Farming of South Wales. 



131 



cannot be found than that part of the coal measures through 

 which the road runs from Swansea to Carmarthen. In some 

 favoured spots, by high farming and regular manuring, I have seen 

 good returns of all kinds of grain and green crop. This is parti- 

 cularly the case near the iron works, where spirited wealthy men 

 are desirous of improving the soil : it was found highly necessary 

 to raise provender for the numerous horses employed, and also it 

 pays better in tillage than in grass. The soil of the coal fields is 

 often poisoned by acid underground water ; but it is more easily 

 improved than the poor lands of the slate tract., as the clays are less 

 retentive, and lime is here close at hand. This stratum produces 

 large quantities of iron, and the bituminous and anthracite coal. 



The lias shale or lias limestone is better known by the com- 

 mon name of Aberthaw limestone. The lime when burnt is a 

 buff colour, and celebrated for setting in water, and as a lasting 

 cement. On the coast of Glamorgan the strata fell down, and 

 the soft useless part being worn away by the action of the tides, 

 the innumerable pebbles which are now used consist only of the 

 nucleus portion of the stone. The blue and grey lias which 

 occupy most of the Yale of Glamorgan, have soils of a strong dark 

 loam resting in many instances on a tenacious clayey subsoil, 

 naturally adapted for wheat, beans, and oats. The lighter por- 

 tion — the bastard lias (which is a link between these strata and 

 the limestone) is more kind for the production of barley and 

 turnips. Large cattle are reared in the pastures, and many good 

 sheep are fattened. The fertile tract by the river Ely, in addi- 

 tion to its own good soil is covered with large alluvial deposits of 

 sandy loam, which are supposed to have been washed down from 

 the hills of the coal measures. 



On spots of the coasts of the Bristol Channel, but particularly 

 below Laugharne, Kidwelly, and Aberafon, are large masses of 

 sea-sand, which are used as sheep walk, and covered with the 

 sea mat- weed or sedge (Arundo arenaria). 



These are the principal geological divisions of the country. 

 Most of the formations belong to very early deposits. Geology, 

 though extremely useful, will not single-handed here faithfully 

 describe the qualities of the soil, as aspect, climate, and elevation 

 exert such decided influence. 



The agriculture of South Wales-may be considered as a mixture 

 of "breeding, dairying, and tillage.^ It is curious to see how the 

 latter has increased, and to trace the various motives which have led 

 to the more extensive culture of corn. Formerly when the home 

 markets were very small, the production of grain was limited, 

 and pasture land was never broken up, but with a view to its im- 

 provement. After three crops of corn, with two good manuring^ 

 it was again laid down to natural grass. But in the time of the 



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