CHAPTER IV. 



SOILES. 



[THIS and the three succeeding chapters, on "Mineralls and Fossills," "Stones," and "Formed 

 Stones," comprise the Geological portions of Aubrey's work. In a scientific view, these chapters 

 may be regarded as of little value ; though creditable to their author as a minute observer, and 

 enthusiastic lover of science. It has been necessary to omit much which the progress of scientific 

 knowledge has rendered obsolete ; and in the passages quoted, the object has been to select such as 

 possessed the most general interest, as well as having direct application to Wiltshire. A good 

 summary of the Geological characteristics of the county will be found in the article "Wiltshire," 

 in the Penny Cyclopaedia. Mr. John Provis, of Chippenham, contributed a similar sketch to the 

 third volume of the Beauties of Wiltshire ; and the geology of Salisbury and its vicinity is described 

 in Hatcher's History of Salisbury, by the son of the historian, Mr. W. H. Hatcher. J. B.] 



Tins county hath great variety of earth. It is divided, neer about the middle, from east to west 

 into the downes ; commonly called Salisbury-plaine, which are the greatest plaines in Europe : and 

 into the rale ; which is the west end of the vale of Whitehorse. 



The vale is the northern part ; the soile whereof is what wee call a stone-brash ; sc. red earth, 

 full of a kind of tile-stone, in some places good tiles. It beareth good barley. In the west places of 

 the soile, wormewood growes very plentifully ; whereas in the south part they plant it in then- garden. 



The soile of Malmesbury hundred, which is stone-brash and clay, and the earth vitriolish, pro- 

 duces excellent okes, which seem to delight in a vitriolate soile, and where iron oare is. The clay and 

 stones doe hinder the water from sulking down, whereby the surface of the earth becomes dropsicall, 

 and beares mosse and herbs naturall to such moist ground. In the ploughed fields is plenty of 

 yarrow ; in the pasture grounds plenty of wood wax ; and in many grounds plenty of centaury, 

 wood sorrell, ladies' bed-straw, &c., sowre herbes. 



I never saw in England so much blew clay as in the northern part of this county, and it con- 

 tinues from the west part to Oxfordshire. Under the planke-stones is often found blew marie, 

 which is the best 



In Vernknoll, a ground belonging to Fowles-wick, adjoyning to the lands of Easton-Pierse, neer 

 the brooke and in it, I bored clay as blew as ultra-marine, and incomparably fine, without anything 

 of sand, &c., which perhaps might be proper for Mr. Dwight for lus making of porcilaine. It is 

 also at other places hereabout, but 'tis rare. 



