Farming of Kent. 
281 
as already stated between the rag-stone and the chalk, which is 
of a stiff" adhesive texture, the oak abounds. 
in.— The Weald. 
This extensive district occupies the southern portion of the 
county, lying immediately under the Rag-stone-hill. It may be 
divided geologically into two parts, the Weald clay and the 
Hastings sand : the former is a low, level tract, resting on a gravel, 
or, more generally, strong yellow clay subsoil ; its natural drain- 
age being the Eden, the Beiilt, and the Medway. It varies in 
width from 3 to 6 or 7 miles ; and like all the other formations of 
this county, runs in the direction of east and west. The latter, or 
Hastings sand, consists of a series of alternations of sand, gravel, 
and clay, the surface being beautifully diversified and undulating. 
It occupies in this county about the same area as the Weald-clay 
valley, having the greatest width between Sandhurst and Bidden - 
den. The whole of this district is densely wooded, and produces 
oak timber of large dimensions and of the best quality. This 
portion of the county was, no doubt, the last that was settled, it 
being originally, as its name denotes, a forest. 
The soil in the Weald valley is pretty generally of a uniform 
quality, heavy and adhesive, except along the margin of streams, 
where a deeper soil obtains, resting frequently on gravel. The 
whole of this district would be immensely benefited by draining ; 
but certain parts are so flat that a sufficient outfall cannot in some 
instances be obtained. Ttie drainage of many portions of this 
level tract might be very much facilitated by improving the river 
Beult, by which an extensive area of country would be highly 
benefited. Hence the desirableness that the landowners of a 
whole district should unite for the promotion of a common object. 
That portion of the county resting on the Hastings-sand forma- 
tion presents few difficulties of this nature, the surface being 
generally much broken and undulating. 
One of the greatest improvements effected of late years through- 
out the Weald has been the making of better roads. Forty years 
ago a larg& portion of this entire district was destitute of hard 
roads; and, indeed, at a period much more recent the leading 
thoroughfares in many parishes were not passable but with the 
greatest difficulty, during one-half of the year. The old roads, a 
few of which yet remain, and serve as mementos of a by-gone age, 
were frequently of enormous widths, from 80 to 15U feet, and in 
wet weather they were made into a complete puddle by the poach- 
ing and cutting up of the clay by horses and waggons. A narrow 
path was usually made, and protected by stumps on one side, 
paved with stones or filled with sea-beach, for the accommodation 
of pedestiians and "pack-horses," upon whose backs alone agri- 
