564 
Agriculture of North Wales. 
approaches the Severn, of a rich level plain ; soil argillaceous, 
and somewhat stiff, well adapted to the growth of beans and 
wheat. Some luxuriant crops of the former I had an opportunity 
of inspecting. The main portion of the stiffest land was occupied 
in pasture. The undescribed part of North Wales, situate to the 
east of the Severn, principally rests on the Severn flagstones, the 
soil generally speaking of an alluvial nature, but in some few in- 
stances, from the outcropping strata, becomes light and sandy. I 
believe I have now given a more or less descriptive account of 
the characteristics of the various soils of the several districts situate 
on the mainland of North Wales, with one exception, viz., the 
soil superimposed on the narrow band of limestone which stretches 
Irom Llanymenach to Chirk. The soil under consideration is a 
deep red loam, somewhat stiff, and highly impregnated with the 
peroxide of iron. It has no corresponding equivalent in the soil 
of any other part of Wales, if we except some parts in the vale of 
Clwyd. It is very fertile, and peculiarly well adapted to the 
alternate husbandry. 
I am afraid the preceding description of the soils of North 
Wales will scarcely be understood without the aid of a good map. 
With such, I hope, it will possess sufficient perspicuity. 
Anglesea. 
I have separated the consideration of the soils of the Isle of 
Anglesea from that of the mainland in consequence of its sur- 
face possessing most of the physical varieties of appearance de- 
scribed as existing on the mainland. To have intermixed an 
account of the soils of so small a portion of the country as Angle- 
sea with the more extensive tracts on the mainland, would have 
only led to confusion in the description of portions of the country 
snfRciently difficult to describe of themselves. 
The north-eastern portion of the Island of Anglesea is situate 
on the carboniferous limestone, intermixed with silurian rocks, 
composed of a green argillaceous substance mixed with quartz — the 
latter interstratified m the rock precisely similar to the enamel in 
the teeth of graminivorous animals. This is shown in the clearest 
manner on the shores of the Menai, close to the landing-place at 
the foot of the Menai suspension bridge, where, by the united 
effects of the atmosphere and spray, the argillaceous matter has 
become decomposed, forming a fine brown-coloured loam of ex- 
cellent quality. The greater part of the soil along the Menai 
Straits is formed by the decomposition of these rocks, leaving 
large fissures, apjnoaching in places to rents, in the quartzy matter. 
In this state the rock has the appearance of solidified billows ol 
scoria or lava. Portions of the rock thus disintegrated become 
