clay into finer parts, and make them less cohesive, while the exposure of the rough clods to frost and air will cause them to divide into still finer particles. Early in the year a dressing of fresh lime, at the rate of half a hundredweight per square rod, will get rid of the adhesiveness, disintegrate the mould, prevent puddling on the surface, sweeten the soil, promote nitrification, and the liberation of potash. Thus, in a few years, it will be possible to make a clay soil workable and fertile.
Points to remember in the case of clay soils are:—
1. Deep working, to drain the surface water into the sub-soil, and render the upper stratum drier and warmer.
2. To manure heavily in autumn, to open the pores of the soil, and add humus to the latter.
3. To dig in autumn and leave rough all the winter.
4. To avoid working on the land in wet weather.
5. To add lime occasionally.
Loamy Soils.—Loam is the best of all soils, whether it be a heavy and clayey loam, or a sandy loam. Such soils are very fertile, easy to manage, and well adapted for the growth of vegetable crops. Those of the heaviest type require liberal manuring in autumn, deep digging, leaving rough all winter, and an occasional liming as advised above early in the year. Those of a lighter nature may, or may not, be dug and manured in autumn. Loams overlying chalk may often be improved by a light dressing of lime. Although there may be abundance of lime below, there is frequently little in the surface soil, owing to the fact that lime quickly sinks. The best manure for loamy soils is fresh stable or mixed farmyard dung; for light soils the manure should be used in a decayed condition.
Sandy Soils.—These are difficult to manage in dry seasons, owing to the fact that they quickly lose their moisture. Science and practice have shown, however, that if such soils are occasionally limed, the lime will cement the sandy particles together and arrest the depletion of moisture. Furthermore, by the free use of cool and moisture-retaining cow and pig manures, applied late in winter or early in spring, and not in autumn or early winter, sandy soils may be made
