194 
Farming of Oxfordshire. 
to be well but cautiously farmed. In dry summers it wants a 
good supply of manure ; but if over-stimulated in wet seasons, the 
corn lodges at a very early period, and is entirely spoiled. 
Desc ending into the vale, at the foot of the chalk ridge Avhich 
runs north-east and south-west, from the foot of Stokenchurch 
hill to Goring, the lower chalk, marked by the absence of beds 
or bands of flints, forms low undulating hills, intersected bj 
brooks arising from the flowing out of the springs at the lower 
level. This water contains a large quantity of carbonate of lime,, 
and is consequently good for water-meadows, of which a few are 
to be fouird in this district. The soil of this formation is 
richer than the upper chalk, and more tenacious ; the alumina 
or clay of the lower chalk being more thoroughly disintegrated 
by frosts and atmospheric agencies. It forms a deep strong grey 
loam, provincially called ' malm ;' it is not so kind for turnips as 
for wlieat, clover, and beans ; and when trodden by sheep, or 
ploughed in the wet, is a very ol)stinate soil to work. If managed 
between wet and dry it comes to pieces easily. A gicat portion 
of lower chalk is covered with a bed of the harsh flinty gravel 
before spoken of. This forms a dry friable soil, of a very superior 
description, and well calculated to produce turnips and carry 
sheep. This coating of gravel may be traced from Ewelme, 
through the Stokes, to Gatehampton. At the foot of these hills, 
reaching from Chinnor to Goring, is a tract of fruitful land, 
celebrated for growing good qualities of white wheat. The straw 
is also much sought after for bonnet making ; and this year large 
quantities have been sold at prices varying from 8Z. to 10/. 
per ton. 
• The same gravel is spread over most of the junction of the out- 
cropping chalk with the upper greensand beneath, and forms no 
striking geological or agricultural feature. Indeed the upper green- 
sand, in its position and chemical character, is a continuation of the 
superincumbent chalk strata, and has no connexion but in name 
with the lower greensand. The upper greensand is distinguished 
])y a soft kind of grey rock, which contains much green earth, or 
chlorite, the main nature of this formation. Being so blended 
with the chalk it contains much calcareous matter, and though the 
veins of this formation in other districts are rich in phosphate 
of lime and soluble silica, yet for all farming purposes the soil 
in Oxfordsliire might be described as good malmy or rubbly 
ground. But as the greensand approaches its junction with the 
gault-clay beneath, or at the division of this series where the 
rubble beds of the upper greensand join the subjacent gault, a 
ridge or escarpment of the former overhangs the latter, and, as 
at Easington, is marked by the characteristic greensand which 
may be traced to Brightwell and Stoke Talmage very distinctly. 
