278 
Farming of Kent. 
on the farm, with slated roofs. The doors and gates are not hung 
upon hinges, but shde upon wheels on an iron rail. 
The total cost of the homestead, which is throughout of a most 
substantial character, and does great credit to the builder, Mr. 
William Mair, of West Mailing, was 2270^. There are always 
several expenses incidental to the carrying out of a new design, 
which subsequent experience would obviate. The same accom- 
modation might be provided for a smaller sum by adopting a less 
expensive styJe of finish, that would be equally well suited to the 
wants of a tenant. 
I ougiit not to conclude this brief and imperfect description 
without a distinct allusion to Lord Torrington's zeal and liberality 
in promoting agricultural improvement. The completion of the 
homestead was celebrated by a splendid entertainment, such as I 
could wish to see more common in England; his lordship invited 
upwards of five hundred farmers of the county, besides some dis- 
tinguished agriculturists from different parts of tlie kingdom, to 
inspect the buildings. Such an occasion I regard as furnishing 
an interesting and hopeful page in the agricultural history of 
Kent. 
The district of Mid-Kent supplies Covent-garden market with 
probably near two-thirds of home-grown fruit, — a few miles 
south of Maidstone, comprising the parishes of Barming, the Far- 
leighs, the Suttons, Loose, Boughton, Linton, Ike , being the best 
adapted localities. It is a frequent practice to raise a hop, apple, 
and filbert plantation simultaneously on the same ground. The 
soil is frequently trenched 18 inches deep; sixty apple trees are 
usually planted on an acre, fdled up widi hops and filberts. The 
hops are beneficial to the young fruit trees by the shelter they 
afford, and with the thorough cultivation and manuring which 
the ground receives, tend to bring the trees to early maturity. 
The hops usually stand about 14 years, when they are taken up 
to allow more room for the trees; the filberts in general will 
require to be removed in about 25 years, when the fruit-trees will 
need the whole of the ground. Tiie favourite sorts of apples are 
the Rihstone Pij}pin, Nonpareil, King's Pippin, Quarrentine 
(Red), Winter Queening, Goff (great and sure bearers). Golden 
Nobs, Wellington, Rayners, Farleigh Pippin, Gooseberry Pippin 
(an excellent late apple). Silver Russett, Golden Pi]jpi7i, Five 
Crowns, Blenheim Oratige, &c. 
Pears require the land tilled whilst young, but when arrived at 
maturity they bear and do well in pasture. I will mention the 
plan of the late well-known J, Braddick, Esq., of Boughton 
Mount, who was celebrated for his knowledge of fruit, particularly 
pears. His son, the present J. W. Braddick, Esq., scarcely ever 
fails to obtain the prizes at the horticultural show for pears, which 
