314 



SANDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 



The only way to increase the water-holding capacity of sand 

 is to increase the organic matter (Chapter IX). 



"Blowing" of Sands. — ^Because of the lack* of sufficient 

 material like clay and organic matter to bind the soil particles 

 together, sands are loose and subject to wind-action. Often during 

 the early growing period before the ground is covered by growing 

 crops, high winds blow so much sand as to greatly injure and even 

 destroy crops, especially corn and potatoes. 



Fia 209 — Press-wheel attachment for grain drill Splendid to use on sandy soils (Fig 98 ) 



Wind-breaks are means of protection to a limited extent. 

 These may be planted, or when trees aro cut in land-clearing, 

 rows of troQS or narrow strips of timber may be left for this purpose. 

 A very effective way of protecting lands which are subject to 

 wind-action consists in laying them out in long narrow strips at 

 right angles, or nearly so, to the prevailing winds. These strips 

 should be managed so as to have crops that cover the ground in the 

 early spring, such as clover or rye, alternate with cultivated strips. 

 Sands become less subject to '^blowmg'^ when, by proper manage- 

 ment, they are enriched, in organic matter. 



Sand fields become much more exposed to wind-action when 

 they are fall plowed. It is usually best, therefore, to plow exposed 



