§ 
% 
and spring 'wheat succeed well, and as turnips are frequently grown with advantage on them, they 
are called occasionally turnip soils. Sandy soils are capable of improvement, which, in many cases, 
repays well the expense of labour and material. Clay, marl, chalk, and any other substance which has 
a tendency to counteract the loose texture and porous character of sandy soils, may with advantage be 
applied to them. In England, examples of this class of soils are found in those resting on the old red 
sandstone, the granite formation, the millstone grit, the sand of the coal-formation, &c. 
ANALYSES OF SANDY SOUS (DE. 
sprexgel). 
Silica and quartz sand .... 
No. I. 
No. II. 
No. III. 
No. IV. 
No. V. 
No. VI. 
90.000 
92.014 
90.221 
98.8 
96.7 
94.7 
Alumina ...... 
0.500 
2.652 
2.106 
0.G 
0.4 
1.6 
Oxides of iron ..... 
2.000 
3.192 
3.951 
0.3 
0.5 
2.0 
Oxide of manganese .... 
trace 
0.4S0 
0.960 
. 


Lime ...... 
0.001 
0.243 
0.539 
0.1 
trace 
1.0 
Magnesia. ..... 
trace 
0.700 
0.730 
0.1 
0.1 
trace 
Potash ...... 
do. 
0.125 
0.066 

trace 
! o.i 
Soda ...... 
do. 
0.026 
0.010 

do. 
Phosphoric acid ..... 
do. 
0.078 
0.367 

do. 
trace 
Sulphuric acid ..... 
do. 
trace 
trace 

do. 
do. 
Chlorine ...... 
do. 
do. 
0.010 

0.1 

Organic matter (humus) .... 
1.499 
0.490 
1.040 

2.2 
0.5 
100.000 
100 000 
100.000 
99.9 
100.0 
99.9 
No. I. Barren sandy soil, near Wettingen, in Liineburg. 
No. II. Sandy soil, near Drakenburg, on the Wescr, producing very bad red clover. 
No. III. Near Gandersheim, in Brunswick, growing luxuriant crops of pulse, "when manured with gypsum. 
No. IV. Very barren drift-sand, near Meppen. 
No. V. Barren sandy soil, near Aurich, East Friesland. 
No. VI. Fertile sandy loam, near Brunswick, producing luxuriant crops of lucerne, sainfoin, lupins, poppies, &c. 
II. Calcareous soils. — As the physical characters of the calcareous soils depend chiefly on the 
relative proportions of lime and other constituents which enter into their composition, it is impossible 
to give a short general characteristic. "Whilst some are deep, dry, loose, and friable in their nature, 
and on the whole productive, as some soils resting on the lower chalk-formation ; others are stony, 
poor, thin soils, producing but a scanty vegetation, as those resting on the shelly oolite. Leguminous 
plants, as peas, beans, vetches, sainfoin, and clover also, are grown with advantage on this class of 
soils, because these crops require lime as an essential clement for their healthy growth. According to 
the proportion of pure clay and silica which is present in calcareous soils, they are called calcareous 
clays, or loams, or calcareous sands. All contain more than twenty per cent, of lime. Examples of 
calcareous soils arc found in England — in Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Gloucestershire, Xorfolk, Suffolk, &c. 
ANALYSIS OF A C.U.CAKEOUS SOIL FItOM SOUTUROP, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, (DR. A. VOELCKER). 
Lime .......... 52.33 
Magnesia ......... .31 
Oxide of iron and alumina ....... 2.86 
Phosphoric acid ........ traces 
Sulphuric acid ........ do. 
Silica .......... 20 
Carbonic acid ......... 44.70 
100.16 
III. Clay soils. — The properties of clay soils arc most diametrically opposed to those of sandy soils. 
Stiffness, impenetrability, great power of absorbing and retaining moisture, and great specific gravity 
characterize this class of soils. They arc consequently cold, stiff, heavy, impervious soils, which arc 
expensive and difficult to cultivate, and often quite unproductive. When properly cultivated, however. 
sonic of them turn out to be very fertile. The best means of improving heavy clay land, next to perfect 
drainage, is the practice of burning such stiff soils with wood, faggots, branches of trees, grass-sods, or 
any other vegetable refuse matter, or with coal, where it may be procured at a moderate price. Mixing 
with chalk and sand likewise renders clay laud less stilt, more porous and friable; but we would 
particularly recommend the process of burning, because the land is not only thereby changed in its 
mechanical texture, but chiefly because burnt clay acts chemically as an excellent manure. In 
examining the changes clay undergoes in burning, we have found that its constituents are rendered 
much more soluble, provided a moderate heat has been applied in the process, and further, that potash, a 
valuable fertilizing substance, in particular, is rendered soluble and liberated from the clay, in which 
it occurs in an insoluble combination. Clay soils abound in many parts of England; some of our Inst 
whert land belonging to this class of soils. 
S 
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