34 
Agriculture of the Islands of 
When we consider the large population living on so small a 
surface — that there are two inhabitants to every acre — we almost 
wonder whence they derive their resources ; but we must bear 
in mind that, although situated on a rocky bed, the soil of 
Jersey is particularly rich and highly productive. The rock is 
of the primary formation, void of any organic remains, chiefly 
granite, syenite, gneiss, porphyry, and schist, with other varieties 
belonging to this series. It might be supposed that the fact of 
the soil reposing on so rocky a bottom might produce meagre- 
ness, but it is not tlie case. The soil is a rich loam, varying in 
lightness in accordance with the stratum beneath it ; if granite or 
syenite, it is lighter than where the other varieties of rock are 
found. Tlie cause to which this difference is attributable is 
that immediately between the granite and cultivated soil is a 
layer of coarse gravel, which acts as constant drainage, whereas 
Avhere the granite and syenite disappear no gravel is found, 
but a light clay forms the layer between the soil and rock. As 
a general rule the eastern district of the island may be said 
to belong to the latter formation, and the western to be more 
closely allied to the former, but in both cases there are excep- 
tions. For certain kinds of produce the one is more esteemed 
than the other, but the universal opinion throughout the island 
is, that the eastern district is the richest and most productive. 
To bear this out it will only be necessary to state that the rent 
of land is considerably higher in tliis than in the other : and by 
comparing the two closely it will be found that the clayey 
bottom is the most advantageous ; being retentive of moisture, 
it protects plants against drought ; it also retains the properties of 
manure, which in thinner and more open soils are washed down 
by rain and lost: from this last remark it is not to be inferred 
that the soil of the island in any one part is altogether deficient 
of certain retaining properties ; what is wished to be impressed 
is, that the varieties of soil are numerous, and differ, as lias 
been said, in accordance with the strata immediately beneath. 
Here it will also be well to observe that certain localities in the 
vicinity of bays have through the violence of the wind from olden 
times become extremely light and sandy, but they nevertheless are 
tilled and have in many places become highly fertile, especially 
In the parish of St. Clement, which may be termed the garden of 
Jersey, from its great and early productiveness. Jersey is well 
studded with trees, much more so than either of the otlier islands ; 
the oak, elm, chesnut, and ash are seen growing luxuriantly, but 
particularly the apple-tree may be noticed : formerly a large 
portion of land was devoted to the culture of this fruit-tree, but 
of late many have been destroyed, and replaced by the ordinary 
crops of grain, grass, roots, &c. 
