112 BERMUDA. 



ingredient which is the cause of their unproductive- 

 ness, should be particularly attended to ; if possible, 

 they should be compared with fertile soils in the 

 same neighbourhood, and in similar situations, as 

 the difference of the composition may, in many cases, 

 indicate the most proper methods of improvement. 

 If, on washing a sterile soil, it is found to contain 

 the salt of iron, or any acid matter, it may be 

 ameliorated by the application of quicklime. 



Soils too abundant in sand are benefited by the 

 use of clay, marl, or vegetable matter. A defi- 

 ciency of vegetable or animal matter must be 

 supplied by manure. An excess of vegetable matter 

 is to be removed by burning, or to be remedied 

 by the application of earthy materials. The im- 

 provement of peats, or bogs, or marsh lands, must 

 be preceded by drainage ; stagnant water being 

 injurious to all the nutritive classes of plants. Soft 

 black peats, when drained, are often made productive 

 by the mere application of sand or clay as a top- 

 dressing. When peats are acid, or contain ferru- 

 ginous salts, calcareous matter is absolutely necessary 

 in bringing them into cultivation. When they 

 abound in the branches and roots of trees, or when 

 their surface entirely consists of living vegetables, 

 the wood or the vegetables must either be carried 



