Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-11-05
finn, Garden 4 alOasehold.
From the Germantoion Telegraph.
TO IMPROVE SANDY SOILS.

strong impression on some MINDS, mat lighti
loose sands are valueless for purposes of cul-
tivation. In their natural state, ills true,
they are not very productive; a few crops OF
rye or buckwheat reduces their fertility, aud
SO much manure is theneeforth requisite to
reinvigorate and keep them in heart that they
are either turned out to pasture, or abandon
ed in despair. I have had some experience
in the cultivation Of this species ofsoil, and
NV sueeess has induced me to attach to them
much higher degree Of Importance than Is
psusiIy accorded. And l am fully persuaded
that even the lightest and most sterile sands
NAV. by proper management, and without
anv ruinous outlay Of expense, either in time
or capital, be made highly and permanently
productive in short, that our poorest plains
land can be redeemed from this unjust iHlPu
taiiou of utter worthlessness, and made to
WELD not only remunerating crops, but crops
eoualing in abundance aud richness those af'
fordad by the most afluent soils upon which
labor has ever yet been bestowed.
In the first place, in order to successful
amelioration Of sandy soils, it will be neeessa-
" completely and thoroughly to clesnse'hem
from stumps. After this is affected, let them
be plowed daeply, with a strong team, in the
last of sumt5iv,, turning in all the wild growth
upon them to the depth of at least one foot /;
then harrow thoroughly and roll with as heavy
a roller as you can procure. The next thing
is to give the surface good dressing OF clay.
This earth will generally be found ia he near
vicinity of the field to be clayed, either in
some neighboring run or water COURSE or be-
meath the sand. for sand and clay are never
far apart The finer it is, and the more
1rsgsy. the better aad more durable will be
It's action; and the more literally it is ap-
nlied. the more thorough will be the improv-
meut consequent upon its application. The
best time for applying 1t is Immediately after
plowing, and TO secure its being refined and
broken up, it should be deposited in heaps
and spread evenly over the surface, to re-
main exposed during the winter to the action
oft frost. In the spring plow again not so
deeply as before, in order not to disturb the
sward. barrow, aud again roll. You can now
SOW on rye, or plant, and the crop viii come
of in season to allow you an opportunity to
give another dressing OF clay, which in guam
ti,y should be equal to the frst-say forty
cords to the aere-sud spread as before.
This will entirely change the texture OF the
SOIL aud you will no longer have the barren
ness OF sand to contend with, but soil en-
dued with all the essential requisites Of per-
manent and vigorous fertility, and on which
manure will act with as much eeerity and en-
erEy as upon the richest loans. 1t may be
thought that the quantity of clay recommend
ed-eighiy cords to the acre-is large bat
when We reflect that some cultiyators bestow
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 complete and
thorough Improvement being large viii at
once cease to retain its force. If the farmer
cannot afford this, he can apply less guam
tiiy at first, and add to it year by year; but in
this case be must be conteuted with a much
less lucrative return for his annual labors, as
a verY large percentage of clay is called for,
in order thoroughly to improve the soil, and
overcome the many and serious imperfections
of sand as 1t naturally exists. Therefore it is
much better and more in accordance with the
policy Of enlightened economy, to give enough
at first to effect the object desired, and enter
at once into the profits of the business, than
to occapy years with only limited annual
return.
One great reason-and indeed regard II
as the principal one-why manure never acts
vigorously on light sands is, that the extreme
perosity which cbaracteriz~s it, causes the
dung to keep dry, and consequently to remain
inert. A lump of dry manure is no better in
the soil than chip or stone, aud viii pro-
duce just the same effects upon the crop
The clay gives cohesiveness to the particles
uuites them By sort Of glutinuus attachment
and consolidation, and while 1t favors the ab
sorption aud retention of moisture, ensures
the fermentation AMI ultimate decomposition
Of the dung IH few years the soil will as
sumo ine dark appearance, resembling
garden mould, and the various grasses wil
fud in it a bed capable Of affording expan sior
to their roots, and supply a mcisture and so
luble food Commensurate with their wants
To every person. therefore, who is the pos
SCISSOR Of sandy soil, would sag. clay 1t a
once! No soil IS so easily worked, and from
no soil. when managed in this way, viii la
Dor secure to itself a more certain aud rcl
reward.
a GLOUCESTER COUNTY FARMER.
New Jersey, August 1, 1869.