280 
Farming of Monmouthshire. 
partially overlain by a strip of New Red Sandstone (c), wliicli 
borders it on the south and forms the shore of the Channel. 
Near Llisvven are found patches of Lower Lias (Z»), and the 
Alluvium of the Caldicot Level (a): Near Usk this formation has 
been denuded, so that the underlying Caradoc Sandstone, Wen- 
lock Limestone, and Ludlow Rocks come to the surface and 
form an oblong district of about 3200 acres. Of the line described, 
67,840 acres consist of Coal-measures, skirted by a narrow band 
of about 9600 acres of Carboniferous Limestone, and 5400 acres 
of Millstone-grit, being the eastern end of the great coal-field 
of South Wales. On the south of this is the remainder of the 
Devonian formation, making its quantity of 128,000 acres (*7), and 
the Alluvium of the Wentlloog Levels (a). 
Generally, therefore, the features of such a geological map as 
is here given may be taken for the mountains and uplands ; but 
the 67,200 acres of low and highly valuable land require, and 
would amply repaj', careful surveys of the subsoil, and proper 
plans of the farms. The labour of such an undertaking is, how- 
ever, beyond the time or means of any private individual, or the 
scope of this paper. 
Elevation. — The general elevation of the Devonian formation 
may be taken at about 300 feet above the sea. The mean level 
of the valleys and the Coal Basin maybe taken at about 500 feet, 
and the cultivated slopes of the vales at an average of about 
700 feet. 
Temperature. — The mean temperature of the lower portions of 
the Devonian formation is 56°, and that of the valleys of the Usk 
and Wye would reach 60°. In the more elevated portions of the 
county it is considerably lower, whilst in the cultivated portions 
of the coal-fields it is even as low as 45°. 
Climate. — Monmouthshire, being the westernmost county of 
England north of the Bristol Channel, has, from its vicinity to 
that channel, the elevation of its hills, and its general uneven 
character, a very large rainfall and a moderately saline atmo- 
sphere. 
In the more mountainous portions of the county this is found 
to be the one great obstacle to any improvement of the native 
breeds of sheep ; for when the short-woolled sheep of the district 
are crossed, the lengthened fleece retains so much moisture that 
the animal suffers considerably from the cold, and from the heavy 
load which it vainly endeavours to shake off. In the vales, 
where the nature of the subsoil is good, as in the largest portions 
of its area, the climate is very favourable to agriculture, 
especially in the valley of the Usk and the uplands bordering on 
the Channel. 
A writer on the present state of the county says : " The climate 
