MANURES FOR SPECIAL SOILS 211 



of basic slag on such soils clovers are encouraged to grow, 

 and the increased production of vegetation includes increased 

 transpiration by foliage, which is only possible with increased 

 root activity, resulting in the removal of water from the 

 soil. At the same time, the clover roots open up the surface 

 soil, and do much to improve its physical properties. Some- 

 times this heavy soil is wet because it lies at a lower level 

 than the surrounding farms ; in that case it is the cultivation 

 of the surrounding farms that should be improved. By more 

 intensive systems of cultivation, wet, heavy land can often 

 be completely reclaimed. 



For heavy land sulphate of ammonia is not always 

 suitable, although as a top dressing it is valuable enough. 

 Nitrate of soda is very commonly used for the mangold 

 crop, but is not a fertilizer particularly well suited to heavy 

 soils, as it is apt to leave soda behind and render the soils 

 very sticky. Basic slag is the most important manure for 

 heavy lands ; superphosphate and lime will also do very well, 

 but the expense is greater, and as heavy lands are expensive 

 lands to manage under any circumstances, this is a serious 

 item ; potash manures are rarely of much value, since fairly 

 liberal dressings of farmyard manure are generally applied. 



Peaty Soils. Peaty soils are usually very wet and retain 

 water easily ; they may dry out rapidly on the surface, but 

 they are apt to be sour, and make bad seed beds. L,ime and 

 basic slag are necessary for starting cultivation on these 

 peaty soils, although, after plants have been established, 

 attention should be paid to more expensive fertilizers. L,arge 

 crops of potatoes have been obtained on these kinds of soil, but 

 continuous attention is needed to prevent peaty soils from 

 returning to their original infertile character. Drainage is 

 often an essential preliminary to cultivation. Sulphate of 

 ammonia and nitrate of soda on these soils are very valuable 

 as top dressings. After basic slag and lime have been used, 

 fairly liberal mixed manures, superphosphate, sulphate of 

 ammonia and potash salts may be employed with success. 

 In the Fen district it has been found necessary to keep water 

 out of the land by draining on a large scale, 



