SOILS, DRAINAGE, AND PREPARATION. 23 



over the loam, and laying on a subsoil of pure sand ; this 

 variety of soil is well adapted for Melons, Cucumbers, 

 Sweet Potatoes, Radishes, and Tomatoes, but is almost 

 useless for growing crops of Onions, Cabbages, or Celery. 

 We have still another kind of soil, which I place last, as 

 being of the least value for the purpose of growing vege- 

 tables ; this variety, singularly enough, is found on the 

 highest points only, its color is somewhat lighter than the 

 variety first mentioned ; it is what is termed a clayey loam, 

 averaging ten inches in depth, under which is a thick stra- 

 tum of stiff bluish clay. "With a subsoil of this nature, it 

 is almost useless to attempt to grow early vegetables for 

 market purposes. 



I have just such a soil, as the last mentioned, thoroughly 

 drained three feet deep, the drains only 18 feet apart, and 

 yet, in another garden, that I work, having the two first 

 named soils and only one mile distant, manured and culti- 

 vated the same in all respects, fruits and vegetables are 

 ready from 5 to 10 days earlier. But for the succession, 

 or second crops, such as Celery, etc., this stiff cold soil 

 is just what is wanted ; earliness with these is not the ob- 

 ject, and its " coldness " is congenial to the roots of the 

 late crop. But if selection can be made for general pur- 

 poses, choose a rather dark-colored loam soil, neither 

 " sandy " nor " clayey,'' as deep as can be found, but not 

 less than 12 inches. If it overlay a sandy loam of yellow- 

 ish color, through which water will pass freely, you have 

 struck the right spot, and abundant crops can be raised 

 under proper management. When selecting land, do not 

 be deceived by any one who tells you, that if not natur- 

 ally good, the soil may be made so by cultivation and 



