58 TALKS ABOUT THE SOIL. 



The position of the soil is a good indication ; low 

 lands, intervales, and meadows being more likely to 

 contain clay than sand. Higher land, the tops of hills, 

 and mountain-sides would be likely to have more sand 

 than clay. This, like the color, is only a partial test 

 or indication, and must not be taken alone as a guide. 



The best surface indication of any soil is its ap- 

 pearance after a rain. If the water sinks into the 

 ground quickly, and the soil becomes dry soon after 

 the rain has ceased, it probably contains more sand 

 than clay. If after a rain the soil remains wet for 

 some time, or in drying cracks or forms hard lumps, 

 it contains more clay than sand. If the soil when wet 

 sticks to the spade, plough, or other tool we are using 

 to stir the soil, it is a strong clay soil, or clay loam. 

 Another indication is the character of the lumps and 

 clods of soil on the surface after it has been ploughed. 

 If they keep their shape, and do not crumble and 

 break up into loose earth, there is more clay than 

 sand. If the plough turns the soil over freely in a 

 loose mass, it is a sand soil or sandy loam. 



To be more accurate in our investigations, we must 

 try a few experiments. Take, as before, about a peck 

 of the surface soil from the field to be examined ; mix 

 it well, measure off a quarter-part of it, mix it, and 

 place it in a paper bag for safe keeping. Take small 

 samples of this, say one or two ounces, and repeat 

 with the samples every one of our former experiments. 

 Refer to the notes made before, and compare them 

 with the notes made now, and see how near this soil 



