278 Further Studies on the Soils of North Wales 



farming approximates more and more to the Cliesliire and north Shrop- 

 shire type. These soils are in fact not so characteristic of Wales as 

 some of the other soils studied. Although of external origin, they appear 

 to be generally composed of material from the Coal Measures. The 

 heavier soils of the detached portion of Flintshire have the reddish 

 appearance of soils composed of Triassic material. 



They are not markedly stony, although often described as Boulder 

 Clay. The subsoils are rather stiff and compact. The figures given for 

 the main type are the average of nine analyses. It will be observed 

 that the}' do not indicate a v^ery stiff soil but rather a heavy loam, 

 which, in the wetter districts, may present all the difSculties of a clay. 

 The proportion of clay in the subsoils is considerably higher than in the 

 soils. The figures for potash are not particularly high. Three soils 

 from the detached portion of Flintshire (Maelor) are separately averaged. 

 They are considerably heavier and contain high proportions of potash. 

 While the eastern type is generally lacking in calcium carbonate, there 

 are a few samples which contain small amounts of this constituent. 



The heavier drift soils of west Carnarvonshire are relatively of such 

 little importance that they have not been separately averaged, but the 

 results are shown in the table for heavier drift soils. 



(h) Vale of Clwyd type. 



The soil is somewhat stifEer than the other type and is the heaviest 

 soil encountered in North Wales so far. It can, in fact, be described as 

 a clay soil. It is of a reddish colour except where the natural colour 

 is masked by much organic matter. It is probably mainl)' composed 

 of Triassic material^. 



The Vale of Clwyd has a high reputation for fertilit)^ which may be 

 attributed partly to the climate, which is distinctly drier than the other 

 districts, and partly to the general level character of the ground. The 

 Vale is certainly earlier than the adjoining uplands and has a general 



1 It has been suggested that this clay is a deposit carried from the north and deposited 

 from melting icebergs. However this may be, I have noted the same depo.sit in Carnarvon- 

 shire and it has been found by others-in Anglesey. In the former county, at the College 

 farm, Aber near Bangor, there is a deposit of clay about 18 inches or more from the surface 

 in all respects similar to the Vale of Clwyd type. Dr G. H. Bryan, F.R.S., has distinguished 

 fragments of foraminifera in tliis clay but was not able to name them.. Foraminifera 

 have also been foimd in the Clwydian clay. The clay in the Bangor and Aber district is 

 everywhere obscured by local drift. I have al.so noticed it in a cutting near Penmaen- 

 mawr. G. W. R. 



See "Drifts of the Vale of Clwyd, etc." T. McKenny Hughes, Q.J.G.S., Feb., 1887. 



