70 THE FLORIST. 
frequently towards the outside of the basin, as in Berks, Hants, Sussex, 
Herts, &c.; and where the lower beds of the formation (plastic clay) 
predominate, the loams lying immediately on the chalk contain more 
flints and a kind of ochreous matter combined with peroxide of iron, but 
they are equally good for fruit-tree culture. The subsoil chalk absorbing 
all the rain which falls, and giving it out slowly, maintains at all times 
a uniform degree of moisture to the roots of plants, and never burns 
in dry seasons, or becomes too wet in the winter. Chalk subsoils 
- should have their upper crusts well loosened and broken, so as 
to permit more readily the escape of water from the surface. The 
freedom of the loams resting on the chalk from any pernicious ingre- 
dients unfavourable to fruits, makes them very desirable soils for fruit- 
growing when the depth is sufficient; and we have observed less 
disposition to canker and gum in fruit-trees growing on such soils than 
most others, not only in this climate, but in that of France also. 
In nearly every part of the London clay districts very strong 
loams are to be met with, which are locally called brick earths (owing 
to their being applicable to the manufacture of bricks) ; such soils are 
mostly too heavy and retentive for fruit-growing unless well drained, 
but when soils contain a proportion of lime, they are capable of being 
converted into first-class composts through the agency of burning 
(a process we may hereafter devote a chapter to), by which means 
the lime is brought into a state in which it will quickly pul- 
verise, and a portion of the clay also being calcined by the operation, 
is rendered porous, and forms a soil at once rich and open, suiting 
equally the growth of fruit-trees or vegetables. For such heavy loams, 
therefore, as will not pay for working alone, and contain lime, the 
cheapest and most effectual way of reclaiming them is by burning, and 
well incorporating the calcined clay and ashes through the mass to the 
depth of two feet, at the same time draining the subsoil. The burning 
should always be done with wood, if procurable. 
The next soil best adapted for fruit-trees, which has come under our 
notice, is that of the new red sandstone. Here we freqnently find loams 
of great richness, and varying from a close approach to a marly clay to 
one of a light sandy nature. These soils are almost invariably of a deep 
red colour and a somewhat marly texture, and are well adapted for the 
Apple, Pear, Plum, and Strawberry, and, with a proper admixture, for 
the Vine, Peach, and Fig ; while, for the growth of the Melon, the red 
marly loams of this formation surpass any other soil we ever saw tried 
for producing this fruit in the highest perfection. Strawberries and 
bush fruits grow equally free on the deep loamy soils which are found 
so frequently in this formation, which extends itself from Exeter to 
Bristol, and thence over most of the midland counties, by Chester and 
Lancaster, to York and Durham. 
(To be continued.) 

