IMPROVEMENT OF SOILS. 2SS 



ject of Studying the soil, is its amelioration ; the industry of the 

 agriculturist is, in fact, more effectually bestowed, and exerts a 

 greater amount of influence upon the soil than upon all the other and 

 varied agents which favor vegetation. 



To improve a soil is as much as to say that we seek to modify its 

 constitution, its physical properties, in order to bring them into har- 

 mony with the climate and the nature of the crops that are grown. 

 In a district where the soil is too clayey our endeavor ought to be, to 

 make it acquire to a certain extent the qualities of light soils. 

 Theory indicates the means to be followed to effect such a change ; 

 it suffices to introduce sand into soils that are too stiff, and to mix 

 clay with those that are too sandy. But these recommendations of 

 science which, indeed, the common sense of mankind had already 

 pointed out, are seldom realized in practice, and only appear feasible 

 to those who are entirely unacquainted with rural economy. The 

 digging up and transport of the various kinds of soil according to 

 the necessities of the case, are very costly operations, and I can 

 quote a particular instance in illustration of the fact : my land at 

 Bechelbronn is generally strong ; experiments made in the garden 

 on a small scale showed that an addition of sand improved it consid- 

 erably. In the middle of the farm there is a manufactory which 

 accumulates such a quantity of sand that it becomes troublesome ; 

 nevertheless, I am satisfied that the improvement by means of sand 

 would be too costly, and that all things taken into account, it would 

 be better policy to buy new lands with the capital which would be 

 required to improve those I already possess in the manner which has 

 been indicated, I should have no difficulty in citing numerous in- 

 stances where improvements by mingling different kinds of soil were 

 ruinous in the end to those who undertook them. 



A piece of sandy soil, for example, purchased at a very low price, 

 after having been suitably improved by means of clay, cost its pro- 

 prietor much more than the price of the best land in the country. 

 Great caution is therefore necessary in undertaking any improvement 

 of the soil in this direction, — in changing suddenly the nature of the 

 soil. Improvement ought to take place gradually and by good hus- 

 bandry, the necessary tendency of which is to improve the soil. 

 Upon stiff clayey lands we put dressings and manures which tend 

 to divide it, to lessen its cohesion, such as ashes, turf, long manure, 

 &c. But the husbandman has not always suitable materials at his 

 command, and in this case, which is perhaps the usual one, he must 

 endeavor, by selecting his crops judiciously, crops which shall agree 

 best with stiff soils, and at the same time meet the demands of his 

 market, to make the most of his land. In a word, the true husband- 

 man ought to know the qualities and defects of the land which he 

 cultivates, and to be guided in his operations by these ; and in fact 

 it is only with such knowledge that he can know the rent he can 

 afford to pay, and estimate the amount of capital which he can rea- 

 sonably employ in carrying on the operations of his farm. 



In an argillaceous or clayey soil, which we have seen above is the 

 best adapted for wheat in these countries, it would be absurd to per- 



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