S72 Kemarks vpon the inferior Strata of the Earth 



scarcely a turnpike gate in tlie country, they resemble more 

 the walks in a garden or a pleasure-ground than a high- > 

 Avay. 



This mass of sammel is covered by the soil of the coun- 

 try, licnerallv a light hazle mould, produced by the remain* 

 ot decayed vegetables, and what manure has been added by 

 culture, it is however in general thin and stony. Some 

 idea may be formed of its nature, by observing the brooks 

 and rivers after the heaviest and longest coniinued rains. 

 They are auginenled in bulk, but no alteration takes place 

 in their transparency: clear as crystal, the smallest pebble 

 may be still seen in their bottoms. 



The lower grounds are fertile, and the frequent showers 

 which are attracted by the lotty mountains contribute much 

 to the growth of wood and grass, but render it less eligible 

 as a corn country. 



No marl is found in this district ; consequently the sy- 

 stem of manuring is reduced to lime, dung, and the ashes 

 ot turf and [)eat, (the principal fuel of the country,) found 

 ID be a great fertilizer. Lime is expensive, as the coals 

 with which it is burned must be fetched from a distance of 

 more than twenty miles by land carriage, or obtained by 

 shipping at the rate of 25,5. per ton. But where it has been 

 used, it has been spoken of as highly advantageous in im- 

 proving both the quantity and quality of the grass. 



A coarse clay is found in some places, which has been 

 spread with advantage upon the meadow land, improving 

 the soil by givino it a consistency which enables it the bet- 

 ter to retain the manine that may be spread ujion it. 



A capper mine has been worked at intervals for many 

 centuries in the mountains at the head of Co??7/7,y/o«e Lake : 

 at present it is discontinued, although lately in the hands 

 of some spirited and inttlliiient adventurers. 



Some of the most consicler;.ble quarries of Ihte slate m 

 the kingdom are in this district. It is found in various 

 places in the mountains, and brought down partly by land 

 and parily by water carriage, and shipped either at Penny- 

 Bridiie or in the river Duddcn. 



il. On enterina the //wt.^/07/e if/\s/?7'ci;, a remarkable dif- 

 ference niay be observed in the form of the summits of the 

 mountains ; those in that which we have just quitted 

 having a sharp s^'rrated outline; while the limestone rocks, 

 lying mostly in horizontal strata, have one that is flatter 

 and smoother, with generally a precipice on one of the 

 sides; and being of a more compact structure, they do not 

 so readily admit the roots of trees to insinuate themstlves 



into 



