Farming of Lincolnshire. 



273 



has been described as mainly consisting' of diluvial deposits^* but 

 the stratified beds have also been found there, for on boring 

 through the alluvial lands a stratum of sand is met with imme- 

 diately beneath them ; this rests upon a bed of clay, which finally 

 reposes on the chalk. These beds are undoubtedly the lower 

 members of the plastic clay formation, being disposed horizontally, 

 while the chalk below dips slightly to the east 5 yards per mile. 

 This has been mentioned as a confirmation of the following state- 

 ments respecting the very similar tract in Lincolnshire ; the two 

 districts being divided merely by the denudation of the Humber. 

 As the chalk dips under the clays and marshes great numbers of 

 wells have been sunk down to it in order to obtain good water with 

 little trouble, and the purest fresh water rises plentifully through 

 the borings to the level of the surface. In some localities, indeed, 

 there are natural shafts called " blow wells," as near Tetney, which 

 furnish an unceasing supply of water from the chalk beneath. 

 The beds of alluvial deposit and of the clay have thus been pene- 

 trated at many points, and their nature and depth made known. 

 The clay, which has many sand-beds in it, is generally of a reddish 

 brov/n colour, containing small pebbles, and resting upon a bed 

 of flinty gravel. Its thickness increases from a few feet near the 

 edge of the chalk to about 20 yards where it underlies the marshes ; 

 and near the sea- bank at Saltfieet, Sutton, and other places, it is 

 about 13 yards from the surface. At Steeping, near the southern 

 extremity of the tract, the clay lies upon a bed of white gravel, 

 which is at least 20 feet thick, and possesses springs of water. 

 Between Firsby and the chalk-hills this clay is 12 or 15 feet thick, 

 resting upon gravel ; and in the lower part of the parish passes 

 under alluvial deposits, from v^hich it is separated by a stratum of 

 sand. At Bray toft and Gunby, It miles from the chalk, are 

 found under the clay beds of gravel worn by trituration like 

 shingle; and at Burgh the clay is about 4 feet in depth, lying 

 upon a seam of red sand, under which occur flints for a consider- 

 able depth. At Welton and Boothby a small tongue of red sandy 

 land runs eastward from the chalk-hills ; it lies upon gravel and 

 abounds with small stones. About Well and Alford is a large 

 plot of flinty gravel, two-thirds of it being pebbles of chalk; and 

 at Legburn and Louth similar beds occur, the clay above being 

 from 2 to 10 or more feet thick. Under the marsh at Sutton the 

 clay has been found reposing upon gravel, which had springs ; and 

 in wells, in the marshes between Louth and the coast, the alluvial 

 deposits rest on sand, which overlies a bed of clay containing 

 various kinds of earth. At Little Grimsby is another deposit of 

 gravel, very deep, and composed chiefly of white chalk pebbles. 



* Journal, Vol. IX.— " East Elding of Yorkshire." 

 VOL. xir. T 



