2/4 
Farming of Kent. 
have been in pretty general use for the last 1 5 or 20 years. The 
cost is from \Qd. to \s. 2d. a bushel, according to the supply and 
the point of the Medway where they are unshipped ; from 50 to 
70 bushels are applied per acre for hops, and about a third less 
for corn and turnips. Rape-dust has been for some time in use 
for the same purposes, but generally in summer culture ; while 
guano and bone-dust have been used with general satisfaction. 
Irrigation is not carried out systematically to any considerable 
extent in this county, although it is practised in some places. Its 
adoption might be extended to many localities with great advan- 
tage; care being taken not to flow the land in summer where 
sheep are kept, as they would be exposed to that fatal malady the 
rot. About Edenbridge and other western parts of the county 
there are many instances to be seen of conducting water over 
grass land by " catch work/' or a few simple cuttings. The waters 
of the Darwent are frequently employed for the purpose of irriga- 
tion in various places along its course. Lord Torrington has very 
satisfactorily introduced the system on the land in his own occupa- 
tion. Mr. Gokling, of Hunton, has been at considerable pains and 
expense in conducting a small stream over his meadows with most 
satisfactory results. I may also mention Leeds Abbey farm, 
where irrigation has been beneficially carried on from time imme- 
morial ; perhaps from the time when the land was held by the 
monks, who, it is pretty certain, despite of all the abuse that has 
been heaped upon their memory, were the great agricultural im- 
provers of their age. The Kentish irrigators might learn some 
useful lessons by an inspection of the water-meadows in our 
western counties. 
Of the breeds of cattle in Mid-Kent but very little can be said; 
they are a most heterogeneous mixture of various kinds : some 
adhere to the Sussex breed. Mr. E. Beard, of Broughton Mon- 
chelsea, and Mr. T. Martin, of East Peckham, may be mentioned 
as producing very fine animals. Lord Torrington, Mr. Tassell, 
of Mailing, and Mr. Golding-, have of late introduced some excel- 
lent animals of the pure short-horn — an example, it is much to, be 
desired, that will spread. Of sheep, this district has two kinds, 
Kents and South- Downs. The former consist principally of 
Mr. Goord's variety, and carry off the palm. The Downs are, 
however, in many respects well adapted to the district, being better 
to work in the fold than the Kents, and produce a very fine wool 
and exquisitely flavoured mutton. The breeds of swine have very 
much improved of late years, Mr. Beard, of Boughton, having 
some very fine specimens. 
Among the enterprising cultivators of Mid-Kent we may in- 
stance Lord Torrington, of Votes Court, Mereworth, who has 
within a few years done nmch to improve both the agriculture 
