314 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Undoubtedly the soil to be preferred particularly for fruit and vegetable rais- 

 ing, is that in which there is a reasonable amount of clay, but not enough so 

 that the soil would be termed a clay soil. But we cannot all select such a 

 soil as we might desire were it in our power to make the choice. Those of us, 

 then, who have farms the soil of which does not contain the requisite proportions 

 of alumina and silica to regulate the moisture of dry weather in summer, must 

 seek to remedy the defect. 



Not only this, but a further analysis shows that the soil of our sandy farms 

 is also wanting in a proper supply of lime, soda, potash, magnesia, and certain 

 other ingredients of a first-class soil, which nature would have furnished had 

 the requisite amount of clay been present to retain whatever amounts of these 

 substances came from the vegetation that grew thereon. 



This latter deficiency is not so great, however, as it is generally supposed, as 

 shown by a series of experiments made some years since by Professor Kedzie, 

 of the Agricultural College, consisting of an analysis of specimens of soil from 

 about thirty different localities, including some of the poorest as well as the 

 best soils of the State. 



Among these were specimens from the sand plains near Baldwin, and from 

 those near Kalkaska, all of which contained magnesia, lime, soda, potash in 

 sufficient quantities for a successful cultivation of the soil, were it not for the 

 great deficiency of moisture, or rather the lack of ability in the soil to retain 

 moisture. Dr. Kedzie also experimented with these specimens of soils for the 

 purpose of ascertaining their capacity for retaining moisture. He did this by 

 first removing all sticks, stones, and other foreign substances from the soil, and 

 drying it as thoroughly as possible. He then filled a funnel-shaped vessel hav- 

 ing an opening at the bottom large enough to allow water to escape without 

 the loss of soil, and, after weighing it, he poured water upon the soil until it 

 would retain no more. It was then again weighed, and the difference in weight 

 of each, showed its ability to retain moisture. The result demonstrated that 

 soils containing most vegetable matter retain most moisture; those containing 

 the largest amount of sand and silica retain the least. Experience has also 

 taught that no tree or plant retains life without obtaining moisture, while many 

 plants grow luxuriantly placed in bottles of water, without nutriment more 

 than they obtain from the air and water. A man can live long without food 

 if he is supplied with water, as in the case of Dr. Tanner, and there is a 

 greater similarity between human and vegetable life than is generally supposed. 



Both require light, pure air, are poisoned by noxious gases, and require 

 water to retain life. 



If all thus far advanced is true, and I think it will not be disputed, the 

 query comes up, can we treat sandy soils in such manner as to retain moisture 

 sufficient for satisfactory vegetation? 



Irrigation is out of the question, and we must rely upon fertilizers and proper 

 cultivation. In selecting fertilizers, it is not plant food proper that we most 

 need, it is plant drink. We should select fertilizers which will assist nature in 

 retaining moisture. 



Barn-yard manure when applied alone to sandy soils, does not meet our expec- 

 tations, because at the time when most needed, much of it is in a dry state, or 

 drifted about by the wind. Manure without moisture is as worthless as tea 

 leaves without water. 



The substances deficient injsandy soils are lime, soda, potash, and magnesia, 

 anl these may be supplied in the form of ashes, salt, lime, and plaster, the sub- 



