Indications of Fertility or Ban-enness of Soils. 593 
the Yorkshire Wolds I have seen ihem follow the ploughman 
like rooks, but at a much greater distance. 
\Miere large flocks of goldfinches are observed in the autumn. 
They assemble in great numbers on downs, warrens, &c., to feed 
on the seed of the thistle. 
Fertiliti/. 
The following may be considered to be indications of fertility 
when a cursory ^-iew of any district or country is taken : — 
The absence of movmtains, rocks, moorlands, bogs, heaths, 
marshes, swamps, wolds and downs, iScc. Hills of gentle ascent 
and all cultivated, except small patches for ornament. Broad 
valleys, intersected by large rivers. The whole district thickly 
studded with timber trees in a flourishing condition. Small oak 
woods here and there, which have the appearance of hanng been 
introduced for ornament rather than to cover a barren spot. 
Where the villages are thickly scattered over the country, and 
gentlemen's seats and pleasure-grounds are numerous, and also 
where the neat snug little villas of the merchant and retired 
tradesman are to be seen in tolerable profusion. 
Where gentlemen's parks are small, and not fed by deer. 
WTiere orchcirds are numerous, and the trees in a flourishing 
state. 
Where water is plentiful, and springs, brooks and rivulets are 
numerous. 
Where horned cattle are kept in large numbers, and particu- 
larly cows, for the purposes of a dairy. 
Where oxen, bullocks, and beasts are grazed, to fatten for the 
butcher. 
The foregoing observations constitute what I denominate gene- 
ral indications, and must only be considered as guides to a genered 
conclusion. It often happens in this country, and I dare say 
in all others, that in the midst of a large district, the indications 
of which are such as lead us to believe it to be barren, there are 
smaller tracts, frequently embracing whole farms, which are fertile 
lands ; and, on the contrary, districts possessing general fertile 
appearances have, in the midst of them, considerable quantities of 
land which in reality are barren. 
It would be difficult to say how far these general indications 
may be useful. In some parts of the country the farmer finds it 
more difficult to get a just opinion respecting one single arable 
field than to make use of something similar to the foregoing rules, 
to ascertain whether a whole district in general be barren or 
fertile ; because the indications are not so obvious and plain ; and 
when taken away from his immediate neighbourhood, and espe- 
cially on to a different geological formation, he is greatly puzzled 
