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homes of countless numbers of gulls, which seem to have a distinct 

 preference for dwelling in chalk cliffs. 



I have already referred to sheep rearing as characteristic of 

 chalk downs. Many of these districts have become world 

 renowned in their production of first class breeds. The South 

 Downs, The Cotswolds and The Leicesters have become par- 

 ticularly famous. Subsidiary industries naturally associated with 

 the raising of sheep have found a home and a workshop in the 

 surrounding districts. Thus it is that the chalk formations are 

 intimately connected with the manufacture of flannels and tweeds. 

 In this connection it is well to note the severance of the rearing 

 of sheep and the rearing of cattle. While there is much in 

 •common with the two industries, chalk does not supply the 

 necessary water for cows. Thus it is that pasturage for sheep 

 and cows is distinctly selective. Usually that suitable for cows 

 is at a lower level or in the river valleys, and this in its turn 

 earmarks distinctly the dairy farming of Cheshire and Devonshire 

 from the rearing of sheep. 



From the hygienic standpoint chalk and its overlying gravels 

 ■are distinctly pre-eminent for the invalid. The dry soil and the 

 brisk fresh air have been the means of restoration of health to 

 countless numbers of sufferers. Sanatoria for chest complaints 

 are common to chalk and gravelly formations, whilst situations on 

 or near the chalk have proved successful training grounds and 

 military camps. The knowledge of such matters, although not 

 distinctly formulated by them, was undoubtedly uppermost in the 

 mind of early man when he planned his village or encampment, as 

 evidenced by such remains as Stonehenge and " dewponds " so 

 familiar in the Downs. 



The rolling nature of the downs and the boldness and 

 regularity of their slopes, together with the contrast between 

 the white chalk and the green turf have given the idea of cutting 

 gigantic designs and figures upon the hillsides of the downs, such 

 as to-day are to be seen at Weymouth, The Vale of the White- 

 Horse, Old Sarum and elsewhere. 



The chalk cliffs from which our island has derived one of its 

 names and which are regarded as typically English form a very 

 small part of our English coastline. The actual areas are .those 

 from (i) Speeton to Bridlington; (2) part of the north coast of 

 Norfolk; (3) the Isle of Thanet ; (4) from Deal to Folkestone; (5) 

 part of Sussex ; (6) part of the Isle of Wight ; (7) part of Purbeck. 

 These are purely white chalk, elsewhere we have grey cliffs of 

 mountain limestone. As the whole of the successive early 

 invasions of Britain came from the East and South, the name was 

 justifiably applied since all these areas occur within these limits. 



Our mountain limestone is distinctly marked by glacial 

 striations, and this has assisted towards our national fertility in 

 no small degree. The soil and plant life need lime. Hence where 

 this is lacking the deficiency is artificially made up by sowing the 

 land with lime. The general tendency of the glacial action was to 



