Farming of Kent. 
271 
Although a heavy and stubborn soil, yet when judiciously managed 
and in good seasons, this land produces large crops of wheat, 
beans, clover, and oats. On both of its sides, however, imme- 
diately adjoining, may be found the materials for ameliorating its 
texture, and permanently raising the standard of its fertility — the 
chalk and the green-sand. With a proper admixture of these 
materials, in connexion with under-draining and strict attention to 
ditches and water-courses, this belt of land might be rendered far 
more productive. At present it consists mostly of pasture. 
We now come to describe the agriculture on the green-sand, or 
Kentish-rag. The etistern portion of this district varies consider- 
ably in the nature and composition of the soil. About Sandgaie, 
Cheriton, Hythe, Saltwood, &c., much of the land is of a very 
light texture, exceedingly well adapted for turnips and barley, 
large breadths of which are cultivated, and great numbers of sheep 
are bred and fattened. This soil is benefited by the treading of 
animals, particularly for wheat ; hence the sheep-fold is universal. 
There are portions of land, however, of a heavier texture, abound- 
ing in springs, where underdraining would be highly beneficial. 
In the neighbourhood of Ashford this certain means of agricultural 
improvement has been increasingly applied within the last ten 
years upon gravels resting on a substratum of clay ; the depths of 
drains varying from 3 to 6 feet, made either with tiles or stones. 
On the lighter soils of good quality the seven-field course is fre- 
quently adopted, not however without many variations. 
1. Fallow for turnips, manured generally with dung ; 2. Barley ; 
3. Beans, with a dressing of dung ; 4. Wheat; 5. Clover ; 6. Wheat, 
manured; 7. Oats. 
This rotation is foimd to answer \\e\\ on the farm of Mr. Walter 
Murton, East Stour, Ashford. Average of wheat about 4 qrs. ; 
barley, 5 qrs. ; beans and peas, 4 qrs. ; oats, 6 or 7 qrs, ; Swedes, 
300 to 500 bushels per acre. Farms vary from 100 to 250 acres ; 
generally yearly hirings. Rents about 305. ; tithes, 6s. ; rates, 3.y. 
per acre. 
The district known as Mid-Kent, in which is situated the county 
town of Maidstone, presents several interesting and remarkable 
features. Taking its agricultural resources altogether, the range 
and variety of its produce, there cannot be found any spot to com- 
pare with it in the United Kingdom. It has been truly desig- 
nated "the garden of England.^' I have been favoured with 
much interesting and vahiable matter from practical farmers 
residing in this district, of which 1 propose maUing a free use. 
One of my correspondents, a gentleman long acquainted with the 
district now under review, writes as follow : * — 
* Mr. Robert Golding, Hunton. 
