East Riding of Yorhshire. 
87 
" The material which forms the natural construction of the Yorkshire 
wolds is probably a uniform rock of hard chalk, rising in most places to 
near tiie surface The prevailing soil is a calcareous loam, 
varying in depth and productiveness." 
Recent researches have shown that the soils restino: upon the 
chalk do not partake so much of the nature of the rock beneath 
as was formerly thought. An analysis made by Mr. Spence, of 
York, and published in the ' Transactions of the Yorkshire Agri- 
cultural Society' in the year 1841, proves that 5 per cent, of 
calcareous matter is the utmost that these soils contam, and some 
of them little more than 2 per cent.* The theory of their origin 
is thus explained by the Rev. Mr. Thorpe in these Transactions 
(p. 41):- 
" In fact, the reason of the variety of the soil of the wolds is easily 
explained by a consideration of the diluvial beds of Holderness, which 
lie upon the chalk ; enormous masses of water have brought these beds 
of clay and boulders, not only over the Penine chain of England at 
Stainmoor, but over the Hambleton hills and western escarpment of the 
wolds, furrowing the latter into deep east and west valleys — the degree 
of inclination of the chalk determining the velocity of these currents, 
and, together with it, their motive power. Upon the more level and 
elevated portions their influence has been feebly exerted, and the original 
dobris of flints yet remains as the basis of the soil of the deep wold 
land ; but upon the more inclined portions, not only has the original 
debris of flints been removed, but along with it great bodies of chalk, 
and by the degradation of the rock thus laid bare the present soil of the 
shallow wold land is formed. Indeed, the position of the shallow wold 
land, which is often found reposing at the steep angle of 30° upon the 
sides of the valleys, aff'ords an additional proof of its being the result 
of the decomposition of the chalk rock, for it cannot in these localities 
be a sedimentary, neither is it a portion of any of the tertiary beds 
which may formerly have existed." 
Although it is stated that deep soil is chiefly a characteristic of 
* Wold Soils analysed by Spence. 
Water of absorption . 
Matter soluble in water 
Matter destructible by heat (i 
Silicious sand 
Alumina . . 
Oxide of iron 
Carbonate of lime 
Phosphate of lime . 
Carbonate of magnesia 
Potash 
Loss .... 
Deep Wold, 
Riplingham. 
'getabte) 
Shallow Wold, 
Bishop W'ilton. 
4 
9 
1 
5 
10 
74 
62 
•5 To 
4 
6^ 
1 
fo 
h 
100 
100 
