300 AGRICULTURAL TERMS. 



Peatxj Soils, are those of morasses, swamps, &c,, and to be entitled 

 to this application, should consist, according to Sir Humphrey Davy, 

 of one half vegetable matter. 



Perennial Plants, those that do not generally flower the first year, 

 but die down to the ground, and grow up again the next spring, 

 and so on for a number of years, as rhubarb, horse-radish, &,c. 



Primitive Soils, such as exist in primitive or early formations of 

 the globe, destitute of organic remains, as most of those of New- 

 England. 



Professional Gardener, one who has served an apprenticeship to 

 gardening, and understands the processes of culture, propagation, and 

 forcing. 



Root Crops, are potatoes, turnips, beets, carrots, &c., which divide 

 and pulverize the soil by their roots, and keep it clean from weeds. 

 These are called ameliorating crops. 



Saline Soils, are those which become impregnated with marine or 

 common salt, by being flooded with sea-water, or from other causes. 



Sandy Soils, are those which contain, according to Sir Humphrey 

 Davy, at least seven eighths of sand. These are denominated sili- 

 cious soils. 



Secondary Soils, belong to secondary or more recent formations, and 

 abound more or less in organic remains. 



Soil, earth either of one or of several sorts, mixed with decomposed 

 organic matter. 



Soils, see Alluvial, Calcareous, Clayey, Ferrugi?ious, Peaty, Prim- 

 itive, Saline, Sandy, Secondary. 



Soluble Matters, organic matters which can be dissolved by the wa- 

 ters of the soil. 



Stolons, roots that produce suckers or fruits ; as of the potato, which 

 produce tubers, or of the quack or June grasses, which send up 

 shoots or suckers. 



Strata, the plural of stratum, beds or layers of earth or other sub- 

 stances. 



Stratum, a bed, or layer, naturally or artificially formed, distinct from 

 the adjacent matter. 



Under Drains, drains for the conveyance of water, made of stone, tile, 

 or other materials, and covered with earth. 



Vegetables, plants, organized bodies, generally deriving their nour- 

 ishment from the soil. 



Vegetable Manures, vegetable matters which have not undergone the 

 process of animal mastication, as green crops, straw, &c. 



Vegeto-animal Manures, see Animal Manures. 



