44 THE PRINCIPLES OF 



character of the soil. The indications of fertility are so 

 evident that the man who has his attention drawn to them 

 may judge land to a certain extent out of the railway carriage 

 window at express speed. For instance, the general contour 

 of the country gives a fair presumption about land. The 

 indications of fertility and of barrenness are very numerous, 

 and no indication can be taken as conclusive in itself. They 

 must be taken each in connection with others. The contour 

 of the country is an indication of fertility. Precipitous 

 broken ground is not promising ; sometimes fertile nooks and 

 corners occur, but a mountainous, rocky, precipitous, highly 

 picturesque country is not likely to impress the agriculturist 

 with a sense of its fertility. But, on the other hand, gentle 

 slopes, and especially flat tracts, give presumably an idea of 

 a fertile country ; especially is this the case where we have 

 what are called alluvial tracts, either extending from the 

 coast or accompanying the course of rivers. 



I have often come to the conclusion in rapid travelling 

 that land is stiff or light by the mode in which the ridges are 

 laid out. If we see round-backed ridges about three or four 

 yards across we shall be impressed with the idea that we are 

 going through a stiff land district ; but if, on the other hand, 

 the land is laid out in wide ridges, we are probably going 

 through a light land district. I mention this because I have 

 spoken of certain indications which are to be noticed in a 

 very cursory inspection. 



A well-wooded country is generally a fertile country. We 

 must not expect to find well-grown timber on chalky downs 

 or open wolds. A tree is there a scarce article, and it is very 

 often a weather-beaten, poorly developed specimen. At the 

 homesteads and on the village green it is different. Home- 

 steads are generally fertile, even in districts of poor soils; 

 and the village green is rich through its long association with 

 human habitations. On fertile land we shall find elms, oak, 



