488 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



[No. 8 



which, when mixed with water, forms plaster. 

 Gypsum has been highly extolled as a manure, 

 particularly lor grass laud : yet its use, as we have 

 already seen, has not been generally persisted in ; 

 but there can be no doubt that it acts as a powerful 

 stimulant to vegetation, and probably future ex- 

 perience may induce its more frequent employ- 

 ment. 



These are a Cew of the names given to the dif- 

 ferent earths Ibund on the surface of our globe. In 

 beholding their individual structure and stratified 

 appearance, we cannot be otherwise than con- 

 vinced that even the hardest were once in a state 

 effusion; and that the various strata have been, 

 at greater or lesser intervals of time, superposed 

 on each other by the mighty agents of nature. 

 According to their situation or composite charac- 

 ter, these strata are denonfmated first, second, or 

 third Ibrmations. Of these, other deposites are 

 formed, called shifted formations — because they 

 have been removed ti-om a first to a second place. 

 In these transitions, fire, as well as water, has been 

 achve ; as its efiects in the disruption, translbrma- 

 lion, and elevation of parts ol the various strata 

 sufficiently evince. 



Eut It is to that grand convulsion of nature, the 

 flood, and to many local and partial inundations 

 which have since taken place, that the present hab- 

 itable face of the earth has received its peculiar 

 character as to the undulations, consistence, and 

 qualities of its varied surface ; for whether the land 

 emerged Irom the deep, or was only overflowed for 

 a time, the effects of the surface by the subsiding 

 waters would be the same. Hence we see that the 

 mos-t ponderous and solid accumulations resisted the 

 current, and the loose and lightest were removed to 

 a distance; the dilierent deposites taken place ac- 

 cording to their specific gravities, or the strength of 

 the current which bore them along. Of these dif- 

 ferent earths, deposited as we find them at the 

 present day, the Ibregoing are the principal. The 

 cultivable surtace, or soil, is compounded of dis- 

 solved portions of these dilferent earths in various 

 degrees of commixture, each possessing diflierent 

 properties and qualities, more or less favorable to 

 the growth and sustentation of plants ; and this 

 according to the quantity of decomposed vegetable 

 or animal matter they may contain. As they dif 

 fer in constitutional composition, and as they are 

 variously ali'ected by the changes of weather, so 

 also do they require ilifierent culture, as remains to 

 be shown. 



Clmjs. 



From the brief description already given of this 

 soil, it will appear that it is impervious to, and re- 

 tentive of, water ; and therelbre the laying it as 

 dry as possible is the first and only practical means 

 of" improvement. A clayey surtace is generally 

 undulating and declivous, consequently favorable 

 for the operations of the drainer. JJiagonal, or 

 gently winding furrows, or underground drains, 

 carry off water much more steadily and effectually 

 than laid in direct or precipitous channels, because 

 there is less hazard of the current being so impetu- 

 ous as to disturb the retaining sides or block up by 

 drift tiie openings of the drains, or course of the 

 furrows. Hence we see in old husbandry the pro- 

 priety of| or the reason for laying the lands or ridges 

 in such tortuous or winding directions, and v/ilhal 



so much gathered in the middle. Ey this disposi- 

 tion of the surface, water is effectually, though 

 slowly discharged; and the whole laid and kept 

 dry.* In laying the surface in due form, the 

 plough is the only efficient implement ; but where 

 local circumstances oppose the completion by the 

 plough alone, the spade must be employed. l)eep 

 ditches are always necessary in a clayey country; 

 for the soil imbibing but little of hasty showers, 

 heavy rain, or melting snow, outlets should be 

 numerous as well as capacious. Before underta- 

 king an expensive design of underground draining, 

 the depth of the surface stratum of clay should be 

 ascertained ; because, if it reposes on a bed of 

 grave!, chalk, or stone, the surface v/ater may be 

 got rid of with but little trouble. Openings made 

 through the clay in places where surface water na- 

 turally settles, will probaijly allow all excess to 

 sink. 



It is hardly necessary to allude to the great ad- 

 vantages arising from the perfect drainage of a 

 clay soil : it gives firmness to the sur;;ice, thereby 

 facilitating alfthe operations of cultivation ; it adds 

 an extra warmth to the air above it ; manures the 

 crops earlier, and more perfectly ; and renders 

 all trespassing of cattle or carriages less inju- 

 rious. 



The next most important aim of the cultivator 

 of clay land is to counteract the natural tendency 

 of it to run together. This can only be done by 

 deep ploughing, and incorporated with the staple 

 any kind of friable earth — such as sand, chalk, 

 marl, and manures of all kinds. These, besides 

 enriching the land, keep it more porous, and con- 

 sequently more penetrable by all atmospheric in- 

 fluences. The dee[)er the staple the mere fertile 

 it is, and also more manageable on all occasions. 

 Any excess of rain received upon the surface 

 sinks away therefrom to the bottom of the staple, 

 or arable superstratum; and though it maybe 

 upheld by the undisturbed pan, it oozes imper- 

 ceptibly away over it to the lower end of the 

 slope. 



Much attention is required with regard to the 

 time, or rather to the state, of a clay soil which is 

 about to be ploi'ghed. If too dr}', it breaks up in 

 unmanagable clods very difficult to be reduced to 

 requisite fineness for sowing; and if too wet, it 

 lies sodden in whole furrows, poached into holes 

 by the feet of cattle, and altogether unreducible 

 by the harrows. The due temperament is when 

 the clods can be crushed without kneading under 

 the foot or roller. In this state it may be got in 

 order for any crop with the common implements. 



* It must however be admitted, tliat great loss and 

 inconvenience arise from this ancient mode. In undu- 

 lating countries the lands are decidedly the best to be 

 as nearly flat as the formation of the furrows will ad- 

 mit — and in low districts, the fall for the water is re- 

 duced in equal ratio with the raising of the ridges. 

 Tliis robs the furrows of their due portion of soil — 

 keeps them so fidl of moisture as to pre\'ent their be- 

 ing made, or kept, free from weeds and aquatic grasses 

 — ^imd renders all the operations of the husbandman 

 more troublesome to perform. On sheep-farms these 

 hollow furrows ought never to be seen, as the loss oc- 

 casioned by the death of sliocp from getting "over- 

 laid" in tlicm, would amply repay the expense of le- 

 velling them, without burying the better soil. For the 

 mode of executing this work, see Reports of Select 

 Farms, No. V. Scoreby Pp. 13, 14 in the Farmer's 

 Series of the Library of Useful Knowledge. 



