

ENGLISH AGEICULTURE. 81 



through Yorkshire York itself occupying an important 

 central position, and in mid- Yorkshire the soils are spoken 

 of as being of a mixed character, varying from clayey soils 

 to blowing sands. 



In South Yorkshire the new red sandstone is masked by 

 alluvial deposit, which alters its general character. In tho 

 county of Nottingham it forms an excellent agricultural 

 tract, which contrasts favourably with the neighbouring 

 coal-fields, and it is here that four ducal properties meet, 

 known as the " Dukeries." The city of Nottingham is the 

 most southerly point of the Yorkshire and Nottingham coal- 

 fields, and at Nottingham the new red sandstone formation 

 suddenly increases in width, forming a considerable portion 

 of the Midlands of England. 



This formation gives soils of a high average fertility in the 

 county of Derbyshire, contrasting favourably with the locality 

 known as the Peak, and forming the district known as the 

 Garden of Derbyshire; it yields a fine agricultural tract in 

 the county of Staffordshire, superior agriculturally to the 

 potteries and coal-fields of the black country. 



In Leicestershire it furnishes a fine tract of agricultural 

 land of better quality than the soils of the coal-fields of the 

 county. In Warwickshire it produces that remarkably fine 

 'ertile country round Warwick, Leamington, and Kenilworth, 

 nown as the " Heart of England." I suppose there is no 

 ner district for the tourist and agriculturist than this. There 

 e have an exceedingly fertile soil, partly due to the new 

 sandstone, and partly due to the lias clay. In Worcester- 

 ire, also, we have a fine tract of ground, lying upon new 

 sandstone, adapted for orchards, and once more we find 

 .he hop-plant thriving in the county of Worcestershire and 

 up to the city of Worcester. In Shropshire the new red sand- 

 stone yields soils of excellent character, and in the county 

 of Cheshire it gives us the foundation for the well-known 



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