CH. vi] Sandy Soils 113 



The management of sandy soils turns on the method 

 by which the organic matter is to be added. 



(1) If stable manure is available in large quantities 

 a succession of heavy crops can be obtained, and re- 

 course is then often had to market gardening: this is 

 done on the sands near London, around Sandy in Bed- 

 fordshire, in parts of Essex and elsewhere. Where the 

 market facilities are not quite so good potatoes can be 

 grown on a dressing of 12-15 tons of stable manure, 

 and a mixture of artificials rich in potash; a grain crop, 

 two "seeds" crops, and another grain crop can then be 

 grown on the residues and without further manure. The 

 aftermath of the first seeds crop can be fed ofE with hay, 

 cake, etc., while the aftermath of the second is ploughed 

 in. The adoption of this method in Hertfordshire has 

 enabled farmers to prosper on land which previously 

 ruined its occupiers. 



(2) The organic manure may be supplied through the 

 agency of live stock. Sheep may be kept throughout the 

 winter and folded on to green crops such as rape, kale, 

 winter barley, swedes, vetches, etc.; in addition they 

 receive purchased feeding stuffs. The droppings from 

 the animals fertilise the soil and return to it a consider- 

 able part of the substance of the crops and feeding stuffs 

 supplied. Moreover the trampling of the animals has 

 the further advantage of consolidating the land. The 

 sheep have to be fattened and sold before summer or 

 else removed to cooler pastures on higher ground, on 

 chalk, etc. The same principles hold, with suitable modi- 

 fication, where bullocks are kept: home grown fodder is 

 supplemented by purchasedf ceding stuffs, the bullocks are 

 fattened and sold and the manure, whichcontains much of 

 the straw grown on the farm, is carted out on to the land. 



R. s. 8 



