HOW TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL 

 CONDITION OF SOIL 



AN ideal soil is a loam containing about equal amounts of sand and 

 -^^ clay. Such a soil readily absorbs moisture, capillary attraction is 

 perfected, and it permits of free circulation of aii'. 



Sandy Soil 



can be improved, first, by the addition of clay, the amount depending 

 upon the fineness of the sand; second, by the addition of peat or muck, 

 and, third, by mixing with it barnyard manures. When barnyard 

 manure is mixed with sandy soil, it should be well rotted and thoroughly 

 worked into the soil with the disc. 



It has been demonstrated that a sandy soil which is absolutely 

 unproductive for agricultural purposes, will produce very abundantly 

 by the addition of manures. The amount of plant food required to 

 make the crop being greatly in excess of the available plant food in the 

 manure, indicating that the sand contained fertility, but valueless 

 because of the absence of organic matter. By adding peat or manure, 

 sandy soils absorb moisture readily, and it is retained much longer than 

 if the organic substances were not added. The organic matter also 

 tends to regulate the temperature of the soil. Where the subsoil is clay, 

 sandy soils are greatly improved by plowing deep enough to bring some 

 of the clay into the seed-bed and subsequently applying manure or 

 plowing under green crops. 



Clay Soil 



if tilled when wet, puddles, and when the moisture evaporates, it con- 

 tracts, cracks and becomes so hard that it is not tillable. By the addi- 

 tion of coarse sand, it becomes mellow and more permeable to moisture. 

 By the further addition of peat or organic matter in the form of barn- 

 yard manures, it is made mellow, permeable, does not puddle, crack or 

 become hard. The amount of peat or manures to add depends entirely 

 upon the fineness of the soil particles composing the clay. Plowing 

 under green crops is very beneficial to both clay and sandy soils. 



Calcareous Soil 



or soil in which lime exists in great quantities, is apt to be coarse, 

 thereby hindering capillary attraction. Such a soil is made tillable 

 and productive by the addition of organic matter, either in the form of 

 peat, muck or well-rotted manures. 



Peaty Soil 



is improved by the addition of clay or sand. Because this soil contains 

 an excessive amount of nitrogen and organic matter, it is benefited by 

 the application of caustic lime. 



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