288 
On, the Farming of the 
the comparatively narrow belt of the magnesian limestone, sepa- 
rating il from the lower levels of the Vale of York, and the con- 
fines of the eastern boundary of the Riding. By far the largest 
portion of the soil on this formation is of a strong cliaracter, 
restin<i on the ordinary subsoil of yellow clay so general in the 
coal districts. In those parts, however, where the sandstone beds 
and shale approach the surface sufficiently to render it naturally 
dry, a good, and in many places very productive, soil is found. 
The clay with its strong soils usually covers the valleys and the 
entire rise in the lower swells, but in the more elevated places 
extending only a limited distance up the rise, where the sandstone 
comes through, and a friable soil commences ; as though the 
aluminous particles had slipped or been washed down from the 
steeper inclinations and formed the clay subsoil of the lower 
levels. The following sectional sketch of the formation from 
Harrowgate to Wharncliffe may, perhaps, more fully illustrate 
the manner in which the circumstances we have just spoken of 
occur. The top irregular line shows the clay subsoil : — 
Thus from Harrowgate to Harewood is a strong clay soil, and 
most of it thin and poor: at Harewood, where the rise occurs, 
and the rock approaches nearer the surface, the land is somewhat 
less strong and of superior quality; the clay, however, soon 
appears again, and with it a much less fertile soil, until we come 
to Potter Newton and Chapel Allerton, where the rock comes to 
the surface, and from the pounding of which a yellow sand is 
made and sent into Leeds in considerable quantities, for the mere 
purpose of sprinkling on the kitchen floors of the better classes, 
and on the house floors of the lower orders ; as if adding sand to 
dirt made cleanliness — 
" put compost on 
To make the weeds the ranker." 
Leaving Leeds, which is situated in the valley, and where we 
again have the clay and stiff soil, the ground rises to Rothwell 
Llaigh, at which point there is a tract of fine dry land, which by 
good management' and an abundant supply of manure from Leeds 
produces heavy crops of swedes, barley, clover, and wheat. 
Many coal-pits are at work over this district. Pasting Rothwell 
