434 



Farming of Herefordshire. 



farer will have ample opportunities afforded him of studying the 

 formation of soils and their varied characters, according- as they 

 are formed solely from, or in admixture with, decomposing plu- 

 tonic rocks (as in the Malvern range), the old red sandstone, and 

 the different strata of the Silurian system. The modifications 

 caused in the character of soils by the agency of limestone is 

 v/ell exhibited around Woolhope, owing to the somewhat exten- 

 sive surface development of the Silurian limestone in its vicinity. 

 At the north-western corner of the county, near Presteign and 

 Kington, and a considerable district around Wigmore, in the 

 extreme north-western part of the county, the soils are principally 

 composed of loose calcareous and sandy gravels, the bottoms, 

 hoAvever, not unfrequently form rich pasture grounds. 



The richest soils in Herefordshire are found resting on that 

 division of the old red sandstone known as the " cornstones," 

 owing to its containing a considerable amount of granules and 

 nodules of impure limestone called cornstones, whose chemical 

 composition varies, being sometimes composed of alumina and 

 lime alone, at others containing magnesia also in combination. 

 Practically it is found that wherever decomposing cornstones 

 become admixed with the silicious sandstone rock, a perceptible 

 improvement takes place. A remarkable instance of this is 

 exhibited in the long valley lying at each side of the small river 

 Dor, of which Turnaston is about the centre. This valley lies 

 between two contorted ridges, of which the cornstones constitute 

 a more than common proportion, the alluvial soil washed down 

 from the surrounding hills has formed at their base a soil so 

 luxuriant that it has obtained the title of " The Golden Valley." 



Generally speaking, the rocks composing the old red sand- 

 stone, and situate in Herefordshire, are easily decomposed by 

 atmospheric agencies : the exceptions to this rule principally 

 consist of the upper series of quartzose conglomerate and sand- 

 stone, which compose the elevated ridges towards the western 

 margin of the county. In such places the soil is sharp and 

 light, consequently not very productive, being principgiUy occu- 

 pied in grazing a small breed of sheep with fine wool, some- 

 thing in character between the Ryland and Radnor. That the 

 highly silicious character of these rocks has much to do with 

 the infertility of the soil formed by their decomposition is 

 certain, but secondary causes prevail to render that sterility 

 permanent, which otherwise might be greatly modified and 

 alleviated. Although the general physical position of these 

 rocks is elevated, and they are as an almost necessary conse- 

 quence more exposed to the slow decomposing action of atmos- 

 pheric agencies, the abruptness of the declivities gives such an 

 impetus to the action of the ofBowing rain-water, that the finer 



