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ENGLISH AGRICULTURE. 113 



is worth consideration whether by excavating into the soil 

 we can get such materials. Thirty or forty yards of clay 

 per acre has a wonderful effect in binding together sands ; 

 but a clay soil will swallow up a large amount of sand with- 

 out any effect being produced. In some counties, as in 

 Norfolk for example, marling is thoroughly appreciated ; 

 marl-pits are opened, and forty to sixty cartloads are applied 

 per acre. The lower chalk is the best material for chalking. 

 Large quantities of chalk are brought up the Thames by 

 barge and applied to the heavy soils of the London clay, and to 

 the heavy marine clays which extend still nearer to the Essex 

 coast. 



The mixing and moving of soils may sometimes be carried 

 out with benefit. Where clay and sandy soils exist in close 

 proximity an interchange may be effected with good results, 

 although the effect of clay upon sandy soils will always be 

 more apparent than the reverse operation of adding sand to 

 clay. 



The carting of soil on to bare brows is a work that may 

 rofitably occupy horses during winter. The tendency for 

 ils to slip down hill-sides and gradually accumulate at the 

 ttom of slopes is well known. Every tillage operation 

 nds to effect this result, and in process of time the upper 

 rtion of the hill becomes denuded of soil, while there may 

 an excess of earth at the bottom. The restoration of this 

 il to the upper portion of the field is a beneficial act. 

 Warping has always been recognized as a method of not 

 nly improving, but absolutely making land. The area over 

 hich warping may be practised in this country is restricted 

 the neighbourhood of certain rivers in Yorkshire. The 

 umber, Ouse, and Trent bring down mud in large quantities 

 and deposit it naturally on either side of the estuary of the 

 Humber, thereby forming those alluvial soils on both banks 

 which have already received notice. What is called warping 



