Soil. 19 



from the hole he excavates, where there is a declivity. 

 Hence it has been remarked by some, that loose-soiled hills, 

 will pay better in rabbit-warrens, than under any other 

 mode of occupation ( 5S ). Others maintain, that planting is a 

 more profitable appropriation of such hills; but this is con- 

 sidered to be erroneous, as shall be afterwards explained in 

 the Section on Plantations. (Chap. IV. Sect. 4). 



Sandy soils, however, of a good quality, under a regular 

 course of husbandry, are of great value. They are easily 

 worked, and at all seasons ; they are cultivated at a mode- 

 rate expense; are not so liable to injury from the vicissi- 

 tudes of the weather ; and in general are sufficiently reten- 

 tive of moisture, to produce good crops even in dry sum- 

 mers ( S6 > 



The crops raised on sandy soils are numerous, such as 

 common turnips, potatoes, carrots, barley, rye, 

 buck-wheat, pease, clover, sainfoin, and other grasses. 

 This species of soil, in general, has not strength enough for 

 the production of Swedish turnip, beans, wheat, oats, flax, 

 or hemp, in any degree of perfection, without much im- 

 provement in its texture, the addition of great quantities of 

 enriching manure, and the mast skilful management ( 57 ). 



It is of great advantage to sandy soils, when under a course 

 of cultivation, either to fold sheep upon them, or to con- 

 sume the crops of turnips upon the ground where they 

 are raised. These practices, greatly contribute to the im- 

 provement of such soils ; which are thence enabled to pro- 

 duce luxuriant crops of corn, not only by the dung and 

 urine thus deposited, but by the consolidation and firmness 

 of texture which the treading of the sheep occasions. 

 When they are cultivated, manure should be frequently ap- 

 plied, and the vegetable matter should be less decomposed 

 or rotted, than on other soils. Some farmers, likewise, 

 insert the putrescent manure they employ, at a consider^ 

 able depth, (8, 10, or 12 inches), to prevent a too rapid 

 decomposition. 



The carrot husbandry, in the " Sandlings" of Suffolk, as 

 they are called, is one of the most interesting objects to be 

 met with in British agriculture. After all expenses are 

 defrayed the profit is considerable ; and the carrots are found 

 to be an admirable preparation for other crops ( 58 ). Some 

 prefer fattening bullocks with them ; while others, who have 

 the advantage of water-carriage, think it most beneficial to 

 send them to the London market. 



In Norfolk and Suffolk it is found that sandy soils, with 

 a subsoil of chalk, or other calcareous substance near the 



B 2 



