The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1871-04-06
! AGRICULTURAL.
Sandy Soils and: their Manage.
ment.

The character. and treatmentef
sandy soils, are in almost every
particular the reverse OF those of
clay. They do not possess'he pro-
perty of adhesiveness, and they
lave but little affinity for water,
which escapes from them almost as
soon. as il falls They have but a
sIigks held upon the manures which
are diffused through them; they
rare loose in their texture, and may
be plowed at any time with equal
advantage, providing the sowing:
or planting is to follow immediate>
60 AS clay soils are much benefited
gssby a. mixture Of sand, so likewise
are sandy soils greatly improved
by the addition Of clay, yet in q
much higher degree; for though it
would never pay, as general rule,
to add sand to clay, yet the addi-
tionof, a few loads of the stiffest
clay . d light sand, would in al.
- most every instance much more
than compensate for the. trouble
and expense. For this purpose
the clay should be thinly spread in
autumn upon sward land previous
" plowed, and the winters frost
will effectually separate the parti-
cles. It should then be narrowed
thoroughly and deeply in. the
gspring, and subsequently plowed
Unnecessary. :.
Such dressing on light crawl
ING land is more than equivalent
to any equal quantity Of the best
manure, and will be permanent in
its effects. Clay and sand are ne
,oessary 10 each other as they con.
.Ktah Qualities which are essential
to good soil; and that will always
!sbe found the best, which has the
proper proportion of each.
!sia Sandy soils are improved by the
frequent use of a heavy roller; it
cannot be used too often. They
REQUIRE it to be made more COM
pact, anda any treatment that Be-
cures this object, will be advanta.
geous- . -.
Lime by its chemical aetionon
iLe constituents Of soils, renders
sand more adhesive; and when
cheaply obtained, it is always a
g profitable dressing for sandy soils,
to the full amount that they re
quire. Gypsum in considerable
quantities, has an effect similar to
the lime, both on clay and sand;
and when added in smaller,por'
tions, produces a striking increase
in the crops of sandy soils. Clay
marIs containing either carbonate,
sulphate or phosphate of lime, are
ofrreat value to sandy soils. Equal
" beneficial are ashes leached or
niieached, peat or vegetable ma
nures of any kind. Somr calca-
reous sands, containing a large
proportion of lime, like those of
Egypt and extensive regions in
the Barbary States, will produce
luxuriantly, if supplied with a
slight addition Of. manure and a.
bundaee of water. 'SandysoiIs can
never be, pro6tably cultivated till
thew have acquired sufficient com
pactness .andy fertility to sustain Q
pood growth lofgrass clover; and
when once brought to this con-
dition. they are among the most
They are at times easily plow:
ed and worked they required
no draining; and though light and
dry,are quick and kindly soils, give
an immediate and full return for
the labor and manure bestowed
upon them. When in condition
to produce grass, sheep are ad:
mirably adapted to preserve and
i augment their fertility, and by
their incessant migrations over it,
their sharp hoofs pack the surface
closely producing the same effect
as the roller. '-.; = ~. 90 &F ..
Grsyelly soils ara in some re-
apects" similar to sand, but much
lesstdssirable, being appropriately
,j Lunprv Tbav are also