II.] PROPORTIONS OF CLA Y AND SAND n 



garden soil, but if we wish to be accurate, any one may 

 ascertain this for himself by a simple experiment. 



Let him take a trovvelful of soil out of the garden, dis- 

 solve it in water, boil it ; in a little time the sand, which is 

 the heavier, will be on the bottom. When the water evapor- 

 ates he can measure the sand and the clay respectively. 



In this way it will be found that in the soil taken, 

 e.g. from : 



Garden A., sand is present to the extent of over 80 

 per cent. ; this is sandy soil. 



Garden B., sand is found to be between 60 and 80 

 per cent ; this is sandy loam. 



Garden C. contains from 40 to 60 per cent, of sand ; 

 this is typical loam. 



Garden D. contains only from 20 to 40 per cent of 

 sand ; this is clayey loam. 



Where there is less than 20 per cent, of sand it is 

 clay pure and simple. 



In a garden where the soil contains less than 40 per cent. 

 of sand, the gardener's object will be to add as much gritty 

 matter as will bring it nearer the standard or typical loam, 

 to stir and pulverise it so that it may become sufficiently 

 porous to admit air and sun; and, on the other hand, 

 where there is too large a proportion of sand, enough to 

 render it too porous i.e. containing a larger amount than 

 60 per cent., under these conditions it cannot hold moisture 

 for the roots and nutriment for the crops ; then there must 

 be added heavier material of the nature of clay, and this 

 must be well mixed with it by digging and trenching. 



