Then rub the soil between your fingers. Sandy soil feels gritty and loose. It won't form a ball and falls apart when rubbed between your fingers. Loam soil is smooth, slick, partially gritty and sticky and forms a ball that crumbles easily. It is a combination of sand and clay particles.
Clay soil is smooth, sticky and somewhat plastic feeling.
It forms ribbons when pressed between fingers. Clay soil requires more pressure to form a ball than loam soil, but does not crumble apart as easily. A second test is called a jar test and is very easy to do. Screw on the lid and shake it vigorously for a minute or two, until all the soil particles are broken down into suspension in the water. Now, allow the suspended soil to settle for about a minute, and place a mark on the side of the jar at the top of the layer that has settled out.