

ENGLISH AGRICULTURE. 51 



purpose ; but a cylinder of clay taken from a clay soil is very 

 tough, and indicates the tenacious character of the soil. 



These are the leading appearances so far as surface soil 

 is concerned. 



Next we come to an examination of the sub-soil. It is 

 most important that the soil should rest upon a wholesome 

 sub-soil. By the term " sub-soil " I prefer that you should 

 understand the ground beneath the plough-sole. We might 

 speak of " a soil six feet deep " ; but I should prefer saying 

 that the soil and the sub-soil are alike fertile in character. 

 For our purpose as teachers I am sure that it is well to 

 define the sub-soil as I have done, as the section of the 

 ground which lies immediately under the plough-sole. 



Of course a sub-soil of equal character equal appearance 

 and colour and texture with the surface soil is a most 

 happy combination. It indicates great fertility. It is to be 

 seen in what are called " alluvial " soils. We get there a 

 deep bed of alluvium, in which it is very difficult to discrimin- 

 ate between soil and sub-soil ; and in such cases, owing to 

 the sorting action of water, we find both soil and sub-soil 

 rest, deeper down, upon a gravel bed. In all river deposits the 

 stones sink to the bottom and the finer materials accumulate 

 on the top. Hence alluvial soils usually lie upon a gravel 

 bed, and the river which divides them secures their thorough 

 drainage. Alluvial soils are invariably rich. Where soil and 

 sub-soil, then, are of similar character, we have a happy 

 combination. Many good soils rest too immediately upon 

 gravel. Such soils are excellent as long as the seasons are 

 fairly moist, but readily burn up and become brown as a 

 turnpike under the influence of a prolonged drought. Where 

 a good soil rests upon a gravelly sub-soil we have a burning 

 soil, and also what may be called a hungry soil ; that is, a 

 soil which too rapidly allows fertilizing matter to pass through 

 it into the deeper and more inaccessible layers of the soil. 



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