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. The rate of water percolation is another way to describe the texture of soil.
Soils percolate water at different rates.
Soil should be watered only as much and as fast as the soil can absorb without runoff. To determine how quickly water moves through your soil, make a water percolating measuring devise from a soup can. First, cut the top and bottom out of the can. Fill the above ground part of the can with water. After an hour, read on the plastic ruler the amount of water that the soil has absorbed.