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colour i from blue, grey, yellow, dark brown, to light and dark 

 red, so that colour alone (for there are all qualities of every 

 colour) is of little value as a diagnostic sign. The consistence 

 of the soil, and its depth when good, are signs generally 

 applicable. Upon the gravel beds there are occasionally 

 local beds of clay, which hold up the water, thus producing 

 a wet soil upon an open gravel, which requires draining* 

 A soil easily rendered firm by sheeping is a favourable sign of 

 sandy land. Upon the clayey soils of this plain it is required 

 that there is a capability of draining them ; for large sums of 

 money have been paid for veining up main drains from Goole, 

 which yet afford only an imperfect outlet. Vegetation, as a 

 sign of fertility, must be used with great caution ; for both 

 the sands and clays of this district are much under the influ- 

 ence of seasons. This year they have both above average 

 crops upon them. The farms situated upon the sands and 

 gravels were originally of the same value, and it is probable 

 that if there be any difference in them, it has arisen from supe- 

 rior management. 



Geology is with difficulty applied in determining the value 

 of land upon the whole of the formation, except the larger 

 boundaries of geographical Geology just mentioned. In 

 the gravel there is no regular disposition of strata. It is 

 one amorphous mass of boulders, with portions of red sand 

 intermingled. Some of the stronger clay beds, between 

 Askern and Goole, are exceedingly thin ; and, therefore, 

 in order to make Geology available, it would be necessary 

 to have, as in mining, a knowledge of every minute bed, 

 which can only be obtained by boring, there being no natural 

 sections upon this extensive plain. 



Concerning the Magnesian Limestone, and the qualities of 

 land upon it, I may refer to a former paper read before this 

 Society. I would, however, simply observe, that colour is of 

 little value, the whole of the soils being red and yellow, and 



