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DISTRICT OF CANTERBURY. 407

PICKING. The season of picking usually commences, here, some days later, than in West Kent. In a common year, the picking becomes general, about the lat- ter end of the first week of September: in 1795,not generally until thefourteenth: the first piece was begun upon, on the tenth. This comparative backwardness is to be accounted for, in the Canterbury grounds lying to the north of the Chalk Hills, and in their being exposed to the north and east winds; while the same range of hills rises, as a lofty skreen to the Maidstone planta- tions.

In the BUSINESS OF PICKING there is a notable difference, between the practices of East and West Kent. Instead of employ- ing the bins, bin-cloths, and measure, of the latter, the poles are here set up, ina leaning posture, against tall tressils—pro- vincially«horses;”’—under which large BASKETS, holding five bushels each, are placed, to receive the hops, as they are picked; and, on the inside of each basket, circles, or dots, are painted, at measured distances; so that each space between them shall comprize exactly one bushel of hops;

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