o70 Studies on the Palmozoid Soih of North Wales 



Wind-hlown Sands. 



These are well developed in North Wales. In South Carnarvonshire 

 such sands are found between Criccieth and Portmadoc and at intervals 

 to the west, notably near Pwllheli and Abersoch. The greatest develop- 

 ment of blown sand is seen along the south coast of Anglesey and 

 the Carnarvonshire coast immediately opposite. Small dunes are also 

 found near Deganwy. The great sand areas of Flintshire, not being 

 associated with Palaeozoic soils, fall outside the scope of the present 

 paper. 



Cultivation on the wind-blown sands is confined to Morfa Bychan 

 between Criccieth and Portmadoc and in the vicinity of Newborough 

 in Anglesey, where small market garden holdings occur. How far this 

 cultivation might be extended it is hard to say, but the following 

 analyses are instructive. A 51 is a soil from a small holding near 

 Newborough where passable crops of potatoes and carrots are grown. 

 It is typical of a small and fairly prosperous group of holdings. A2 is 

 a sample of soil from the adjacent Newborough warren covered by a 

 thin vegetation of Salix repens and other sand plants. 



A 51 A 2 



It would certainly appear remarkable that a soil containing over 

 90 % of coarse sand should be able to furnish a livelihood. Two cir- 

 cumstances may be mentioned in explanation. The rainfall is about 

 35 inches per annum and also there is a permanent water-table within 

 three or four feet of the surface^. 



1 Cf. Jean Jonescu, AgricuUura Romdna, "Les qualites du sol varicnt d'apres le climat : 

 par exemple, un terrain sablonneux et brulant produit de bonnes rccoltes dans la zone 

 montagneuse ou il pleut suffisamment, tandis que dans la region des jjlaines, il ne produit 

 rien." 



