On the Agricultural Geology of the Weald. 
259 
which we have now to speak. Considerably more than half is 
light land. Indeed the name until lately used for the rocks of 
the district has been " Hastings Sands." This was misleading, 
as they contain somewhat thick beds of clay. 
Another erroneous notion, commonly held, is that the Weald 
is a valley ; we frequently read of the " Valley of the Weald." 
Again, this is true of the Weald Clay, but wholly false if the 
term " Weald " includes, as of course it does, the central area. 
Wherever the Hastings Beds crop out from under the Weald 
Clay, they do so with gently rising ground, not a steep slope. 
This rise continues towards the centre of the country until the 
ground attains heights considerably over the average elevation of 
the Lower Greensand. The chief points are Crowborough Beacon, 
803 feet ; Brightling Down, 636 feet ; Fairlight Down, 589 feet ; 
all in Sussex. Goudhurst, 487 feet, in Kent. These points are 
all on sand. 
Commencing our survey of the district at its western end, we 
should note that on the ground coloured as Weald Clay around 
Horsham there is more light land than is usual over that division. 
This is owing to the outcropping of the " Horsham Stone." But 
although the soil is light where this stone forms the actual surface, 
yet the area over which this bed occurs is perhaps more wet than 
dry. It has, therefore, been included in Weald Clay on the map. 
On the large sheets of the Geological Survey it is shown by a 
distinct colour, the whole being included in Weald Clay. 
Immediately to the east of Horsham the light land sets in, 
widening in area eastwards, and occupying the whole of St. 
Leonards Forest; unless some of the deep "gills"* reach down 
to the lower clays. This " forest " still deserves its name, much 
timber remaining in it. The ground is high, compared with the 
neighbouring Weald Clay, but much less so than in the country 
further east. 
Over Ashdown Forest the land is nearly all light. The little 
of the original forest which remains is chiefly in the steep-sided 
gills. Over the higher land are some modern plantations, some 
of which are in circular clumps and are visible for many miles, 
A great deal of this land still remains unenclosed. The soil is 
very poor and the situation bleak. A considerable area of this 
forest is over 500 feet in height, whilst the highest point of 
j the Weald (Crowborough Beacon, 803 feet) occurs within its 
boundary. 
The next important spread of sandy land is that around Cross- 
in-hand, Heathfield, and Brightling. Here also there is much 
* This word is quite characteritics of the Weald, and denotes a steep-sided 
i wooded valley. I am not aware that it is used in the neighbouring Greensand 
district. It is in common use in parts of Yorkshire and the northern counties. 
s 2 
