Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-12-07
GOupet'sG hlrkahurg RrgIatsr
From the PIAw, the Loom and Anvil.
TkEAl aENT OE SANDY SOIL. 6


The term e sandy soils" may mean
very different things. It includes great
variety of states aud conditions 1t may
describe dry sand or a claey sand.
Some % sands are little else than siles,E
and the clays which others coak:ain may ,,sS
also be of various charasts1s- enS TIL 80
term CONVEYS nc. very precise ,ioe'' tney
ali - however. in Que thing they
,-,nrsin cxeesses OF ciliceous matter If
the slick is pure, like that on large ex-
tent of our sea shore, 1t may be thrown
into water without predicting much effect
upon it, for it speedily settles at the bot
tom, leaving the water as clear as before.
If the water is left muddy, it may be
poured off INFO another yessel, leaving the
slick at the bottom, aud allowed to settle
gradually. The nature ofthe deposit can
then be examined. and may be found to
be clay, lime, vegetable mould, etc. The
character of this sediment and the proper
ton it bears to the slick or pure sand may
also be estimated with some accuracy.
Portions of the soluble matter. however,
may be dissolved in water, and only gen
eral results. therefore, can be reached by
any such process. The evaporation of
the water is one step onward towards
accuracy, and may sometimes be desira-
BILE. The addition of an acid to the solu-
ton may, also, determine with certainty
as to the presence of lime and other aka
line bases, by the presence or absence of
efferyescence when the acid is poured into
it.
Some sandy soils produce good wheat.
For this there should be from fifty TO eigh-
ty per cent. of clay ten to twenty per cent.
of lime, and similar proportion ofhunsus,
or vegetable mould.
Some sandy soils contain over ninety per
cent. of silex. These, of course, must be
extremely barren. But although sixty or
seventy per cent. may be slick, il clay is
present, in considerable quantities, with
crops may be obtained.
This view points out the mode of de-
termining what is required by a "sandy
soil" 1t will. however, be perfectly safe
to apply bone manrres, and other forms
of lime mixtures, in connection with barn
yard manure. Bones supply not only
lime, but phosphorus, which is often wan
ting in soils from which wheat and other
grains have been gathered.
The best manure for soils is found in
the compost-heap. Peat, turf, weeds, etc.,
mingled with ashes or bones treated pre-
viously with acid, and with barn
yard manure, will be found very effective.
If clay can be had conveniently. this, too
should be added. Ten loads of stable
manure. five to ten loads of clay. thirty
bushels of ashes, and ten bushels OF lime
may be mixed together. 1t should be
allowed to remain few weeks before it is
applied to the land. These proportions
may be varied according to the condition
of the soil. 1t is also of great service to
sandy land to haul clay upon it in the fall.
After it is spread over the surface. the
frosts of winter prepare it Tor the pillow
in the spring. The stratum. and proper
cultivation, will secure a thorough ming
ling among the elements. after which the
addition OF the msnures described { omit
ting the clay, perhaps will insure ample
return for the labour and cost bestowed
upon it.
But better than this, most sandy soils
have clay subsoil. This may be plowed
up, and by proper cultivation mixed with
the sands without the cost of trsnsporta-
ton.