Jersey^ Guernserj, Alderney, and Sark. 57 
and Jersey ; for whereas the latter slopes southwards, the former, 
on the contrary, on its southern side rises abruptly for several 
hundred feet above the level of the sea, and gradually inclines 
northward, until a little beyond its centre, where the fall rapidly 
increases, and it soon becomes a level plain ; which in some 
places is actually below the water's edge. The whole surface of 
the island is computed at 15,000 acres ; of these one-third may 
be said to be lowland, and the remainder to constitute the upper 
part of the island. In general, writers on the Channel Islands 
agree on one point, — which is, that the appearance of Guern- 
sey is more barren than that of Jersey ; this arises from the 
want of wooded scenery, for, although groups of trees may be 
seen immediately around the dwellings of the inhabitants, still 
it is not intersected by those deep and thickly-wooded valleys 
in which the sister island abounds ; neither are there the same 
extensive orchards, nor the continuation of wooded embank- 
ments so common to Jersey, to the eastern district in particular ; 
the rivulets also are smaller and fewer ; but to make up for 
these deficiencies of nature, labour and art have successfully 
contributed. 
The island is divided into ten parishes, namely : — St. Peter's 
Port, in which are the principal town and harbour ; St. Samson's, 
with also a small town and good harbour ; The Vale ; Catel ; 
St. Saviour's ; St. Pierre du Bois ; Torteval ; Foret ; St. Mar- 
tin's ; St. Andrew's. In endeavouring to describe the nature of 
the soil, a great difficulty arises from the many varieties which 
exist on so small a surface. In what has been termed the 
Lowland may be comprised the parishes of St. Samson, the 
Vale, part of Catel, as well as a small portion of St. Peter's 
Port ; the soil in these is inclined to lightness, but, owing to their 
position, sufficient moisture exists to make the land productive 
and equally valuable. This part of the island may be compared 
with St. Clement's parish, Jersey, and it is from this neighbourhood 
that the market receives its greatest vegetable supply. The soil 
on the rising ground assumes a stifFer appearance, and is said to 
be richest in the parishes of St. Andrew and St. JNIartin, although 
portions of Catel, St. Saviour's, and Foret are equally good ; the 
other parts are not considered of equal value. There, as well as 
in Jersey, the richest soil lies on a clayey bottom, beneath which 
are argillaceous schists and gneiss ; but where granite exists, the 
soil becomes considerably lighter : the lowland is strictly granite, 
and the part of the island comprising the upper parishes is com- 
posed of gneiss, &c. It must be observed that, although in many 
parts the soil is very deep and rich, still, in these respects, it 
does not equal Jersey. With regard to climate much may be 
