578 Indications of Ferlilitij or Barrenness of Soils. 
Botanical Names. 
EXOLISH XAMtS. 
OaSERVATIOVS. 
Poa trlvhUis 
Po.i prali-nsis, , . 
Trifoliiim pralonse pe- 
renoe. 
Tiifolium rcf.cns 
Vitia sepium , 
Rough-stalked meadow 
Krass. 
Smoolli stalked meadow 
grass. 
IVi ounial red clover 
While or Dutcli clover . 
Creeping vetch 
This is an exceedingly valuable grass, and 
flourishes luxuriautlj on ricli lan<l in com- 
pany with others. It forms the {jrealir 
portion of tlie produce of llie famous Or- 
chistim Meadows in Wiltshire. 
Tills grass is rather particular in its choice of 
situation, not relishing damp soils but is 
an excellent constituent of dry rai-adows. 
Natural red clover is an essential constituent 
of all our best meadows and pastures in 
moderate ijuantities. Its absence is a 
malter of re^'ret. 
Tills plant is indispensable as a component 
of every pasture, and, where it abounds 
spontaneously, is an indication of the good- 
ness of the soil ; but its produce is not very 
great in meadows, and therefore a mod«- 
rate proportion will be desirable, to leave 
room lor more productive grasses. 
This grass is very palatable to all kinds of 
stock, and is one of the most nutritive of 
pasture plants. 
IV.— ASPECT. 
The aspect of land is believed to have a considerable influence 
over the produce of the soil ; and, in consequence, if such belief 
be founded in reason, and I see nothing to the contrary, it becomes 
an indication of barrenness or fertility. 
What is meant by the aspect of a piece of land is, not only its 
position or direction towards any point of the compass, by beings 
narrower in one of its dimensions than in the other, but the slope, 
or elevation of one end above the other. If a field slope away 
towards the north (a gentle descent of four or five degrees is a 
very common angle), it is said to have a northern aspect; and, on 
the conti'ary, if another field slope, in the same manner, towards 
the south, the east, or the west, it is said to have a southern, 
eastern, or western aspect. Now it is well understood that the 
more directly the rays of the sun fall upon any land, the more 
powerful will be the effect upon vegetation. In consequence of 
land sloping towards the south, and thus causing the rays of the 
sun to fall on the surface more perpendicularly than on a level, or 
on land that slopes norlhw ard, we are led to believe that a southern 
aspect is favourable, and a northern aspect unfavourable. From 
repeated observations, we arc so satisfied of the accuracy of this, 
that, in cases where the soil and herbage are of a doubtful cha- 
racter, we do not hesitate to state, that a northern aspeci. is suffi- 
cient to give a bias to the judgment, and, in such circumstances, 
becomes an indication of barrenness ; and, generally, a south- 
eastern, south, south-western, or western aspect is a favourable 
