506 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



brick, and dry earth like it, from their impenetrability to air, 

 are less easily cooled and attract less clew than the peaty earth, 

 and why it is desirable to prevent the surface from becoming 

 hard during the spring evaporation, lest it become too hot 

 afterwards. 



This radiative and evaporative power, in connection with a 

 capability of absorbing moisture, is the chief test of the value 

 of soils for cultivation. You thus see that our peaty meadows, 

 to be rendered desirable in spring, must be relieved of their 

 superfluous water, not only because the process of evaporation 

 is extremely slow, but because its effects upon the summer 

 drought are disastrous, and, when properly relieved of their 

 water from their absorptive powers, (that is, the tendency to 

 attract and condense moisture,) are extremely desirable for 

 summer culture ; and therefore the relative value of soils de- 

 pends upon their relative power of absorption and evaporation 

 in the same time. 



We thus see why the light, sandy soils of Plymouth County 

 are the least desirable for summer tillage, and also how best to 

 improve them, by the addition of clay, next peat, and last car- 

 boniferous manures. Peat or clay makes a matrice or bed in 

 the sandy soil, and will hold not only the manures applied, but 

 will also very much increase the moisture during the summer 

 and moderate the tendency to excessive heat. I have put clay 

 first for sandy soils because its powers of absorption surpass 

 that of all other bodies. It would seem that, because dark 

 colors most readily become heated, peaty soils would soon 

 become hot ; but, as I have said, the mechanical nature and high 

 evaporative powers of the material prevent this ; and whilst the 

 dark color would tend to warm them more easily in the spring, 

 the peculiar texture particularly attracts the moisture in sum- 

 mer. Thus, if you would be good farmers, care less at first 

 about manure ; get the peat from the meadow, the clay from 

 the bank, and give your soils as good dressing as is possible for 

 the basis of all future operations. 



It is generally supposed that a peaty soil is good for nothing 

 but grass, and meadows, therefore, are almost always laid down 

 to grass ; but such is not true. A well-drained, deep, peaty 



