58 THE EVESHAM DISTRICT 



Climatic Conditions. 



The extreme suitability of this district for garden 

 cultivation is primarily, no doubt, due as much to 

 its altitude and sheltered situation as to the character 

 of its soil, for it is found to be a fortnight earlier 

 than other districts of the same soil in more elevated 

 counties. The vales of the Severn and the Avon 

 are not much above sea-level, and the adjoining 

 uplands not more than 100 to 200 feet in altitude. 

 The lower-lying lands suffer extremely from late 

 frosts ; and it is a mere lottery whether a good 

 show of blossom means a good harvest of fruit. 

 Most of the men endeavour to get a piece of light 

 land if their other land is heavy, and vice versa. 

 In a bad season it often occurs that one piece is 

 a failure and the other a success on account of 

 frosts, drought, etc. The variety of crops, also, 

 which the Evesham gardener grows on his land 

 saves him from the entire ruin which would often 

 ensue if he had all his eggs in one basket. It is in 

 this particular, no doubt, that the naturally fertile 

 character of the soil stands him in good stead, as it 

 enables him to crop the land very heavily with rapid 

 successions. High manuring and thorough cultiva- 

 tion, however, must be given its due place in this 

 connection also. 



Soil. 



The geological formation of the Vale of Evesham 

 is partly Keuper marl and partly Lias clay. 



In his book on 'Agricultural Geology,' Mr. 



