80 REMARKS ON COMrOST FOR TOT PLANTS. 



sionally add as mollifiers, vegetable mould and well rotted dung ; 

 from the judicious mixture and preparation of which, composts may 

 be made to suit plants introduced from any quarter of the globe : 

 first of loam, which is a loose friable kind of earth, the constituent 

 particles of which crumble and separate easily in the hand ; it is of 

 various textures, the strongest approaching to clay, and so down in 

 several shades, until the lightest becomes nearly similar to strong 

 sandy peat. It is found of different colours, viz., black, yellow, red, 

 &c. &c. ; sometimes, also, it partakes of a saponaceous quality ap- 

 proaching to a marie ; this when predominant is not recommendable 

 for general use ; yet there are some articles for which it may be used 

 with considerable success. 



Yellow or red seems to be the natural colour of maiden loam, as 

 either will change to black as they become more or less mixed with 

 other extraneous substances, such as dung, &c. Therefore, to have 

 it pure, which is very material, one should prefer either of these, 

 if they can be conveniently procured. The places to look for this 

 kind of earth, is generally in fields that have not been broken for a 

 long series of years ; also sheep downs, or commons most frequently 

 nmning in dry banks perhaps throughout the whole; its strata is of 

 various thicknesses, sometimes being little more than that which 

 forms the turf or upper sward, and at other times lying from one or 

 two, to three or four feet under the surface. That is generally the 

 best which is of a moderate depth, being more within the ameliorating 

 powers of the sun and atmosphere ; the other lying deeper, being 

 known to abound with crude unqualified matter very unfavourable 

 to the growth of tender plants, unless exposed in the compost yard 

 for a year or two to the weather, whereby, it will become fit for all 

 strong growing woody kinds, or fruit trees in general. 



Loam, being found answerable to the purpose for which it is de- 

 signed, it should be immediately carted home and heaped in a clean 

 part of the compost yard for a few months, so that the turf, and fibres 

 of the grass, may have sufficient time to decay, and the whole become 

 more qualified for use through the action of the season : when it has 

 lain thus for some time together, it will be found to be in a very good 

 state for working. 



This sort of soil is particularly adapted for striking cuttings in 

 general, on account of its firm close texture, and the twofold quality 



