IIT SITUATION AND SOIL 43 
of results, and the obvious test of value is the rent 
or price demanded and paid. 
But clay land has very much deteriorated in value 
for agricultural purposes of late years, more than any 
other, and it is not now considered, as it used to be, 
the best of all soils for Rose-growing ; and it must 
be remembered that even the best of it is very diffi- 
cult and troublesome to work: it cannot be meddled 
with at all in wet weather, and unless the surface is 
dry harm may be done by even treading on it. 
Planting in such a case is a serious trouble to the 
conscientious Rosarian, who is told to apply the 
most powdery soil to the roots of his Roses and to 
see that it all settles evenly and closely between the 
layers of fibres, if he has nothing at hand but huge 
sticky unbreakable clods. The precious cultivation 
of the hoe, keeping the surface powdery and pre- 
venting evaporation by cracks in dry weather, is a 
serious and difficult task. Even if the land is well 
drained to start with, which is absolutely necessary, 
the lower drainage of the pipes 'may become choked 
by age or neglect of attendance to the outfalls, &c., 
and the upper drainage of the cultivated soil is sure 
to be injured if the ground be trampled on or 
meddled with in a thaw or at any time when the 
soil is wet. 
Tf such land should be the portion of the Rosarian, 
every effort should be made to lighten it, and to 
keep its particles as separate as possible, and 
prevent their being squeezed together in a muddle 
of putty. The agriculturist seeks the aid of frost for 
the disintegration of clay: if the soil be thrown up 
roughly and as much as possible exposed to the air, 
it will found on the first dry time after a thaw in 
