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the surface of the moistened soil, with perhaps a sli^^ht sprinkling of sand ; 
carefully water, and remember that after a seed has once started into life 
its course cannot be interrupted with impunity, and that in its early life it is 
wholly dependent upon surface moisture. These remarks apply particularly 
to sowings in pols. 
SOILS, CLA8SIFTCATIO.\ OF— 
Alhniial Soih'f are such as hare been formed by the washings of streams. 
They are generally loamy, and very fertile. 
Calcctreous Soils are those in which lime, exceeding 20 per cent., becomes 
the distinguishing constituent. Calcareous soils may be either calcareous 
clays, calcareous sands, or calcareous lo ims, acoordiag to the proportions of 
sand or clay which may bo present in them. 
iZcat’y >S’ot7A'.— The lieary or clayey soils arc silso known as ^yct and cold, 
from their alilnity for water. In dry weather, however, they are liable to 
bake, or become hard and brick-like. Tliey are dilheult to work, and, till 
much modihod fu' art and labour, generally unproductive. Tliose require 
thoi’ough uuderdraining. In small gardens sand mny be applied to this soil 
with advantage. Lime is valuable in improvung such soil ; also ashes, and 
coarse vegetable manures. They should also be frequency worked. 
Light Soils. — Tho light or sandy and gravelly soils arc denominated dry 
and warm, because they permit the water to pass readily through them. 
They are sulqect to drouglil, and have the furiher disadvautnge of allowing 
a large proportion of the manure applied to them to pass through into the 
subsoil. They are easy to work, and crops can bo brought to perfection 
mucli earlier on tiiem than on cla\ey soils. The additi<>n of a clayey soil 
will be found of advantage to this class of soil, [f resting upon a clayey 
bottom tills may be eHected by deep working. 
Loamg Soils, — A mixture of from 15 to GO per cent, of sand with clay 
forms a loamy soil. If the sand does not exceed 30 per cent., it U called a 
clay loam ; more than 30 per cout. constitutes it a sandy loam. 
Marlg Soils. — Soils containing lime, but in which the proportion does not 
exceed 20 per cent., arc sometimes called marly, 
Tegeiable Moulds, — When doca3’^ed vegeruble matlor exists in so great 
proportion as to give the prcdoii»iiinut character to a soil, it receives ihe name 
of vegetable mould. These are of various kinds, and may be either clayey, 
sandy, or loamy, according to the prodominaut- character of the earthy 
admixtures, 
SnhsoiJs. — Tlio productiveness of a soil depends to a considerable extent 
upon the nature of the subsoil or bed on whieli it rests. A clayey subsoil is 
unfavourable, as it renders the soil wet and cold. Loose stilisni Is, consisting 
of gravel or sand, are also undesirable, on account of tlxe facility with which 
moisture and the soluble portions of manures escape into them. Calcareous 
subsoils arc considered best. 
SCOT is recommended as an excellent manure for pea.«, onions, carrots, 
and all garden crops. Mixed with rain-waicr in the proportion of one 
tablcspoonful to a quart of water, may be used as a •liquid manure for pot 
plants ; it is improved, howuwer, by addition of the dung of domestic 
poultry. Tho rnlo for all liquid manures is to apply them weak atid often. 
STEAWLElllilES.— For tliese plants the ground should be well and 
deeply dug or trenched, adding manure liberally. Flant iu rows 2 ft. apart, 
and I5 ft. from plant to plant. 
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA — A writer iu Gardeners C/irew/c/c says 
that this is a valuable stimulant for heightening tho colour, rendering the 
petals firm, and the foliage a dark-green, of Chrgsantheynum. For use, 
dissolve for the purpose one tablespoonful of sulphate of ammoLia in 4 
gallons of some weak liquid manure, and apply to the plants, say, once a 
week. 
