a light, sandy, and highly prolific earth. We

• The following comparative estimates will best display the degree of fertility, to which the soil of Jersey attains:

The standard Cabot of the island for wheat, and for that grain alone, measures fourteen inches and a quarter wide, and eight inches and a quarter deep, English measure; consequently it contains 1315.7536 cubic inches.

A legal Winchester bushel measures eighteen inches and a half wide, and eight inches deep; it therefore contains 2150.4252 cubic inches. The average produce of wheat per acre, in Essex and in Hampshire, has been estimated at 24 bushels, each weighing from 60 to 64 pounds avoirdupois. The Rev. Mr. Warner, in his History of the Isle of Wight, makes the average in that island only 21 bushels. 24 bushels, at 62 pounds each, make 1488 pounds.

In Jersey the average on different articles is as follows:

The utmost produce of wheat may be taken at 40 Cabots; though in 1813 the utmost produce, on the best land, was 50 Cabots of 33 pounds each.

There is a difference between the pound avoirdupois and that of Jersey, 104 of the latter being considered as fully equal to 112 of the former; therefore 13 Jersey pounds are equivalent to 14 pounds avoirdupois.

Calculating on the above estimates, a Winchester bushel of Jersey wheat will weigh full 49 Jersey pounds, or nearly 52 pounds 13 ounces avoirdupois.

As two Vergées and a quarter are equal to one statute acre, the average produce of Jersey wheat, at 30 pounds per Cabot, will be 2025 Jersey pounds, or nearly 2181 pounds avoirdupois, per acre.

The results from the foregoing estimates are interesting: they prove that Jersey wheat is lighter than English wheat, in the proportion of 52 pounds 13 ounces to 62 pounds: but that the produce of wheat from the Jersey soil, exceeds that of England in the proportion of 2181 to 1488. Great however as this excess is, the same disproportion in the quantity of flour will, it is presumed, not exist; because

meet also with blue and yellow clay. A singular

the Jersey grain being lighter, has probably a greater proportion of husk, or bran: still the difference in the quantity of flour must be very considerable.

The Cabot in which barley and every other kind of grain, (wheat excepted,) pease, beans, potatoes, &c. are measured, is more capacious than that used for wheat, the proportion requiring 4 of the later to fill 3 of the former. The preceding estimates of barley, oats, and potatoes, must therefore be regulated accordingly.

All the articles mentioned are struck, with the exception of potatoes, the measure of which is heaped up.

In addition to the excess in Jersey wheat, it must be considered, that both in England and the Isle of Wight, farming is carried on with great attention: whereas in Jersey, several material advantages are either wanting or neglected.

The author's informations from England respecting potatoes vary so much, that he finds it difficult to fix a proper average. One account states the average produce of an acre to be 400 bushels, at 74 pounds per bushel, or 29,600 pounds. Mr. Warner's statement respecting the Isle of Wight is, from 60 to 80 sacks: taking this at the medium of 70, the produce at 74 pounds per bushel, will amount to only 15,540 pounds. This estimate is considered as too low, the other as considerably too high perhaps 20,000 pounds would be a fairer average.

The Jersey produce of potatoes is after the rate of 27,000 Jersey pounds, or nearly 29,077 English pounds, per acre; so that in this article also, the difference is in favour of Jersey.

The general crop of hay is averaged at about one ton per vergée, which must also be deemed a very considerable produce. The aftermath is sometimes mown, but more usually grazed.

A few calculations deducible from the foregoing estimates, and that may be useful in Jersey, are now subjoined.

It requires about 1314 Cabots of wheat to make an English quarter. An English quarter of English wheat, contains 496 One of Jersey wheat, contains

Deficiency.....

.....

452

431

Pounds Avoirdupois.

The produce of Jersey wheat from an acre is about 4130 English

bushels.

circumstance is, that though a very great variety exists in the mineralogical department of Jersey, neither lime-stone, chalk, nor any substance of a calcareous nature, has ever been discovered, except in trifling specimens:* nor is there marle, nor any true gravel. The inhabitants repair their roads with rock, broken into suitable fragments; and they employ the same substance taken from particular spots, in a disintegrated state, for walks in their gardens and pleasure grounds. The sort used for these purposes is very argillaceous; consequently it binds extremely well, and when properly chosen in point of colour, has much the appearance of real gravel, and nearly all its advantages.

The slopes, or coteaux, yield timber, broom, gorse, fern, and where neither too steep nor too rocky, tolerable pasture.

The parishes of St. Ouen, and St. Brelade, are generally the earliest, by a fortnight, in their harvestings; St. John's is considered as later than any other.

Much of the land near the town of St. Helier, though not of

bas a superstratum of brick earth, the best quality for the purpose:

* See MINERALOGY.

it is however

employed; and from a recent demand for the public works, and for the enlargement of the town itself, the vicinity is now crowded with brickeries.

DIVISIONS.

The island is divided into twelve parishes; these are Trinity, St. John's, and St. Mary's, on the north; St. Ouen's, St. Peter's, and St. Brelade's, (or Breverlard's), on the west; St. Lawrence's, St. Helier's, and St. Saviour's, on the south; St. Clement's, Grouville, and St. Martin's, on the east. These, with the exception of the parish of St. Ouen, are again divided into Vintaines, or double tythings. The divisions in that parish are called Cuillettes. All border, more or less, on the sea, except St. Saviour's, and even this has one point of contact.

ENCLOSURES, HEDGE-ROWS OR BANKS, AND WASTE

LANDS.

The custom of Gavel-kind or an equal distribution of fortune among children, prevailing, though in a very partial manner, in Jersey, the landed pro

F

ness.

perty is necessarily divided into small estates; this of course occasions corresponding enclosures. These circumscribed portions are surrounded by banks of an extraordinary height, and of several feet in thickMany are even faced with stone, so as to have the appearance of ramparts; and most of them have hedges, or trees, planted on their summits. It is difficult to ascertain why so extraordinary a waste of ground, on such limited estates, and in so small an island, should have been introduced, and still more so that it should have become a general custom. The approach to most houses in the country, above those of the lower class of farmers, is through a long and narrow avenue, called une chasse: this likewise is, in most cases, an unprofitable use of ground, as the timber seldom grows to any advanta. geous size.

Lands so subdivided in extent, and proprietor. ship, require an infinite number of narrow roads, in, tersecting each other in all directions. The waste of ground, from all these several causes, is comparatively immense. Mr. Falle computed, that, in his time, nearly one third of the island was taken up in these, and in other hedge-rows, gardens, orchards, an dthe issues of houses. In other respects it can

* Though these are not all waste lands, yet they are in an inferior