The Agriculture of Pembrokeshire. 
71 
some sheltered valleys, and where plantations have been formed 
in recent years, are almost entirely absent ; as a consequence, 
the county has a bare, inhospitable appearance. From the 
evidence of various sources, there is reason to suppose that 
the county was not always so bare of trees ; and, again, as 
proved bv recent plantations, trees flourish wherever there is 
shelter from the south-west. It is curious how the trees and 
hedges lean right away from the south-west ; this circumstance 
seems to arise not so much from the pressure of wind as 
from the prevalence of south-westerly gales in the spring, just 
as growth commences, when the strong sea-air destroys the 
tender shoots on that side of the tree. 
Geology. — On referring to the geological outline of the county 
(Fig. 1), and commencing at the most southerly part, we 
have a portion which indicates limestone ; nest comes a part 
indicating old red sandstone ; then another strip of limestone : 
again, another of red sandstone ; and then a third of limestone. 
A considerable portion of red sandstone is seen to the north 
of Milford Haven, and smaller strips in one or two other parts, 
as well as some limestone in the neighbourhood of Xarberth. 
Next we come to some small strips bordering the red sandstone, 
and farther north a very considerable portion of the county 
representing the Silurian and Cambrian formations. The black 
strip which extends across the county from Saundersloot on the 
south-east to St. Bride's Bay on the west, indicates the coal- 
measures ; and this formation is fringed by millstone grit of 
irregular width in nearly its whole extent. The black bands 
which commence as far south as Skomer Island, occupy a strip 
at St. David's, and to some extent show over a large portion of 
the north of the county — indicate trap-rock.* 
Soils. — The soils over these formations vary extremely. 
Every farmer knows the jqualities of a limestone soil, with its 
sweet pastures — the delight alike of the dairyman and the 
grazier. These valleys are no exception to the general rule, 
being without doubt the best land in the county. But lime- 
stone districts have some disadvantages, and one of these is the 
scarcity of springs of water ; this has been much felt on the 
part nearest the coast, and is being remedied by conveying 
water in pipes from the adjacent ridge of red sandstone. 
Another disadvantage of these localities is the proximity in 
certain places of the rock to the surface. 
The red sandstone tracts are chiefly in ridges, running nearly 
east and west. This stratum forms anticlinals, varying up to 
* Trap-rock. This word is used because it is more commonly associated, in 
agriculture, with such soUs, and is meant to include all rocks of a granitoid, 
micaceous, gneissic or felsite nature. 
