INTRODUCTION. 



Y 



IxV 



in sufficient quantity to effect so desirable an end. In the instance of tte rich siliceous soil 

 and all others of a similar nature, this may be effected under ordinary circumstances with little 

 trouble, and at a moderate expence. But we shall find, on referring to the details which shew 

 the composition of the poor siliceous sandy soil (No. I.), for instance, tliat the expence of apply- 

 ing so large a quantity of ingredients as that soil requires, would exceed the value of the im- 



r 



provement under ordinary circumstances. A chemical examination of these soils affords the 

 clearest evidence to determine what degree of improvement they are susceptible of receivino- to 

 be of the most advantage^ whether for the production of the superior perennial o-rasses or for 

 annual crops only* 



The composition of the tenacious clay (No. VIII.), shews that it contains all the ino-redients 

 necessary for the improvement of the poor siliceous soil (No. I.), except that of decomposln 

 vegetable and animal matter, which is to be supplied by manure. 



A cubic inch of that clay, when newly dug, weighs 700.8 grains; when freed from moisture, 

 584 grains. Suppose one cubic inch of clay to be applied to 29 cubic inches of the soil, it 

 would reduce the proportion of sand, and increase the proportion of finely divided eartliy mat- 

 ter, of its former composition, in the followino- deo-ree: 



S 



1 cubic Incli of poor siliceous sandy soil, as before 

 staled, consists of, 



Fine sand _ » _ _ 



Decomposing vegetable matter 



Carbonate of lime or clialk 



Silica, or the earth of flints 



i\lumina, or the matter of clay 



Oxide of iron - - - _ 



Soluble vegetable, and saline matters - 

 Carbonate of magnesia 



434. S7 5 grains 

 7.35 

 4.9 



13.475 

 7.35 

 3.675 

 S.675 



1 cubic inch of tlie tenacious clay, added to 29 of thft 



soil, alters the proportions in one cubic inch, to, 

 Fine sand - _ _ 



Decomnoslns; veo;etable matter. 

 Carbonate of lime or chalk 



Silica 



A\ 



umina 



Oxide of iron 

 Soluble saline matter 

 Carbonate of magne^^ia 



428.1171 grains. 



7.5916 

 5.956 



18.4278 

 9-7816' 



39.418 



4.0876 



0.0973 



The quantity of clay necessary to effect the ahove alteration in an acre of the siliceous soil to 

 the depth of six inches, and the prohable expence attending It, appear to be as follows : 



One acre of land, six inches deep, contains 376.35840 cubic inches. A cart-load, or one ton 

 of clay, contams 21479.43744 cubic inches, which, applied in the proportion of one part to 19, 

 ove, shews that 60 cart-load, or 745.81380 cubic feet of clay, Is requisite to eifeGt that 



as ab 



chan_Q^e m its nature. 



In ordinary cases, the expence of digging, filling, and spreading the clay, is three-p 



ence 



three farthings per cart-load, consequently the expence per acre, would be eighteen shiUings 



and 



nme-pence, exclusive of cartap-e. 



Now if the soil thus improved, be compared with any of 

 the precedmg soils that are mentioned as fitted for the growth of the superior perennial grasses. 

 It wtJl appear to be stdl very far from their natural composition, and proportionally less adapted 

 to the growth of these grasses. Even to bring it near to the nature of the sandy loam, 

 (No, VI.), it would require 800 load per acre. Therefore, though this soil is unfit for the 

 growth of the superior grasses, it is capable of great improvement for the production of grain 

 or bulbous crops, by the application of clay and calcarious matter ; it will thereby require less 

 inanure, and better sustain the effects of a continuance of dry weather. ^ . 



I he rich sdiceous soil may have its nature changed, to resemble that of the sandy loam, by 

 t ie application of two parts of clay to twenty-nine of soil, or 120 load to the acre. 



