The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-11
IMPROVEMENT OF SOILS.

To improve soil is as much as to say that
we seek to modify its constitution, its physi-
cal properties, in order to bring them into
harmony with the climate and nature of the
crops that are grown. In district where the
soil is too clayey, our endeavor ought to be to
make it acquire, to certain extent, the quail
ties of light soils. Theory indicates the means
to be followed to effect such change; it
sufices to introduce sand into soils that are too
stiff, and to mix clay with those that are too
sandy. But these recommendations ofscience,
which, indeed the common sense of mankind
had already pointed out are seldom realized
in practice, and only appear feasible to those
who are entirely unaquainted with rural
economy. The digging up and transport of
the various kinds of soil, according to the
necessities of the case, are very costly opera
tons, and can quote particular instance of
illustration of this fact:-My land at Bechel-
broun is generally strong. Experiments made
in the garden on a small scale showed that an
addition of sand improved it considerably. In
the middle of the farm there is mandatory,
which accumulates such quantity of sand
that it becomes troublesome. Nevertheless
am satisfied that the Improvement by means
ofsand would be too costly, and that, all things
taken into account, it would be better policy
to buy new lands with the capital which
would be required to improve those already
possess in the.manner which has been indica-
ted. have no difficulty in citing numerous
instances where improvements by mingling
different kinds of soil were ruinous in the
end to those who undertook them.
A piece of sandy soil, for example, pur-
chased at very low price, after having been
suitably improved by means of clay, cost its
proprietor much more than the price of the
best land in the country. Great caution is
therefore necessary in undertaking any i'm
provement for the soil in this directon-in
changing suddenly the nature of the soil.
Upon stiff, clayey lands we put dressing and
manures which land to divide it, to lesson its
cohesion, such as ashes, turf long manure, &c.
But the husbandman has not always suitable
materials at his command and in this case,
which is perhaps the usual one, he must en-
deavor by selecting his crops judiciously,
crops which shall agree best with stiff soils,
and at the same time meet the demands of the
market, to make the most of his land, in a
word, the true husbandman ought to know
the qualities and defects of the land which he
cultivates, and to be guided in his operations
by these; and in fact, it is only with such
knowledge that he can know the rent he can
afford to pay, and estimate the amount Of
capital which he can reasonably employ in
carrying on the operations of his farm,
If an argillaceous or clayey soil, which we
have seen above, is the best adapted for wheat
in these countries, it would be absurd to per.
sist in attempting to grow crops that require
an open soil. Clayey lands generally answer
well for meadows, and autumn blowing is
highly advantageous to them by reason of the
disintegrating effects of the ensuing winter
FROST BoussingauRs Rural Economy.
Though we travel the world over to find
the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we
find it not.