FARMER'S ASSISTANT. S3 



Sandy soils are, commonly, most profitable in the cultiva- 

 tion of roots of almost every description ; particularly when 

 the soil is well manured, if it be not naturally rich. 



Wheat is not very natural to this soil; but, when in good 

 condition, it will produce tolerably good crops of this grain; 

 particularly when sown on a sward of clover turned under. 

 Rye is natural to this soil. 



The lighter kinds of it are too little retentive of moist- 

 ure, during the heats of Summer, for good crops of Indian 

 corn ; though those which are darker-colored are generally 

 very good for this crop. 



Some particular kinds of grass grow well in this soil, 

 even where it is very light and dry, 

 See GRASSES. 



Sandy soils have this particular advantage; they are 

 easily tilled ; so that, if what is saved in tillage be expend- 

 ed in additional manurings, it is doubtful whether this soil, 

 when skilfully managed, will not be found as profitable to 

 the Farmer as most other lands of midling quality. 

 See IMPROVEMENT OF LANDS, and MANURES, 



Sandy lands are also much pleasanter to till, than most 

 other soils; so that, if pleasure be an object with the 

 Farmer, he will bring that into the account, when forming 

 a proper estimate of the value of this soil. 



A great proportion of the vast and populous empire of 

 China is said to be more or less of sandy soil. 



The county of Norfolk, in Greatbritain, which is said to 

 be now among the most productive tracts in that Country, 

 was, originally, for the most part, a poor light sand. 



In this Country, sandy lands have generally been too 

 little valued: They have been mostly occupied by poor 

 Farmers, who have taken no pains, in the first instance, to 

 give them more stamina, and thus fit them for profitable 

 courses of crops ; but, on the contrary, what little fertility 

 they possessed has usually been exhausted in the produc- 

 tion of poor crops, and thus the soil has at length, in many 

 instances, become almost entirely barren. 



The gravelly soil is that in which gravel forms the 

 largest component part. Pure gravel, like pure sand, is 

 barren ; being nothing more than a collection of pebbles* 

 of a larger kind than those of which sand is composed. A 

 coarse sand, and a fine gravel, may be considered so nearly 

 synonymous, that we will not pretend to draw the line of 

 distinction between them. 



Of the different kinds of stony matter which form the 

 gravelly ingredient, in soils of this description, the slaty or 

 schistic gravel is much the best; particularly where the 

 slate is of a soft crumbly kind ; as such would seem to be 

 in a gradually decomposing state* and usually contains a 



