74 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



best soils of the state. Among; these wore specimens from the sand 

 plains near Baldwin and from those near Kalkaska, all of which contained 

 magnesia, i^ime, soda and potash in sufficient quantities for a successful culti- 

 vation 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 experi- 

 mented with these specimens of soils for the purpose of ascertaining their 

 cajiacity 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, having an opening at the 

 bottom large enough to allow water to escape without the loss of any of the 

 soil; and after weighing it carefully he poured water upon the soil until it 

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

 weight of each specimen thus tested necessarily showed its ability to retain 

 moisture. This demonstrated the fact that soils containing the most vege- 

 table matter retain the most moisture, while those containing the largest 

 amount of sand and silica retain the least. 



Experience has also showp us that no tree or plant can retain life any 

 length of time without obtaining moisture in some manner, while many 

 plants will grow luxuriantly when placed in bottles of water which is changed 

 occasionally, without any nutriment more than they obtain from the air and 

 water about them. A man can live a long time without food, provided he 

 is supplied with water, as shown in the case of Dr. Tanner; and there .is 

 really a greater similarity between human life and vegetable life then is gen- 

 erally supposed. Both require light; both require pure air, and are poisoned 

 by noxious gases; and both require water in some form to retain life any 

 considerable length of time. 



If all that has been thus far advanced is true, and I think it will not be 

 disputed, the new query comes up: Can we, as a prerequisite to the suc- 

 cessful cultivation of sandy soils, treat them in such manner that they shall 

 retain moisture sufficient to allow the vegetation that we plant upon these 

 lands to come up to our expectations ? Irrigation of course is out of the 

 question, and we must rely upon fertilizers and a proper mode of cultivation. 

 In selecting fertilizers we must bear in mind that it is not plant food proper 

 that we most need. It is plant drink, if this expression is allowable. We 

 should select fertilizers which will assist natun- in retaining moisture in the 

 ground. Barn-yard manure, when applied alone to sandy soils, does not 

 meet our expectations, for the reason that at the time when it is the most 

 needed much of it is lying on the land in a dry state or is being drifted about 

 by the wind, possessing no more real value than so much pine sawdust. 

 Manure without moisture is as worthless as tea without water in which to 

 steep it. 



The substances, as we have seen, which are more or lees deficient in sandy 

 soils are lime, soda, potash, and magnesia; and these may he supplied in the 

 form of ashes, salt, lime, and plaster, and these, too, are the substances which 

 experience has shown are the most beneficial to the soil, in the matter of 

 fitting it for the retention of moisture. Vve would not by any means discard 

 barn-yard manure, but would ;idvise that it never be used alone, and when 

 used always applied in connection with more or less lime, ashes, and salt, so 

 that its strength shall not be wasted. 



The other improvement that we think might be made in the cultivation 

 of^sandy soils is in the amount of labor bestowed upon the land. Many sup- 



