IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL. 49 



such a soil than any manure, for the clay will render 

 manures permanent in their effect, which else would 

 leach through without benefit to the crops. The effect 

 of the clay itself is lasting. Lime, as before observed, 

 stiffens the texture of a sandy soil, and gypsum has the 

 same effect. Ashes, leached or unleached, are also an 

 excellent and profitable dressing to such a soil, but the 

 best of all applications is a good clay marl. Peat, vege- 

 table manure, and carbonaceous matters of all kinds, 

 such as refuse charcoal, are good applications to these 

 sandy soils, as they enable them better to retain the fer- 

 tilizing properties of the manure applied, though they do 

 not much affect the texture of the soil. Sandy soils very 

 often rest upon a clay bottom, so that the thorough 

 trenching which a garden should receive will often 

 greatly improve its texture. Working such a soil while 

 wet, and the continual use of the roller will also render 

 it more tenacious. But clay is the great improver, and 

 it is astonishing how small a quantity of fine clay will 

 cement a loose sand into a good loam. 



To conclude, in regard to the texture of soils, choose or 

 make for the garden a loam of medium texture a little 

 inclined to sand, and the finer its particles the better. 

 Clays and sands both become objectionable as they depart 

 from this friable, loamy texture, and the first step in their 

 improvement is to bring them to this condition. A 

 medium consistency best agrees with vegetation. 



The depth of soil in the garden is as likely to need im- 

 provement as its texture. A deep soil is necessary that 

 the roots may penetrate it freely in search of food, and be 

 able to endure our summer droughts. The roots of a 

 strawberry have been traced five feet down in a deep, 

 rich soil. The difference in the freshness and growth of 

 plants raised upon trenched soils and those growing upon 

 soils prepared in the common manner is remarkable. In 

 4 



