Farming of Kent. 
301 
cultural produce generally. The amount of waste land enclosed 
since that period has been considerable. Numerous small patches 
along the sides of wide roads have been taken in. The principal 
enclosures made have been Cox Heath, near Maidstone, consist- 
ing of about 1300 acres : this was done in 1815. A large portion 
of this heath is now in fruit, hops, and arable culture ; but the 
poorer pastures are better fitted for the growth of chesnut for 
hop-poles — the most profitable culture to which the light stone- 
shattery soil can be devoted. I may also mention Sydenham 
and Bromley commons, also Bexley Heath, each consisting, 
]jerhaps, of about 400 to 600 acres. These being within a short 
distance of the metropolis, have been more or less built upon, and 
considerable improvements made in the appearance and cultivation 
of the land. There is now but little, if any, waste ground in the 
county that at present prices would pay for enclosing and culti- 
vating for corn ; small portions might perhaps be profitably de- 
voted to the growth of underwood, where a demand for hop-poles 
exists. 
The Commutation of Tithes and the Poor Law Amendment 
Acts have each operated beneficially on the agriculture of the 
county. Since the former act passed, more permanent and ex- 
pensive improvements have been already gone into ; a great deal 
of poor unproductive pasture has been broken up — a practice, 
there is reason to hope, that will progressively spread : * while the 
latter has not only reduced the formerly fearful amount of poor's 
rates, which in many parishes had swollen to an oppressive sum, 
but has tended to keep up a higher scale of wages, thereby render- 
ing labourers more independent, and promoting a better social 
feeling between them and their employers. The cottage allotment 
system is gradually spreading in tlie county ; Sir Edmund Fiimer, 
Bart., jM.P., has adopted it, upon rather an extensive scale, 
on his estate at East Sutton, with very satisfactory results. Tlie 
condition of the labourer — whether viewed physically, intellec- 
tually, or morally — has claims of paramount importance on public 
consideration. His interests, and those of the art he practises, are 
inseparable. 
The further improvement of the agriculture of this county 
must, in great measure, depend on carrying out fully the means 
already commenced — thorough draining, deep and clean culture, 
and the economising liquid manure, which is now so generally 
suffered to run to waste. It is a fact deeply to be regretted, that 
in all our large towns so many fertilizing agents are suffered by 
* "A fair commutation for tithe is the measure best calculated for the 
improvement of this county." — Boys' s Report on the Agriculture of Kent. 
Fii-st Edition, 1796. 
Y 2 
