SOILS. 69 



earthy covering ; but the large requires much moisture, 

 and has force enough to push its way up. 



CHAPTER II. 



SOILS. 

 SECTION 1. DIFFERENT KINDS OF SOIL. 



Soils are usually designated by terms expressive of the 

 predominant material in their composition ; thus we hear 

 of sandy, loamy, gravelly, clayey, calcareous, or limy, and 

 alluvial soils. 



A sandy soil is that in which sand is the principal in- 

 gredient. Such soil is usually quite defective. It is so 

 porous, that it parts almost instantaneously with moisture, 

 and plants in it suffer from drouth. All the soluble 

 parts of manures are also quickly washed out of it, and 

 hence it requires continual additions to produce even a 

 scanty growth. The great point in improving it is to 

 render it more retentive by the addition of clay, ashes, 

 etc. 



A clayey soil is that in which clay predominates. It 

 may be considered the opposite of sandy, inasmuch as its 

 defects are, that it retains moisture too long, is too adhe- 

 sive ; in dry weather it becomes as hard as a burnt brick, 

 impervious to dews or light showers, and when thoroughly 

 saturated with wet, it is tough, and requires a long time 

 to dry. No fruit tree succeeds well in such a soil ; but it 

 is capable of being improved and fitted for many species, 

 and especially the plum and the pear. The obvious way 

 to improve it is, by incorporating with it sand, muck, or 

 leaf mould. 



