CLAY, SAND, ETC. 95 



to Northern, and Southern fields might be enriched rapidly, 

 since their long season permits of plowing under several 

 growths. 



Lime and potash in their various forms, in connection 

 with green crops, would give permanent fertility to every 

 heavy acre of Southern land. In my judgment, however, 

 barn-yard manure is not surpassed in value by any other 

 in any latitude. If one owned clay land from which he 

 could not secure good crops after the preparation that has 

 been suggested, he had better either turn it into a brick-yard 

 or emigrate. 



Sandy Ground. — Suppose that, in contrast, our soil is a 

 light sand. In this case the question of cultivation is 

 greatly simplified, but the problem of obtaining a heavy 

 crop is correspondingly difficult. The plow and the culti- 

 vator run readily enough, and much less labor is required 

 to keep the weeds in subjection, but as a rule, light land 

 yields little fruit ; and yet under favorable circumstances I 

 have seen magnificent crops of certain varieties growing on 

 sand. If sufficient moisture and fertility can be maintained, 

 many of our best varieties will thrive and produce abun- 

 dantly ; but to do this is the very pith of our difficulty. Too 

 often a sandy soil will not retain moisture and manure. 

 Such light land is generally very deficient in vegetable 

 matter ; and therefore, whenever it is possible, I would turn 

 under green crops. If the soil could be made sufficiently 

 fertile to produce a heavy crop of clover, and this were 

 plowed under in June, and then buckwheat harrowed in and 

 its rank growth turned under in August, strawberries could 

 be planted as soon as the heat of decay was over, with ex- 

 cellent prospects of fine crops for the three succeeding 

 years. Did I propose to keep the land in strawberries, I 

 would then give it another year of clover and buckwheat^ 



