ALDERNEY and GUERNSEY are described elsewhere (see those heads).
Smix (Sercq, Gers). Great and Little Sark are one island, connected by a natural causeway called the Coupee. They are lofty table-lands, with precipitous sides. The total length of the islands and rocks is about 5 tn. ; the greatest width, including Brechou and the Hurons, about 3 miles. is 8 m. from Guernsey. The principal objects of interest are the pierced rocks, caverns, and fissures. The caves are very rich in zoo phytes. The seigneur is the rev. W. Collings, who resides on the island. There' is one parish church, and a lodging-house for visitors, etc. The coast is very difficult of access, the only entrance to the interior being through a creme or tunnel cut in the rock.
Geology.—Most of the islands are composed of primary or granitic rocks. Alderney is a mass of syenite, with hornblende, porphyry, and occasional sandstone. The struc ture of Guernsey is hard syenite to the n., and gneiss to the south. The geology of Jersey is more varied, presenting a mixture of metamorphic rocks, conglomerates, and sand stones, with syenites and quartzites. Shale and blown sand are also prevalent. Sark is composed of very hard syenite, with veins of greenstone and feldspar. Granite is quarried from all the islands, especially from Guernsey, Herm, and Mt. Mado in Jersey, both for home use and exportation.
The scenery of the Chautiel islands is exquisitely varied and beautiful; probably iu no other area of similar size could be found such a combination of savage rockS' and pleasing landscapes.
The climate of the Channel islands is agreeable and suitable to invalids. The pre vailing winds are from n. and n.w. The mean annual rain-fall is 35 in. in Guernsey, but the climate is not overmoist, the soil being porous anti evaporation rapid. The mean annual temperature of Jersey is 50.8°; of Guernsey, 51.5°, or 2.5' warmer than Greenwich. The range of temperature is very moderate; but the climate of Guernsey is rather more equable than that of Jersey. Aug. is the hottest month; Feb. the cold est. Frost.and snow are rare. The autumns are very beautiful; and a second summer, called the Petit Ete de Saint Martin, generally sets in about Oct. 10, and lasts till the middle of Dee. Flowering plants and shrubs are a fortnight earlier in the spring than in England.
The produce of the islands is principally agricultural; but horticulture and floricul ture are successfully followed—the latter especially in Guernsey. The soil is generally light, deep, and fertile. The system of cultivation is very primitive. The principal manure is sea-weed, which is gathered in vast quantities from the shores, at certain sea sons, under strict regulations. Its annual value to Guernsey alone is estimated at £30,000. A great quanity is burned for the manufacture of kelp and iodine.
The land is held in small parcels ranging from 5 to 20 English acres. The principal crops are hay, wheat, turnips. potatoes, mangel-wurzel, parsnips, arid carrots. The yield of wheat is upwards of 30 bushels to the acre—the average of England being 24. The Channel islands possess an excellent breed of horned cattle, usually known as Akierneys, remarkable for their small size and symmetry, and for the quantity and quality ot the milk which they yield. From 16 to 17 lbs. of butter are sometimes obtained weekly from the milk of 1 cow. Fruit is much cultivated in Jersey, especially the vine, and the peach, apricot, plum. apple; and the pear, the Chau montel, attains extraordinary size. and flavor in Guernsey. About 30,000 bushels of table-fruit are annually exported from the islands to London and Paris. Shrubs and flowers flourish abundantly. The acclimatization society of Loudon receives favorable accounts from tire Guernsey branch of the successful cultivation of the Brazilian arum, for the manufacture of arrow-root, the produce being very large and profitable. Vege tables are plentiful; and the cow-cabbage grows to the height of 10.or 12 feet. The other products of the islands are principally fish, viz., turbot, red mullet, john dory, conger, lawns or sand-eels, also lobsters and oysters, large quantities of which are exported. A considerable traffic is carried on in granite from all the islands; tire blue granite front Guernsey for macadamizing, and tire pink syenite from Mt. Mado, in Jersey, for paving purposes, are highly esteemed, and largely imported into London. The quantity of granite exported annually from the harbor of St. Sampson averages 125,000 tons.