20 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



and put to their appropriate use, they are esteemed as among 

 the choicest of the farmer's acres. 



SANDY SOILS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. The character 

 and treatment of sandy soils, are in almost every particular 

 the reverse of those of clay. They do not possess the 

 property of adhesiveness, and they have but little affinity for 

 water, which escapes from them almost as soon as it falls. 

 They have- but a slight hold upon the manures which are 

 diffused through them ; they are loose in their texture, and 

 may be plowed at any time, but with most advantage when 

 wet. The sowing or planting should follow immediately. 



As clay soils are much benefited by a mixture of sand, so 

 likewise are sandy soils greatly improved by the addition of 

 clay, yet in a much higher degree ; for though it would never 

 pay, as a general rule, to add sand to clay, yet the addition of 

 a few loads of the stiffest clay to a light sand, would in almost 

 every instance, much more than compensate for the trouble 

 and expense. For this purpose, the clay should be thinly 

 spread in autumn, upon sward land previously plowed, and 

 the winter's frost will effectually separate the particles. It 

 should then be harrowed thoroughly and deeply in the spring, 

 and subsequently plowed if necessary. Such a dressing on 

 a light crawling sand, is more than equivalent to an equal 

 quantity of the best manure, and will be permanent in its 

 effects. Clay and sand are necessary to each other, as they 

 both contain qualities which are essential to a good soil ; and 

 that will always be found the best, which has the proper 

 proportion of each. 



Sandy soils are improved by the frequent use of a heavy 

 roller ; it cannot , be used too often. They require to be 

 made more compact, and any treatment that secures this 

 object, will be advantageous. 



Lime, by its chemical action on the constituents of soils, 

 while it separates clay, renders sand more adhesive ; and 

 when cheaply obtained, it is always a profitable dressing for 

 sandy soils, to the full amount they may require. Gypsum, 

 in considerable quantities, has an effect similar to lime, both 

 on clay and sand ; and when added in smaller portions, pro- 

 duces a striking increase in the crops of sandy soils. Clay 

 marls, containing either carbonate, sulphate, or phosphate 

 of lime, are of great value to sandy soils. Equally bene- 

 ficial are ashes, leached or unleached, peat, or vegetable 

 manures of any kind. Some calcareous sands, containing 

 a large proportion of lime, like those of Egypt and exten- 



