588 Indieations of Fertility or Barrenness of Soils. 
and towards the western extremity attains a considerable elevation 
above the sea. Thus, in addition to being lights the land is much 
exposed to easterly winds. 
7- Inferior Oolite. — This deposit is composed of a coarse shelly 
limestone, with ferruginous sands and sandstones, and is of a 
darkish brown colour, and very porous. The soil on the lower 
beds of this rock is dry and healthy, deep and fertile. It is par- 
ticularly so where it comes in contact with the lias below. Its 
position is generally very favourable, forming a slope towards the 
west. 
IV. — The Lias Formation. 
The lias formation is the next, in a descending order, to the 
extensive oolitic formation ; and it follows on the western side, 
through all its windings, from Lyme Regis in Dorset, to Whitby 
in Yorkshire. It is subdivided into four deposits : — 1, Upper Lias 
Shale ; 2, Lias Marls ; 3, Lower Lias Clay and Shale ; and 
4, Lias Rock ; forming a series of laminated limestones, with 
partings of clay. 
1. Upper Lias Shale. — This deposit is mostly covered with the 
soils and diluvium of the lower oolite. It is in colour and appear- 
ance like a schoolboy's slate, of a dark purple, or blueish purple 
colour. Where not covered with the diluvium, as above named, it 
forms a poor, tenacious, unproductive soil. Where the diluvium, 
which is rather extensively scattered over the upper members of 
this formation, occurs in sufficient depth, or where there is a con- 
siderable depth of decomposed vegetable mould, this soil is very 
rich and fertile, and forms some of the best old sward in the king- 
dom, being famous for producing excellent cheese. 
2. Lias Marls. — This deposit partakes of the qualities and 
character of the preceding. Sometimes the upper lias shale is 
covered by the debris of the inferior oolite, and this deposit is 
brought in contact apparently with it. 
3. Lower Lias Clay and Shale. — This deposit forms a consi- 
derable portion of the vale of Gloucester ; and where the clays 
are unmixed by decomposed vegetable matter, and not covered by 
soil formed of a mixture of sand and the lias clay to a considerable 
depth, the soil is barren ; but where they are mixed, or possess a 
great depth of mould, no soil, that I am acquainted with, is more 
productive, either in the state of arable or pasture. The same 
observation will a})ply to all the four divisions of this formation. 
4. Lias Rock. — A series of laminated limestones, with partings 
of clay, sometimes nearly white, whilst the clay is of a dark pur- 
plish blue. The rock burns into very excellent lime for architec- 
tural purposes, possessing the quality of setting under water. 
