272 
Farmivff of Bucliinf/hamsJiirc. 
out, with anything like correctness, the cause of any alleged 
fertility ; and even a most minute analysis of a soil gives (to me, 
at least) far from satisfactory data for such conclusions." After 
such an opinion it would be useless to burden this Report with 
such uninteresting and unprofitable matter ; but as some of the 
more prominent chemical features of the various soils may be 
useful in giving a general description, a few of the most impor- 
tant will be introduced. 
Beginning the geological description at the extreme soutli of 
the county, that triangular part which lies between the three 
outlying towns of Staines, Maidenhead, and Uxbritlge rests on 
that portion of the tertiary system known by the name of the 
plastic clay formation. This district may be generally termed a 
gravelly loam, resting in some places on a gravel, and in others 
upon a brick earth or clay. The first important development of 
this clay towards the west is seen at Slough, from whence it 
passes eastward in irregular patches, and forms the extensive 
brick-fields around Langley AJarsh. Indeed this formation is 
composed of an indefinite number of sand, clay, and pebble beds 
irregularly alternating, and so producing soils of the most unlike 
qualities within very short distances. The sands generally cover 
the surface towards the north, the clays being only occasionally 
interposed at considerable intervals. The sands and clays are of 
various colours and thickness, and of different degrees of purity. 
A large flat of friable sandy land, well fitted for arable cultiva- 
tion, extends along the north bank of the Thames. The strip of 
meadows bounding the river is l)ut thin ; and in some parts the 
arable land, as at Maidenhead Station, reaches to the edge of the 
stream. The whole of the upland may be considered to be under 
the plough ; and as the soil varies from a clay loam to a burning 
gravel, several varieties of land, requiring different modes of cul- 
tivation, are found in the same parish. From the vicinity of 
London and Windsor large quantities of straw and hay are sold, 
which, provided an equivalent is supplied in the shape of manure, 
may not be detrimental to the district. The railway is but a poor 
compensation to the land for the numerous coach-horses which 
were formerly stationed on the great lurnpike-road which traverses 
nearly 10 miles of this locality. Chalk underlies the north por- 
tion of the plastic clay, and there pits are sunk and the chalk 
applied liberally to the land. On some farms to the south 
calcareous matter is supplied in the shape of lime, but more fre- 
quently it is chalk, which is carted from some of the outlying pits. 
This, or something similar, is particularly needed, as neither 
the clay nor sand of this formation contains any calcareous matter. 
This district is, on the whole, well cultivated ; and some of the 
