302 



requirements : First the clays, deficient in limestone. 

 These soils need carbonate of lime, and are benefited by 

 phosphorus and manures. The^ rarely call for potas- 

 sium. Second, clays having enough carbonate of lime 

 already in their composition. These are our natural 

 grasslands and are easiest made to grow good grasses. 

 They respond to applications of phosphorus and sprink- 

 lings of manures. In our hot climate and under our 

 burning suns we use up humus faster than they do in 

 England, and so any sort of vegetable matter laid over 

 the land is of great use, even to feed cornstalks and Jet 

 them lie to decay will help grass on these heavy clays. 

 On these limestone clays phosphorus and nitrogen are 

 the deficient elements, but if the phosphorus is supplied 

 commonly clovers will come in, or may be invited in, 

 and will supply the nitrogen. Here one could use basic 

 slag if one were near enough to the seashore to get it 

 at a reasonable cost, since even on these soils there is 

 seldom quite enough of carbonate of lime in the top- 

 soil. Next may be placed sandy soils. These are helped 

 by the use of carbonate of lime, phosphorus, potassium 

 and the seeding in of clovers. Lastly come peaty lands, 

 of which we have less than are found in the Old World ; 

 these are vastly helped by the use of potassium and phos- 

 phorus, but they do not usually need applications of nitro- 

 gen, as this element can be obtained by growing legumes. 

 Thus it will be seen that each man will have to feel 

 his way in this work, testing one substance and another, 

 feeling pretty sure, however, that phosphorus will al- 

 ways help, that the land that, is not benefited by the 

 use of stable manure is a curiosity in America; that 



