7s
of the Crown 7s
Of every alhouse within the Borough 2s
Of every alhouse out of the Borough 12d
Of every alhouse at the chosing of the
Bayleffs, called knowledge money 1d
Of every alhouse as will unlisensed or
licinsed at every ffayr day every
on of them 1d."

The Bush is not mentioned by name; it was a mere alehouse. Soon it
became a full-grown inn, and the Georg, the Whit Hart and the Anteolop
paled their ineffectual hearths.

[Illustration: _Oasthouses near Farnham._]

Farnham was once the greatest market in England for wheat. Now the chief
industry is hops. Farnham hops are some of the best grown, and have
always fetched long prices. In Cobbett's day, Kentish hops averaged five
pounds a hundredweight, and Hampshire hops were about the same price;
Farnham hops fetched seven pounds. English hops to-day average perhaps
less than five pounds a hundred, and the hopgrower is in distress.
Eighty years ago he was being ruined. Cobbett makes up his accounts,
writing at Chilworth on Sept. 25, 1822:--

"The crop of hops has been very fine here, as well as every where
else. The crop not only large, but good in quality. They expect to
get _six_ pounds a hundred for them at Weyhill Fair. That is _one_
more than I think they will get. The best Sussex hops were selling
in the Borough of Southwark at three pounds a hundred a few days
before I left London. The Farnham hops _may_ bring double that
price; but that, I think, is as much as they will: and this is ruin
to the hop-planter. The _tax_, with its attendant inconveniences,
amounts to a pound a hundred; the picking, drying, and bagging to
50s. The carrying to market not less than 5s. Here is the sum of L3
10s. of the money. Supposing the crop to be half a ton to the acre,
the bare tillage will be 10s. The poles for an acre cannot cost less
than L2 a year; that is another 4s. to each hundred of hops. This
brings the outgoings to 82s. Then comes the manure, then come the
poor-rates, and road-rates, and county-rates; and if these leave one
single farthing for _rent_ I think it is strange."

Hop-buyers and sellers in those days met in the old Market House, and
were doubtless familiar with the queer inscription, still remembered by
middle-aged Farnham farmers. John Clark bu