rULYEDIZATIOIT OF LIGHT SOILS. 127 



stagnant condition. We have already demonstrated, 

 in the chapter on " Drainage," that water should be 

 in motion, by percolation, to be beneficial. Clay 

 soils, or those having such a subsoil, prevent the 

 free action of drains, because the impervious clayey 

 stratum holds in check the water in its flow toward 

 the pipes. But this will be again considered. 



Soils are often unfertile because of their too light 

 consistency. Such land may be made productive by 

 pulverization. The idea which first presents itself 

 is, that such a course would render it lighter, and 

 consequently more sterile. We argue, however, 

 that its openness is decreased by such treatment, 

 and its firmness augmented. The coarse particles 

 of the soil become disintegrated by frequent ex- 

 posure to the atmosphere, and they consequently 

 lie more compactly in proportion as their size is 

 lessened. A practical illustration is at hand. 



A gentleman, when purchasing an estate in Mas- 

 sachusetts, hesitated at first, on account of the ex- 

 treme lightness and sterility of the land. The 

 surface-soil w^as but two inches in depth, while the 

 subsoil consisted of but four, of light yellow, sandy 

 loam, which rested upon sand and gravel. The 

 depth of cultivation in the neighborhood was not 

 more than from three to four inches, as the farmers 

 dreaded to plough up the sand, because it was 

 thought that it still more impoverished the soil. 

 Contrary to these agricultural traditions, he ploughed 



