Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-22
Sandy Soils.
n the Germantown Telegraph. /

There Is very erroneous but strong impress
sion on some minds, that light, loose sands are
valueless for purposes Of cultivation. In their
natural state, it is true, they are seldom very
productive; few crops of rye or buckwheat
| reduces their primitive fertility, and so much
manure is thenceforth requisite to reinvigor-
ate and keep them in heart that they are
either turned out to pasture, or abandoned in
despair 1 have had some experience in the
cultivation Of this species of soil, and my sue
CESS has induced me to attach to them a much
higher degree of importance than is usually
accorded. And I am fully persuaded that
even the ghtest and most sterile sands, may,
by proper management, and without any ruin
Gus outlay Of expense, either in time or cap
| ital, be made highly and permanently produc-
tive; in short, that our poorest plains land can
| be redeemed from this unjust imputation of
| utter worthlessness, and made to yield, not
only remunersting crops, but crops equalling
| in abundance and richness those afforded by
| the most afiuent soils upon which labor has
ever yet been bestowed.
In the first place, in order to the successful
amslioration of sandy soils, it will be neces-
| sary completely and thoroughly to cleanse
them from stumps After this is effected, let
them be plOwed deeply, with strong team,
| In the last of summer, turning in all the wild
| growth upon them to the depth of at least one
| foot; then harrow thoroughly, and roll with
Il
next thing is to give the surface a good dress
| ing of clay. This earth will generally be
| found in the near vicinity of the field to be
clayed, either in some neighboring run or
water course, or beneath the sand, for sand
and clay are never far apart. The finer it is,
and the more greasy, the better and more du-
raoie will be its action; and the more literally
1t Is applied, the more thorough will be the
improvement consequent upon Its application.
The best time for applying it is Immediately
after ploughing and to secure its being refined
and broken up, it should be deposited In
heaps, and spread evenly over the surface, to
remain exposed during the winter to the action
ot the frost. In the spring plough again, not
30 deeply as before, in order not to disturb the
sward, harrow, and again roll. You can now
sow on rye, or plant, and the crop will come
| of In season to allow you an opportunity to
| give another dressing of clay, which in guam
| tity should be equal to the frst-ssy forty
cords to the acre, and spread as before.
This will entirely change the texture Of the
soil, and you will no longer have the barren
ness OF sand to contend with, but a soil en-
| dued with all the essential requisites of per-
manent and vigorous fertility, and on which
manure will act with as much celebrity and
energy as upon the richest loans. 1t may be
| thought that the quantity of clay recommend
| ed-eighty cords to the acre--is large, but
when we reflect that some cultivators pestow
| this amount of stable manure, and bear in
mind the very important fact that while ma
nure is an article for which money has to be
paid, the whole cost Of clay is embraced in
the carting, the objection arising from the
quantity requisite to insure a complete and
thorough improvement being large, will at
once cease to retain its force. If the farmer
cannot afford this, he can apply less guam.
| lty at first, and add to it year by year; but
in this case he must be contented with much
less lucrative return for his annual labors, as
very large per centage of clay is called for,
| in order thoroughly to improve the SOIL and
| overcome the many and serious imperfections
of sand as it naturally exists. Therefore it i.
much better and more in accordance with pol
/ icy OF enlightened economy, to give enough al
first to effect the object desired, and enter at
once into the profits of the business, than to
occupy years with only limited annual re-
| turn.
| One great reason-and indeed I regard it as
the principal one-why manure never acts
| vigorously on light sands is, that the extreme
| poroSity which characterizes it, causes the
dung to dry, and consequently to remain in
ert. lump of dry manure is no better in
tho soil than chip or stone, and will produce
just the same effects upon the crop. The clay
gives cohesiveness to the particles, unites them
by sort of glutinous attachment and consol-
idation, and while it favors the absorption
and retention of moisture. ensures the fer
mentatiOn and ultimate decomposition of the
| dung. In few years the soil will assume a
fine dark appearance, resembling that of gar
den mould, and the various grasses will find
In it bed capable of sfording expansion to
their roots, and supply Of moisture and sol.
uble food commensurate with their wants.
| To every person, therefore, who is the DOS
SCISSOR of sandy soil, would say, clay them al
once! No soil is so easily worked, and from
no soil, when managed in this way, will labor
secure to itself more certain and rich rev ard
GLOUCESTER COUNTY FARMER
Nstc Jersey, June l, 1851.