CROPS TO SOILS. 



183 



It will be perceived that the wheat soils possess from 

 40 to 81 per cent, of clay, from 4 to 36 of carbonate of 

 lime, and from 4 to 11 J of humus, or geine. Lime seems 

 to be an indispensable ingredient in a wheat soil. Neither 

 barley, oats, nor rye, and we may extend the remark to 

 Indian corn and turnips, and indeed to many other farm 

 products, requires carbonate of lime, though this always 

 gives a chemical and mechanical improvement to the 

 soil, by rendering sands more compact, and more reten- 

 tive of moisture and manure, and clays more light and 

 pervious to atmospheric and solar influence, and to the 

 roots of the crop. All the soils in which sand pre- 

 dominates over clay, are best adapted to the growth of 

 Indian corn, turnips, clover, &c., though the product will 

 depend on the soluble organic matter in the soil, and the 

 fidelity of the culture. 



Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are alluvial soils of the richest quality, 

 and embrace much of the land upon the lower flats of riv- 

 ers coming from secondary and transition formations, and 

 a large portion, it is believed, of the secondary formation 



