221 
every four years ;" an effect not observed on the magnesian 
limestone soil, at least not upon the turnip crop. 
In Lincolnshire, formerly, chalk was only applied to the 
more sandy soils, but it is now applied nearly indiscriminately 
to those termed more clayey. There is, however, a tract of 
land near Saxby, which has never required that operation : 
this land grows red clover productively once in nine years ; 
five to six quarters of barley and five quarters of wheat per 
acre : the clover seeds also grow well for two years, and are 
always kept down that length of time. It is some of the 
best turnip land upon the Lincolnshire wolds. It is more 
" sandy" than the Yorkshire wolds, and contains 88 per cent. 
73i per cent, of which is siliceous. The quantity, however, 
of carb. of lime and carb. of magnesia is (7/o + lo) P^r 
cent., so that the soil may be termed a " sandy calcareous 
soil;" and in this case the superiority does seem due to the 
quantity of calcareous matter contained in it ; for that of 
aluminous earth is much the same as in the soils of the 
Yorkshire wolds, being 2^^^ per cent. The quantity of cal- 
careous matter is a little greater than that contained in some 
excellent shallow wold land from Bishop Wilton, being at 
this latter place carb. of lime 5 and carb. of magnesia 
total 6j% ; the water of absorption also in the latter is in- 
creased to 9 per cent.; and the quantity of alumina 4 per 
cent., is alone sufficient to account for its fertility, which 
would enable it nearly to produce grazing pastures, as will 
be seen in the sequel. (Compare the soils of Riplingham, 
" chalked" and " unchalked," Lincolnshire Wolds and Shal- 
low Wold soil of Bishop Wilton, and that of the Magnesian 
limestone See also Synopsis of Analyses.) 
It is probable that the chief value given to the soil by 
chalking, is derived from the consolidation or consistence 
given to it. Every farmer knows that chalked land feels 
more firm than unchalked, and does not slide away from 
