VARIETIES OF SOIL. 15 



mate, although we have more rain in the year here ; but my question 

 related more to the choice of lands that are level, such as some of the 

 prairies; or rolling, as, in districts of Pennsylvania, New York and 

 Ohio I mean, if the soil is of equal fertility, which would you con- 

 sider preferable a slightly rolling, or a level soil ? 



A. I should prefer the level soil that is, always providing the 

 water passes away freely. It depends, however, upon the purpose 

 for which the farm is wanted. If for general farming purposes, 

 then, I should say by all means the level land would be best ; but if the 

 farm is used for pasturing or grazing, rolling land would be prefer- 

 able, because cattle will always do better on the slope of hills than 

 they will do on flats. 



Q. Do you know the reason of their doing better, or is your opinion 

 simply derived from observation and general practice ? 



A. I think that there is more change of herbage, and it is sweeter 

 and finer, on the hill-sides, than in the flat lands, where it is too rich. 



Q. In that you are probably correct; and this, too, you consider 

 would be true of almost every other crop, as well as grasses? 



A. Yes; sorghum grown on a hill-side will produce from the same 

 amount of juice one-third more sugar than if grown on bottom lands, 

 and the same principle will be found to be carried through nearly all 

 kinds of vegetation. Melons and grapes that have been planted on 

 rolling ground are always richer in flavor, because they contain 

 more sugar than those on the bottom land. 



Q. What has been your experience with land composed of peat or 

 vegetable mold? 



A. I have always considered it to be the best land for root crops. 

 You can grow a larger quantity of roots such as mangels, beets, tur- 

 nips or potatoes oh such land, with less labor and less manure, than 

 on any other soil; provided always that the subsoil is free from 

 water. 



Q. Have you ever experienced any difficulty in breaking up land of 

 this kind for crops grown the first season? 



A. Yes; on two occasions in my experience in breaking up land of 

 this character, even when thoroughly turned, there was some acidity 

 in the soil that destroyed the roots. Lime would have counteracted 

 all that trouble, if thoroughly mixed with the soil at the rate of fifty 

 to three hundred bushels per acre ; for market gardens or other land& 

 where it can be afforded, the larger quantity would be preferable. 



Q. Do not swamp lands vary very much in character ; and should 

 their treatment not be in accordance with this variation ? 



A. These lands do vary ; some consist wholly of peat or vegetable 

 matter, and some have a large proportion of sand in them. The for- 



