1922.] The Agricultural Value of Sea- Sand. 599 



second or third year of the hfe of the pasture a more frequent use 

 of sea-sand (or ether form of Hme) is desirable. In one district 

 (Eoche) where the results of applying sea-sand to a temporary 

 pasture have been particularly striking, there has been a very 

 great increase in the amount carted during the past season. 



Of the mechanical effect of the sea-sand one need say but 

 Httle, as the majority of the soils on the north side of the county 

 watershed are on the light side and consequently the texture is 

 not improved by the addition of such coarse material. In connec- 

 tion with this one must remember the heavy rainfall of the 

 county, averaging not less than 40 in. 



The importance of sea-sand to the Cornish farmer lies in the 

 fact that the county is destitute of limestone except for one or 

 two very small patches — remnants perhaps of the bed of White 

 Chalk v>^hich probably covered a large part of the county at one 

 time. The soils of the county are generally acid, being very 

 deficient in carbonate of lime, and the whole of the burnt lime 

 and limestone used on the land has to be brought by rail from 

 South Devon or Somerset. The cost of the burning and subse- 

 quent carriage makes it very expensive, and thus enhances the 

 value of the sea-saiid. 



Immense quantities of blown sand are found on many parts 

 of the coast-line of England, as North Devon, Pembroke, 

 Glamorgan, Anglesey, Lancashire. IjincoJnshire, Norfolk, Suf- 

 folk, etc., and it would, at least, be interesting to compare the 

 composition of some of these with that of the North coast of 

 Cornwall and to ascertain what use, if any, is being made of the 

 sand agriculturally. Such an exchancfe of ideas and facts could 

 not but be beneficial to all concerned. 



