PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 207 



degree, according as they contain more or less clay ; 

 and sandy soils possess it in tlie lowest degree of all. 



APPLICATION or MANURES 



395. From what has now been said, it will be seen, 

 that when we spread peat, swamp mud, or fermented 

 manures upon our soils, we not only supply them with 

 organic matter, but we give them that which enables 

 them to draw more from the atmosphere for the ben- 

 efit of our plants. 



896. It will also be seen from the above remark that 

 when we mix clay with a sandy soil, we not only ren- 

 der the soil more compact, more capable of holding 

 water and manures, but w^e make it capable of ab- 

 sorbing nutritious gases — a power which it before 

 lacked. 



897. But suppose such a farm as I a little while ago 

 described were now purchased. The buyer is no lon- 

 ger looking at it with reference to a purchase ; but is 

 solving the question how he shall manage it. Sup- 

 pose it to be in April ; and suppose the purchaser to 

 be in such circumstances that it becomes necessary to 

 make the farm produce the means for its own improve- 

 ment. He cannot make them all at once. It must be 

 a gradual operation, of many years. He finds the 

 buildings out of repair, the fences down, the manure 

 to be put upon the land, ploughing, sowing, planting, 

 hoeing, haying, and summer harvesting, all just be- 



