JERSEY (British), the largest of the Channel islands, is the southernmost of the more important islands of the group. Its chief town, St. Helier, on the south coast (in 49° 12' N., 2° 7' W.), being only 4o m. from St. Malo, on the north coast of Brit tany. It is io m. long and 61 m. broad; area is 45 sq.m. Pop. The island is highest (nearly Soo ft.) in the north, where there is fine cliff scenery, and slopes southward, thereby raising its temperature. The east, south and west coasts consist of a suc cession of large open shallow bays, separated by rocky headlands. The principal bays are Greve au Lancons, Greve de Lecq, St. John's and Bouley bays on the north; St. Catherine's and Grou ville bays on the east; St. Clement's, St. Aubin's and St. Bre lade's bays on the south ; and St. Oven's bay, the wide sweep of which occupies nearly the whole of the west coast. The sea in many places has encroached on the land, but there are large ac cumulations of drift and blown sand on the west coast.
The surface of the country is broken by valleys, the heads of which are characteristic sites for churches. The soil is generally loam, but in the west is shallow, light and sandy. The subsoil is usually gravel. The average annual rainfall is 32.7 in., 4 in. less than that of Guernsey. Plants indigenous to warm climates flour ish in the open. The typical form of settlement is that of sepa rate farms with enclosed fields, which, on the introduction of root crops iii the 17th century, superseded open fields with scat tered holdings. Traces of Palaeolithic man have been found in Jersey, and there is abundant evidence of his presence in Neo lithic and Aeneolithic times. Among its many megalithic monu ments, La Hougue Bie is specially noted. Celtic saints have left their mark in place names, notably in the fisher-havens of St. Bre lade, St. Aubin and St. Helier. St. Aubin became the chief port of the island, but from the i 7th century onwards St. Helier de veloped at its expense. Roman remains are scarce. In addition to important local fisheries, Jersey helped in the exploitation of the Newfoundland area, owning a fishing-bank and a fleet. Industries consequent on this activity were the knitting of "jer seys" with wool imported from England, ship-building and fine furniture-making with tropical woods for inlaying. The fertility
of the soil, long maintained by the use of "Vraic," or seaweed, was further increased by the introduction of the parsnip and the turnip (17th century) which necessitated a deep plough worked by co-operative effort. This gave rise to social festivals associated with La Grande Charrue. Agricultural improvement expressed itself in the 18th century in the building of fine farm houses. The possibility of winter feeding led to improved stock-raising. The island is famous for its breed of cows ; all others are ex cluded, and early in the 19th century a public herd book was instituted. In Jersey 28% of the males are agriculturalists. Owing to climatic advantages, Jersey is able to concentrate on outdoor, intensive cultivation, especially of potatoes followed by crops of tomatoes. Glass houses take a secondary place for the cultivation of grapes, flowers, etc. Orchards have been improved and much wall fruit is also grown. Communications with England are main tained principally from Southampton and Weymouth, and there are regular steamship services from St. Malo. The Jersey railway runs from St. Helier through St. Aubin, to Corbiere; and the Jer sey Eastern railway follows the southern and eastern coasts to Gorey. The island has a network of good roads and a motor-bus service.
Jersey is under a form of government distinct from that of the bailiwick of Guernsey. (See CHANNEL ISLANDS.) There are 12 parishes, that of St. Helier being the chief town. Pop. (1921), 26,418. The population of the island nearly doubled between 1821 and 1891, but has since declined a little.
Architecture, other than domestic, is poorly represented. St. Brelade's church, probably the oldest in the island, dating from the 12th century, shows some Norman style, St. Helier's is 14th century work. Amongst very early chapels (I oth century or earlier) are the Chapelle-es-Pecheurs at St. Brelade's, and the chapel in the manor of Rozel. The castle of Mont Orgueil, of which there are remains, is believed to be founded upon the site of a Roman stronghold, and Grosnez Castle is said to have been built as a place of refuge, probably in the 14th century.