670 ANNALS OF

one year seemingly without any effect. To Boxley, through a woody district. Some very strong fields of wheat. From Boxley Hill a fine view down on the middle of Kent. Below the hill some barley looks yellow, and foul with charlock: a summer fallow with much of that weed, in full bloom, a disgrace to Kentish hus- bandry!. Cherries on gravelly soil; thin of fruit. Hops half way up the poles; very strong; two flies on a leaf; a strong symptom of an approaching blight. Apples have blown very well about Maidstone; but. within these few days struck with a sudden blight, and all hopes of a crop entirely vanished, Cherries and fil- berts also, ashort crop. To Wateringbury and back to Sittingbourn, through Stockbury valley too dark to make any. observations.

May 30. From Sittingbourn home. The crops of beans exceedingly strong and perfectly clean: a fine contrast to the slovenly broad cast culture of other counties! Wheat a fine colour, but thin at some places; corn in general much finer in East Kent than any I have seen. Hops in great luxuriance at Canterbury. Arrive at home to dinner, and then walk to see some of my own crops; find them amazingly improved during ten days absence,