SOILS TUEli; CHARACTERISTICS. 39 



CHAPTER II. 



SOILS — THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. 



Soils. — In all climates the character of the soil is of 

 as much importance as situation or aspect. Soils are of 

 two classes. They may be composed of matter derived 

 directly from the decay of rock, like clay, loam, sand, 

 lime, and other earthy and alkaline matters. Such a soil 

 is classed as inorganic. Soils may likewise originate from 

 the action and decay of plants and animals (organized 

 beings), as, for example, peat, mould, and shell marl. 

 Such a soil is classed as organic. A good soil is the result 

 of the proper union of both these classes. 



The mechanical texture of 'a soil is likewise especially 

 to be regarded, as on this depends the proper retention of 

 manure and moisture. There are two grand divisions of 

 soils, the heavy and light, which pass into each other by 

 imperceptible gradations. 



The best classification of soils is that of Schubler, a 

 German, and is founded entirely upon the relative pro- 

 portions of the chief constituents of all soils — viz., clay, 

 sand, lime, and humus. He classes them as follows: 



Argillaceous Soils. — These contain over fifty per cent, 

 of clay, and are readily known by their tenacity and 

 greatness to the feel, caused by the predominance of the 

 clay in them. They are difficult to work, and in dry 

 weather bake like brick and are not permeable to light 

 dews and rains. In drying, they crack, exposing, in sum- 

 mer, the large roots of plants to the air and sun, and 

 breaking the smaller ones. After heavy rains they be- 

 come so saturated that they are for a long time unfit to 

 work, and the plants therein die from excess of moisture. 



