Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-03-24
Aari1u
Aium--SOilS.

The alum of commerce consists Of sui
phuric acid, alumina and potash. Alum
ina is never found pure in nature except
in the ruby and sapphire, which consist
of crystalized alumina combined with some
coloring matter. Alum is the basis of
all clay soils, in which it is always COM
bined with silex or sand. The purity of
the clay used in the arts, depends upon
the greater or less amount of sand COM
bined with it. Clay has strong affinity
for water, and absorbs and retains it in
large quantity, thus rendering the soil in
which it abounds, wet and cold.
1t is very adhesive. Its particles have
a strong attraction for each other, rem
dering the soil firm and compact Much
force is required to plow or work it. The
roots of trees and other vegetables pene-
trate it with difficulty. Hence strong
clay soil is both difficult to cultivate and
unproductiye. 1t requires sufficient sand
mixed with it to separate its PARTICLES, and
overcome their tenacity, so that the ten
der and delicate radicles of plants can
readily penetrate them. In a sandy soil,
the particles are so loosely attached to
each other, and have so little tcnacity,
that water percolates freely through them,
and sufficient moisture is not retained to
supply the demands of vegetation.
A mixture of these two elements In
suitable proportions constitutes the basis
of all good soils. Different vegetables
require different proportions of these in
gradients. Some require more clay and
some more sand, some love moist soil
and some dry one. Clay has another
property also besides that of absorbing and
retaining moisture, which is of immense
Importance to vegetation. 1t has strong
affinity for carbonic acid and ammonia,
and when turned up by the subsoil plow,
it rapidly condenses them from the at
mosphere.
In light sandy soils, certain amount
of clay is always found, commonly from
ten to fifteen per cent. A sandy loan
contains from thirty to forty per cent of
clay A clayey loam seventy to eighty
per cent. The stifest clay soils contain
from eighty to ninety per cent.
1t is often desirable to ascertain whatpro-
portions of clay or sand are found in par
ticular soils This. may be done with suf-
fcient accuracy for all agricultural pur-
poses, by putting portion of the soil in
to FIVE or six times It's weight of water,
Shaking it smartly, and pour in the mix
ture into a deep glass vessel or tube. A
common lamp funnel, with one end set
upon ball of putty or clay, will answer
very well. Leave the mixture at rest in the
glass. The course sand will soon be seen
collecting at the bottom. The finer sand
will form second layer, and the clay
the upper or third layer. By observing
the amount of each thus deposited, we
may obtain a sufficiently accurate notion
of the proportion of each ingredient in
the soil.
A good soil must have clay enough to
retain the water, the carbon, the lime, the
ammonia, and other ailments that minis
ter to the growth of plants, so that they
may be found and absorbed by the roots,
as they stretch themselves among the par
ticles of the soil, feeling after the kind of :
nutriment which they need. At the same
time it must contain sufficient sand, to al
low the surplus matter to settle through
it, so that the soil shall not be too wet or
too stiff. Different vegetables, as has
been already remarked, require different
proportions of these elements. Herds
grass is fond of a moist soil, containing a
large proportion of clay while clover de-
lights in mellow, loamy SOIL Rye
thriYes best in warm, sandy soil while
wheat requires stronger soil, with larger
proportion of clay. Both require a good
supply of lime. The art of mixing soil in
proportions, suited to the crops that are
to be put upon them, is one of the most
important that can engage the attention
of the farmer. Whenever Massachusetts
shall establish an agricultural college, the
study of this subject will demand its share
of time and talent The ancient Italians,
as we learn from Virgil, understood that
certain soils were suited to certain crops;
but it does not appear that they knew
how to supply the elements that were
wanting, or to neutralize those that we're
by the addition of others, that
would combine with them, and form use
ful, 'or at least innocent compounds
This is an art that belongs to modern
times. 1t has received but little attention
as yet, in'this country. Its Importance
will be more and more estimated, as ma
nures become more expensive, and more
difficult to obtain.-N e. Farmer.
Early Potatoes.-The small potatoes
are those which produce the earliest crop.