SOIL 59 



Primrose McConnell makes the following remarks 

 on the subject: ' . . . The line of demarcation 

 between the brown clay of the Lias and the red 

 clay of the Keuper marl is in many places distinctly 

 seen across the fields. A clod picked up on the 

 Lias shows a laminated structure, while the other 

 shows no structure, the red land caking most after 

 rain. It (the Lias) is a soil that is suitable for the 

 growth of fruit, and the conversion of some of the 

 stiff land into fruit-gardens has been one of the 

 most notable things done in this line.' 



He alludes in a previous paragraph to the Lower 

 Lias being characterized generally as an 'unim- 

 provable stiff brown clay '; and further on says : 

 * Though the character of the soil is second-rate in 

 some places, yet it must be noted that there are one 

 or two Lower Lias clay districts which are noted 

 for their farming. The famous Vale of Evesham 

 is situated on this formation. . . .' He imputes the 

 variation in quality to ' the particular mixture with 

 adjacent beds which occurs in any given district in 

 the formation of the soil on the surface.' 



The general character of the Keuper marl is that 

 of a stiff red marly soil, and it is well known 

 wherever it is found as excellent farming land. 



There are, of course, many local variations in the 

 character of the soil, from veins of a gravelly and 

 sandier nature to those of a heavy cold blue clay. 

 It is interesting to notice how the cultivation of 

 these parts is varied to its particular requirements. 



The heavy clay is dug with a strong two -pronged 



