44 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



4. Sand is the most essential of the earthy ingre- 

 dients of a soil, and generally most preponderates ; 

 though where it exceeds eighty per cent, the soil is 

 virtually barren. Clay is next in proportion; but 

 where it is in excess, the soil becomes stubborn, is 

 hard to be worked, and more or less unproductive. 

 Lime exists in the smallest proportion ; and from 

 two to ten per cent, of this in the upper or tillable 

 stratum is deemed sufficient for all the purposes of 

 profitable husbandry. When in excess, it induces 

 barrenness. A calcareous soil is considered condu- 

 cive to the health of the neighbourhood. Organic 

 matter, that is, vegetable or animal, is indispensable 

 in a soil. It is the food of plants. Yet even this 

 is frequently found in too great quantity, as in peat 

 earth, which is often infertile till mixed with earthy 

 ingredients, or brought in contact with fermenting 

 materials. 



5. When an excess of sand, clay, lime, or vege- 

 table matter is discovered to exist, the fault may be 

 remedied by an admixture of the deficient element 

 or elements. When one of the elements is found 

 wanting, it may be supplied by art. Thus a load of 

 clay upon an arid sand, or a load of sand upon a stub- 

 born clay, or a few bushels of lime, or marl, or ashes 

 upon a soil deficient in calcareous earth, are often of 

 more ultimate service than a load of barnyard dung. 

 But, 



6. Both dung and lime are consumed by the grow- 

 ing crops ; and, if the crops are carried off the land, 

 it must be periodically replenished with the same 

 substances, or it will often become deficient in these 

 mate-rial elements of fertility. 



7. The sand and clay of the soil may be likened 

 in their offices to the stomach of the animal ; the 

 lime and salts to the gastric juices, which assist to 

 dissolve the food in the animal stomach, and to the 

 condiments, as salt, pepper, &c., which we employ 

 to stimulate and aid the orgauis and process of di- 



