Farming of South Wales. 



129 



cold and poor ; and if the rock is too near the surface, it is light 

 and weak, but produces sweet herbage for sheep. A mixture of 

 these last-mentioned formations by the red soil washing over the 

 limestone produces a beautiful, tender, and fertile soil. 



To illustrate the great variety of these soils, and to show the im- 

 possibility of describing them all, I will detail more minutely those 

 that appear in the rich and comparatively level hundred of Castle 

 Martin, in the south of Pembroke. First taking the district 

 bounded on the north by Mil ford Haven, there is a long tract of 

 the old red sandstone, which is for the most part shallow and 

 light, yet quick, dry, and healthy land : this extends to the north 

 of Angle and Pwllchrogan, and to the land in the vicinity of the 

 Dockyard. Next there is a vein of limestone which appears at 

 Pennar, runs from Greenhill, through Lower Hentland to East- 

 ington; crosses Angle Bay, and proceeds through that parish to 

 Pill, north of the Blockhouse, at the extreme point of the Haven. 

 This formation is generally buried too deep to exercise any dis- 

 tinctive or beneficial influence on the soil. The limestone is 

 impregnated with much magnesia, and therefore more prized for 

 building than for agricultural purposes. A wider belt of lime- 

 stone commences a little below Tenby, and runs through the fertile 

 vale of St. Florence to Carew ; whereas the country traversed 

 from Pembroke to Tenby, and commonly called " The Ridge- 

 way," rests upon the old red sandstone, and affords soils of various 

 qualities. At Lydstep Haven another belt of limestone presents 

 itself, and proceeds through the rich soils of Manorbier, Hodge- 

 ston, and Lamphey, to Pembroke and the north of Monkton. 

 Again, in the elevated part of Manorbier by the sea, the red soil 

 commences a larger district, running west to St. Daniel's, and 

 forms a great portion of Monkton, Pwllchrogan, Rhoscrowther, 

 and Angle. The soil thus comprised varies exceedingly. In 

 Angle, though pretty good, it is much exposed to the sea and full 

 of springs. Entering Rhoscrowther at Freshwater West, there 

 are large accumulations of sea-sand, which form extensive 

 " burrows." The soil of the greatly improved farms of Broomhill 

 and Kilpaison from this cause presents a sandy loam of a weak 

 description ; whereas after passing Neath the farms in that portion 

 of Pwllchrogan parish are clayey, wet, and unproductive. On 

 coming to Monkton, Corston is good land and well cultivated, and 

 by the south of Pembroke, passing Portclew, the land is of fair 

 average quality. Altogether the red soil or rab is more retentive 

 and argillaceous than that of Brecknock, but generally more in- 

 fested with springs. The rab is best for grass, the limestone for 

 corn. A narrow strip of millstone-grit commences at Freshwater 

 East, and runs along the entire valley by Oriel ton to Freshwater 

 West on the opposite side. This deposit is covered with a deep 



VOL. X. K 



