the last quarter of a century. 
Threshing is generally done by the flail, and paid for by the 
quarter, sometimes by the truss of straw produced. For wheat, 
from 5s. to 6s. a quarter, including the binding of the straw, 
which is done in the most neat and workmanlike manner for the 
London market. For Lent corn, from 2s. 6(7. to 3s. 6(/. a quarter ; 
when done by the truss, as is the case in threshing rye, and some- 
times wheat, from 2d. to 2^(?. per truss is about the usual price. 
The old custom of giv ing labourers beer has here, as in most 
other parts of the county, been generally discontinued, except per- 
haps during hay-making and harvest. 
IL — The Green-sand Formation — (provincially, Kentish Rag.) 
This formation occupies a central position, and runs through 
the county parallel with the chalk-hill, in a direction nearly east 
and west. It varies much in breadth, from 3 to 6 or 7 miles; its 
greatest development being between Peckham and Snodland. Like 
that of the chalk, its southern slope is the steepest, overlooking 
the valleys formed by the Medway (in part), the Eden, and the 
Beult. The soil on this formation, of course, varies; but it may 
be said generally to be of an open friable character, containing 
much calcareous matter; in some places abounding in small stones 
formed by the abrasion of the subjacent rock : it is easily culti- 
vated, requiring in most places little or no underdraining, and is 
highly productive in corn, vegetables, hops, and fruit. 
There is a narrow belt of land lying between the green-sand 
and the chalk, already briefly adverted to, which seems to require 
a more distinct notice, since its agricultural character and manage- 
ment are widely different from either — the Gault. 
It consists of a dark-bluish clay, exceedingly heavy and adhesive, 
its particles being of an impalpable nature. A favourable section 
of this formation may be seen in the cliff facing the sea at Folkes- 
stone — a spot celebrated for the beauty and perfection of its fossils. 
