A 



[ '97 J 



Article XXXI. 



On the Nature of Soils. 

 [From a Norfolk Gentleman, to the Secretary. J 



Sir, 



S a knowledge of the different foils is of great 



importance to the farmer, an enquiry into, 

 and defcription of their nature and properties, fo 

 far as relates to the great purpofes of vegetation, 

 feems to claim our firft attention, and to be the 

 ground-work of agriculture. 



Without defcending to thofe nice diftindlions, 

 which are rather fubjecls of curiofity to the philo- 

 fopher, than of ufe to the farmer, we may rank all 

 our varieties of foil under the following heads :^ 



Sand, Gravel, Loam, 



Clay, Chalk, lylarle. 



By different combinations of thefe fabftances, all 

 the intermediate kinds of foil arc formed ; and 

 upon a proper mixture of them, in certain pro- 

 portions, depends the general fertility of the earth, 

 and the fuccefs of the farmer's labour. 



In the nature of foils, the two extremes are, 



tough wet clay, and loofe dry fand. Each of 



Vol. II. O thefe 



