66 
Agriculture of the Islands of 
Sabk. 
The small island of Sark lies about six miles eastward of Guern- 
sey : its length is about three miles, and its width averages about 
one mile. The island is divided into two unequal portions, wliich 
are known by the name of Great Sark and Little Sark. The island 
is a table-land, with few valleys, having no declivity to the sea at 
any part, except a trifling one at the northern extremity : it is sur- 
rounded by a barrier of cliffs rising from 200 to 400 feet above the 
level of the sea. To the visitor the first impression of Sark will 
be that it is barren. The peninsula of Little Sark is connected 
with the other portion by a narrow isthmus known as "La 
Coupee :" this is a very narrow and lofty ridge ; its length is 
about 450 feet, and its width varies from 5 to 8 feet : perpen- 
dicular cliffs of about 300 feet on the eastern side, with shelving 
and broken rocks on the western, give it a terrific appearance. 
As this narrow ridge forms the only communication between the 
two portions of the island, all classes of its inhabitants, both 
young and old, are obliged to pass it. 
Sark contains a population of between 800 and 900 persons, a 
number much less than the island could support, but the increase 
of the population is checked by the manner in which the land is 
held. 
The fertility of the soil is considered even greater than in 
Jersey or Guernsey. Sark is also the richest of the Channel 
Islands in minerals ; the working of silver-mines was carried 
on briskly at one time, but is now discontinued. As has been 
said, the soil is very fertile, and vegetation begins at the point 
where mineralisation ceases. The main rock of the island is 
gneiss, and on its northern and southern extremities it is tipped 
with granite. The mode of farming is carried on somewhat after 
the Jersey system ; the agricultural implements are more rude, 
but the same rotation is observed ; and although Sark is a smaller 
island than Alderney, its agriculture at present is far before it. 
The principal and most abundant products are wheat, barley, 
oats, and parsnips ; the exportation of grain to Guernsey, and 
the fattening of oxen, form the mainstay of the farmer. Remains 
of the ancient feudal system still exist, but the most singidar 
feature is the law concerning the possession and division of pro- 
perty. There are forty copyhold possessions in the island ; no 
copyholder can sell or dispose of a part of his property : he 
may sell the whole, but in that case one-thirteenth of the pur- 
chase goes to the lord of the manor. In case of death the pro- 
perty devolves wholly upon the eldest son, and, should tliere 
be no son, to the eldest daughter, or, failing such, to the eldest 
collateral branch. In short, all properties must continue entire 
