On Changing the Nature of Soils. 347 
periods; by these means, it is freed from noxious plants, and is better 
prepared for receiving water, and for transmitting it v/itli more ease to 
the plant ; the air can also penetrate to it with more ease ; and thus all 
these conditions necessary for proper vegetation, are united. When on 
account of some particular speculationsj it is necessary to obtain a greater 
abundance of wine, and when the quality may be sacrificed to this con- 
sideration ; the Vines, in that case, may be dunsjed, more shoots may be 
allowed to the stems, and all the causes which can multiply the grapes, 
may be united. 
I remain, vours, ike. 
J, T 
Article III. — O/i Natite Soil bciiijj Cluintjed hy the appli- 
cation of Manure produced fro nt Land of an ojipo.site 
nature. By Mr. S. Appleby, F L. S., Nuiseiyman^ 
Florist, and Lectmei' on }>otany, St. James's Gaixlens, 
Doncaster. 
Gentlemen, 
It is well known that every kind of vegetable matter, in its 
final decomposition, returns to its parent earth, and I have latterly had 
reason to think, that it returns to that very quality of earth from which it 
was originally produced. This idea has been <n some measure confirm- 
ed, from the observations I have made on the gradual alteration of soil 
in the garden of an intimate friend, who some years ago retired from his 
farm, situated in the North-Clays, to a more desirable residence on the 
borders of Sherwood-Forest, Nottinghamshire. 
The sub-soil of my friend's kitchen garden is a hard rock-sand, and 
the surface-soil formerly consisted of a light sand, with the most triflino- 
admixture of loamy earth, being such as commonly abounds in the 
vicinity of that extensive Forest. The manure for his garden was carted 
from his Clay farm, and was used unsparingly for two or three seasons, 
during which period, the soil gradually changed from the light sand I 
have mentioned, to a loamy consistence. He has continued to apply the 
same kind of tillage, from the stable or fold-yard of the Clay farm, to the 
present time, and the original sandy soil of his garden, now approximates 
to the clay soil of his farm. I beg to observe, that the tillage referred to 
was applied in a rotten state, and had no appearance of being impregna- 
ted with any particle of clay, but consisted entirely of ordinary manure, 
the produce of clay land. 
As observations on the amalgamation of soils, are very desirable and 
important to science, and exceedingly interesting, whether considered 
