166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



often deflcient in potash, and respond at once to an application of 

 wood ashes. Loams differ so much that but few facts can be stated 

 that will be applicable to all. 



Cla3-s are our finest and richest soils. They are composed of 

 very fine particles mostly from slate and feldspathic rocks and are 

 rich in potash but are often deficient in lime. Hence lime and plas- 

 ter are usually good for clay lands. Most of the cla}' has been 

 washed out of the soil on our hills and brought down aud deposited 

 in the valleys near the streams. While clays are usually rich in the 

 necessary elements required by the plants, and the particles of which 

 they are composed are very fine, both of which are favorable 

 to plant growth, unless it is mixed with a good proportion 

 of sand or gravel and some decayed vegetable matter, it is 

 too adhesive to pulverize b3' cultivation, and holds too much water 

 in wet weather, and becomes too hard iu dry weather to allow the 

 roots of plants to penetrate through it, and it is only b\' thorough 

 drainage and skillful cultivation when the soil is dry that stiff clays 

 can be made to produce good crops. But when clay has a sufficient 

 proportion of sand and gravel and vegetable matter to allow the 

 water to pass down through it, aud the roots to follow, and will 

 crumble readily by the plow and harrow we have an excellent soil 

 And the fault is the farmers if he does not raise good crops, and 

 that too without exhausting his land. It must be borne in mind that 

 while clay loams are rich soils but very little of our best soils ever 

 contain all of the elements required in proper proportions and proper 

 condition to feed the plants. Clays differ much in texture and con- 

 stituent elements, and while lime is often deficient, it is sometimes 

 abundant and some other element may be wanting. It is the busi- 

 ness of the farmer to find out what is wanting and supply it. The 

 way to do this is to ask the land. So long as nature, by the soil, 

 the air and the water, supplies ten or twelve of the necessary ele- 

 ments the farmer should cheerfully and promptly supply the three 

 or four lacking ones, especially as these are only required in small 

 quantities, and nature provides these also if we will but search for 

 them and bring them to the right place and apply in the right con- 

 dition. 



Peat soils are those which consist mostly of decayed vegetable 

 matter and are deficient in mineral elements. They are usually 

 low-lying lands and filled with water. They are consequently cold 

 and unproductive. By draining and applying lime with sand or 



