Agriculture of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sarh. 33 
ourselves strictly to what appertains to agriculture, we shall 
now take each island separately into consideration ; for however 
close may be their relative position with regard to each other, on 
many essential points there is a difference which claims special 
notice. 
Jersey, the largest and most easterly of the group, lies in 
latitude 49° N., longitude 2° 22' W., being at a distance of 18 
to 20 miles from the nearest coast of France. In form it is that 
of an irregular parallelogram, 11 miles long and 5^ miles wide. 
The surface of the island is intersected by a continuation of 
valleys, which in general run from north to south, gradually 
increasing in depth and width as they approach the south, until 
they in many places unite and form small but fertile plains. On 
the northern side the coast rises abruptly above the level of the 
sea, to a height ranging from 250 to 400 fret, whereas on its 
southern side it is in most places on a level with the water's 
edge ; it follows from this inclination southwards that nature 
has done much to favour vegetation, for not only do the sun's 
rays fall more dii'cctly on the surface, but also the numerous 
streams, with which the valleys abound, run over a longer dis- 
tance, and consequently increase from the number of tributary 
springs which flow into them ; a circumstance particularly 
advantageous to so small an island, were it only for the greater 
number of water-mills which it enables it to have ; but more- 
over this declivity gives great protection from the colder winds.. 
With regard to climate, it is mild and temperate, the heat nevei-^ 
excessive, nor yet the cold intense: the winters are such that it is. 
not a rare occurrence for one to pass by without a flake of snow 
falling, or even the thermometer to remain above freezing point :- 
during the winter months rain is most prevalent. 
The island is computed to cover an area of 28,717 English^ 
acres, and is divided into twelve parishes, viz. : — St. Helier's, \w 
which is the principal town and harbour, St. Saviour's, St. Cle- 
ment's, Grouville, St. Martin's, Trinity, St. John's, St. Mary's, 
St. Ouen's, St. Peter's, St. Brelade's, and St. Lawrence's ; the 
first six forming the eastern district, and the remaining six com- 
prised in the western district. 
The entire population amounted at the last census, in 1851, 
to 57,155 ; of this number one half are inhabitants of Sc. 
Helier's, the other half may be said to be evenly spread over the 
other parts of the island. St. Helier's holds a central and very- 
advantageous position for the sale of produce, whether it be for 
exportation or for home supply. There are also two smaller 
towns having each its harbour, St. Aubin and Gorey ; the former 
is in St. Brelade's parish, and the latter in St. Martin's, but very 
little business is done at either comparatively with St. Helier's. 
VOL. XX. D 
