20 



Farming of Derbyshire. 



reous matter (lime) blending the argillaceous or clayey, with 

 silicious or sandy matter. This forms a light soil ; but where the 

 argillaceous or clay prevails, then a heavy and cold soil will be 

 the consequence. This measure, occupying all the southern 

 parts of Derbyshire, contains the saliferous salts of soda, potash, 

 and lime ; hence its fruitfulness when the culture is properly 

 attended to. 



With this short sketch of the geology of Derbyshire, I shall 

 endeavour to notice, as I proceed, the peculiar and distinctive 

 features of the five different soils into which I have divided the 

 county, with a view to treat of each. These divisions of soil 

 will be taken in the following order ; viz. — 



1st. The Magnesian Lime ; 

 2nd. The Coal Series ; 



3rd. The Millstone Grit with the Shales ; 

 4th. The Mountain Lime ; 



5th. The Clays and Gravels of South Derbyshire. 



The soil of the magnesian lime is generally chocolate-brown ; 

 the subsoil is poor, containing 44 per cent, of carbonate of mag- 

 nesia. The stone is superior as building stone, that at Bolsover 

 Moor taking a polish nearly equal to marble. 



1st. The Magnesian Limestone occupies a small section on the 

 eastern side of the county, and is comparatively trifling in ex- 

 tent. According to former estimates it contains 21,600 acres, 

 and is about 10 miles long by 3 to 5 wide. The soil is of an 

 open and friable nature — useful, but not rich — yet capable of 

 being applied to all the purposes of modern husbandry. The 

 magnesian limestone commences with the coal measures near 

 Nottingham, and runs parallel with the Derbyshire and York- 

 shire coal-field, where the coal ceases, the limestone continuing 

 on to Durham. In Farcy's Report of the Minerals and Agricul- 

 ture of Derbyshire (1817) very little is said of the magnesian 

 limestone. " The soil," he says, " is of medium quality and 

 degree of tenacity ; it is much improved by Peak-lime where 

 the canals admit of its application, or by lime from the blue 

 beds at the bottom of the series. It seems best adapted for 

 arable land, on account of its proneness to shar-grass — dry grass 

 which scarcely any thing will eat." Since the time Farey wrote 

 his Report some improvement has been made on this soil, not 

 only as regards the mode of husbandry, but in the non-applica- 

 tion of quick-lime, and the substitution of other and more 

 valuable manures. It is what may be aptly called a " turnip 

 and barley soil ;" and to the extended growth of turnips and 

 sheep-farming may be attributed its vast improvement in modern 

 husbandry. Mr. Siddons, of Pleasley, was the first to introduce 



