5O2 OCTOBER. 



of adhesion in the soil. Stiff land being dry and 

 crumbly, is a great perfection, and sand being ad- 

 hesive, is an equally good sign. When, therefore, 

 the farmer views a light sandy loam, whose sound 

 dry ness is acknowledged, he may presume the soil 

 is richy in proportion to its adhesion. If it falls flat 

 in powder, and has no adhesion, it is a mere sand. 

 The white chalky marm is often cold and wet, will 

 not bear ploughing in winter, unless the weather is 

 very dry or frosty ; runs excessively to mortar with 

 a heavy shower when in a pulverized state. It is a 

 cold soil, of little profit, except with peculiar ma- 

 nagement ; but answers best when dry laid down to 

 sainfoin. 



In general, let him lay it down as a maxim, that 

 strong, harsh, tenacious clay, though it will yield 

 great crops of wheat, is yet managed at so heavy an 

 expence, that it is usually lett for more than it is 

 worth. Much money is not often made on such 

 land. The very contrary soil, a light, poor, dry 

 sand, is very often, indeed, in the occupation of men 

 who have made fortunes. Some permanent ma- 

 nure is usually below the surface, which answers 

 Well to carry on ; and sheep, the common stock of 

 such soils, is the most profitable sort he can de- 

 pend on. 



All stiff soils are viewed to most advantage in 

 winter : the general fault of them is wetness, which 

 is in the greatest excess at that season of the year. 

 If the fields are level, and the water stands in the 

 land, notwithstanding the furrows are well ploughed 



anxl 



