ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AXD FARMING. 161 



ble matter, is called loam. Clay lands well manured with 

 sand, dung, or muck, are turned, gradually, to a loam. 



Argillaceous. — From the Latm {argillaceus,) soil prin- 

 cipally composed of clay. 



Alumina or Alumine. — Generally employed to signify 

 pure clay. It is, chemically speaking, a metallic oxide ; 

 aluminium is the metallic base, and is an elementary sub- 

 stance. 



It is generally known that the diamond is pure carbon 

 (charcoal is carbon in an impure state), but it is not as 

 generally known that the ruby and the sapphire, " two of 

 the most beautiful gems with which we are acquainted, are 

 composed almost solely of alumina," or pure clay in a crys. 

 tallized state. 



SiLicious. — An earth composed largely of silex. Silex or 

 silica is considered to be a primitive earth constituting flint, 

 and containing most kinds of sands, and sandstones, etc. 

 China or porcelain, ware is formed from silica and alumina 

 united, i. e, from silicious sand and clay. 



Calcareous. — A soil into the composition of which lime 

 enters largely. Limestone lands are calcareous. Pure 

 clay manured freely with marl becomes calcareous, for marl 

 is, mostly, clay and carbonate of Ume. 



Alluvial. — Strictly speaking, alluvium or our alluvial 

 soil, is a soil formed by causes yet in existence. Thus a 

 l)Ottom-land is formed by the wash of a river. It is usually 

 a mixture of decayed vegetable matter and sand. 



DiLUTiAL. — A diluvial soil or deposit is one formed by 

 causes no longer in existence. Thus a deposit by a deluge 

 is termed diluvial. The word is derived from the Latin 

 {diluvium,), signifying a deluge. 



The terms argillaceous, calcareous, silicious, alluvial and 

 diluvial are constantly employed in all works which treat of 

 husbandry. 



Friable. — A friable soil is one which crumbles easily. 

 Clay is ad/iesive, or in common language clammy: leaf- 



