o9 SOl-LS. 



linsuandry on one soil, would be inexcusably bad oa a 

 different one. By availing liiniself ofthe qualities it pos- 

 sesses, or by removing its delects, his prolits are much 

 increased. Indeed such is the importance of the soil, 

 and the necessity of" adapting his system to its peculiar 

 properties, that no general system of cultivation can be 

 laid down, unless, all the circumstances regarding it be 

 well known. 



Perhaps all the simple soils of importance that are 

 found on or near the surface ofthe earth in this country 

 may consist of, clay, loam, gravel, and saiul. There is 

 not one of these earths, in its unmixed state, that is so 

 iriendly to the growth of plants, as when mixed with 

 some other sorts; and it is happy for us that nature in 

 most places has blended them. Thus we have sandy-, 

 ioam, gravelly-loam^ sandy-clay, gravelly-clay, Uq. 



CLAYEY SOIL. 



A clay soil, though distinguished by the colour which 

 jt bears, namely black, white, j^ellow, and red, differs 

 i'rom all other soils, being tough, wet, and cold, and 

 consequently requiring a good deal of labour from 

 the husbandman before it can be sufficiently pulverized, 

 Ol placed in a tit state for bearing artificial crops of 

 grain or grass. Clay soil is known b}' these properties: 

 it holds water like a dish: it feels smooth and somewhat 

 unctions : when once wetted it does not soon dry. In 

 like manner, when thoroughly dry, it is not soon wetted 

 — if we except the varieties which have a thin surface, 

 and are the worst of all to manage. In a dry summer, 

 clay cracks, and shows a surface full of small chinks. If 

 ploughed in a wet state, it sticks to the plough like 

 mortar, and in a dry summer the plough turns it up in 

 iiTeat clods. Those which are soft, unctions, and easi- 

 ly improved are valuable; while those which have been 

 deposited by the sea, or muddy streams, are still more 

 HO. The quality of a clay soil can generally be deter- 

 mined from its natural productions. 



A clay soil must always be made rich ; if poor, it is 

 the most ungrateful of all soils. A stiff clay, if in tillage, 

 demands opening by a mixture of sand and dung. Sand 

 procured at the beach below high water mark (on ac- 

 count cf its saltoess,) is best. This should be laid 2 



