Farming of Kent. 
287 
that the best manured and cultivated grounds fare the worst. 
The plants being more vigorous, and having a continued supply 
of nourishment, are enabled to sustain till a late period of the 
season a series of new and increasing generations of insects, 
whereas on more feeble plants, when early attacked, the insects 
die off soon in consequence of an exhaustion of food, and then, 
should the weather prove favourable, such plants may recover 
and produce a small crop. I have submitted to several ex- 
perienced planters the following estimate of the cost of raising 
and cultivating an acre of hops in the Weald of Kent, presuming 
the plantation to be in its full vigour, and the cultivation liberal. 
1. Raising the plantation : — 
Ploughing and subsoiling 
Harrowing .... 
Manure — 50 loads of dung, at 2s. 
Setting out hills 
Digging holes, and filling up will 
riants, 5000 at 6f/. per hundred 
Plantiiio; .... 
£. 
s. 
d. £. 
1 
10 
0 
0 
5 
0 
5 
0 
0 
0 
2 
6 
manure . 
1 
5 
0 
1 
5 
0 
0 
8 
0 
9 15 6 
1 5 0 
Expenses of planting 
Shimming, or horse-hoeing, 5 times . 
Four-ieet poles, one to each hill, and labour 0 5 0 
Chopping round the hills, at 8(/. per hundred 0 6 8 
Striking furrows and shovelling . .034 
Draining, 240 rods, at 9f/. . . .900 
Rent, taxes, and tithe . . . .200 
Total expense, first year . . 22 15 6 
2. Cost of cultivation from the second to the sixth year, both 
inclusive : — 
Striking up and furrowing , 
Stripping and stacking poles 
Digging, at 21c/. per hundred . 
Manure, carting on, &c. 
Dressing (prunnig), at (id. per hundred 
Sharpening poles and poling, l,v. Qd. per 
hundred ...... 
Tying, at \0d. per hundred 
Ladder tying ..... 
Chopping, at 9d. per hundred . 
Shimming (horse-hoeing) 5 times, rolling, &c. 
Hilling, at Zd. per hundred 
Setting up poles, and incidental expenses . 
Poles, carting on, &c. .... 
Rent and repairs to oast 
Rent, rates, and tithe .... 
Interest on capital, 30^. per acre 
Cost of cultivation per annum . . 26 13 4 
0 
5 
0 
0 
6 
6 
0 
n 
6 
8 
0 
0 
0 
5 
0 
0 
15 
0 
0 
8 
4 
0 
3 
0 
0 
7 
6 
1 
5 
0 
0 
2 
6 
0 
3 
0 
8 
10 
0 
1 
5 
0 
2 
10 
0 
1 
10 
0 
