6 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF LEICESTER AND DISTRICT 
These two valleys with their adjacent lowlands divide the region into 
three regions of upland—the Charnian mass to the west, the Melton Ridge 
to the north-east, and the Jurassic uplands to the east. Along the river 
valleys, between the river valleys and the uplands, and, in some cases, 
surrounding, penetrating, and overriding the uplands, are the great grass- 
lands for which Leicestershire has become justly famed. 'To west of the 
Charnwood Forest the low ground is occupied by the Leicestershire 
coalfield stretching north-westward towards Burton. 'To the extreme 
south-east around the headwaters of the river Welland lie the rich 
grasslands of Market Harborough. 
Broadly speaking, the underlying structure of the region is a fairly simple 
arrangement of clays, marlstones, sandstones, and limestones running in 
bands from south-west to north-east and dipping eastward. ‘They are 
mostly of Triassic, Jurassic, and more recent origin. ‘To west of the Soar 
valley, projecting through these younger rocks, are the coal measures form- 
ing the Leicestershire coalfield, and the ancient volcanic materials of 
which the rocky peaks and ridges of the Charnwood area are formed. 
These older materials have been partly buried in the marls of Triassic age. 
To east of the river Soar a low escarpment of limestone (Rhetic) forms 
the high ground overlooking the city. ‘To east of it a long sweep of clay 
country (the Lower Lias) rises to the foot of the marlstone escarpment, 
beyond which lie the grassland uplands capped with clays. This marl- 
stone country also forms the Melton Ridge whose escarpment looks down 
steeply on to the clay-covered grasslands of the Vale of Belvoir. The 
eastern part of the Jurassic uplands round Uppingham is capped with 
Northampton sandstone, while the eastern part of the Melton Ridge is 
capped partly with the Northampton sandstone and partly with the Lincoln- 
shire limestone. From the standpoint of soils the position is complicated 
by widespread deposits of chalky boulder clay. This occupies the surface 
of much of the Melton Ridge, the Jurassic uplands, and the lowlands 
between the river flood plains and the upland edges. 
In our brief survey of the districts which make up the Leicester region 
we may usefully begin with the grasslands. Our justification may be that 
out of the land available for crops and grazing in the county approximately 
five-sixths is under grass, some of which is claimed to be the best grassland 
in England. As nearly two-thirds of the value of English agricultural 
produce is derived from grassland farming, the importance of Leicester- 
shire in this connection will be realised. ‘The Leicestershire farmer 
contributes largely to the milk, cheese, beef and mutton supply of England. 
The Leicestershire grassland is a perennial resource which does not 
become exhausted as does land under crops, nor worked out as do areas 
from which minerals are obtained. Its fertility is maintained through 
the droppings of the live stock coupled with a winter rest period. Efforts 
are, however, being made to increase its yield. Experiments show that 
under favourable conditions grassland yield can be increased up to 
50 per cent. with modern methods. The development of better types of 
grass, the application of fertiliser, and even simple harrowing, all help to 
increase the yield. 
As we have already seen, the Vale of Belvoir to north of the Melton 
