522 Reviews—J.V. Elsden—Agricultural Geology of Herts. 
Nature of Soil. Acres Probable Geological Origin. 
occupied. 
Waoamy clay..cct.ccs.---20ese snes 132818 Great Chalky Boulder-clay of East Anglia, 
except on the north of the Chalk escarp- 
ment, on the outcrop of the Gault. 
Wellowrclay-cv.cccesseee sete ee cs 5365 London Clay. 
Blue Pebbles and Clay ...... 5851 Drift, derived from Woolwich-and-Reading 
beds. 
Tenacious clay ...:........... 20198 London Clay. 
Blinky l0am'e Vee. ssd notes occt 57802 Disintegration of the Chalk; Clay-with- 
flints; and Drift. 
Nandy loamy. Mreiecseecee 13340 Alluvium of the Lea. 
Mixed soils; clay, sand, . 66080 Drift, derived from the Lower Tertiaries, 
oravel reee. o.8 ae eee also the Clay-with-flints. 
Gravelly soil” soi secesececsscsn- 35647 Mid-glacial sands and gravels and alluvial 
rayels. 
Chalksseil) ae ee eee 32834 Dendeceation of the Chalk. 
Peat or marshy soil ...... bes 3000 Alluvium of existing rivers. 
Mixed stony soil............... 14550 Glacial Drift and Clay-with-flints. 
The firestone and phosphatic nodules of the Upper Greensand,— 
the flint, the Totternhoe building-stone, and lime got from the Chalk, 
—the brick-clays, sand, and cement-stones of the Hocene Tertiaries, 
—and the younger brick-earths and gravels, are noticed as the 
economic products of the rocks of the County. _ 
An interesting comparison of agricultural results obtained in ten 
Counties of South-east England and two others (Wilts and Hants) 
is given in a tabulated form. These Counties geologically consist 
largely of Cretaceous, Hocene, and Drift deposits. Cambridgeshire 
and Wilts have a larger per-centage of land devoted to agricultural 
purposes than Hertfordshire; but this County ranks with the Hastern 
Counties generally as the largest corn-growing district in England, 
owing almost entirely to the nature of its Drift deposits and the 
comparative dryness of its climate. Clover and rotation grasses are 
in less quantity than in Norfolk and Suffolk, so also turnips and 
beans. Herts is also low as to acreage of permanent pasture, the 
Chalk not being bare, and thus not forming “Downs.” In the 
south portion, however, and still further in Middlesex, the London 
Clay carries rich hay-farms. The valley of the Lea has market- 
gardens and nurseries on its fertile alluvium. Arable culture, 
especially with barley, and hence with an extensive malting business, 
occupies the Boulder-clay district in the eastern part of the county ; 
whilst the wheat-growing heavy loamy district in the north has led. 
to the manufacture of straw-plait around Luton and St. Albans. 
In alluding to the influence which the nature and features of a 
country have upon the industries and character of its inhabitants, 
the author observes with truth that “the history of every nation has 
its natural beginning on the soil upon which it has sprung up; 
geological influences from the beginning have impressed their stamp 
upon it, and have determined, in a great measure, even its social and 
political position.” PE. 
