PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE EAST RIDING. 



THE connection between plants and the soil upon which 

 they grow is so close that a sketch of the geological 

 and geographical features of the East Riding is 

 necessar)'. Although the least of the three divisions into 

 which the "broad acred shire " has been artificially cut up 

 for the last thousand years, the Riding is, nevertheless, 

 of considerable extent, and much larger than several of 

 the English counties. In the north-east of England it is 

 that tract of land situated between the parallels of latitude 

 (53° 34' '^"<1 54° 12' N.), and between the meridians of 

 longitude (0° 10' E., and 1° 8' W.). Roughly oblong in 

 shape, save for the south-eastern prolongation known as 

 Spurn — a spit of sand and gravel partially damming the 

 H umber and extending for nearly four miles to its termina- 

 tion at Spurn Head — the Riding is 45 miles from west to 

 east, 35 from north to south, and has an area of 750,055 

 acres (approximately 1172 square miles). Washed through- 

 out the whole length of its eastern side by the waters of the 

 North Sea, it has a coast-line from Filey to Spurn Head of 

 about 50 miles, including the fine bays of Filey and Bridlington. 

 The River Derwent, the main left bank tributary of the 

 Yorkshire Ouse, during much of its upper course, separates 

 the East from the North Riding. The Ouse, from the 

 vicinity of the city of York to the town of Selby, divides 

 from the Ainsty and the West Riding, whilst the southern 

 boundary separating the East Riding from Lincolnshire is 

 the magnificent estuary of the Humber. The general 

 surface is not marked by such great diversity as that which 

 obtains in either of the other Ridings. There is not a 

 mountain or many high hills ; in fact, comparatively little 

 inequality or unevenness of any kind. Nevertheless, the East 



