Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-05
Garden Soils and How to Improve
Them.

The selection OF site for a garden Is not ri.
ways matter Of choice, but has often to be
governed by circumstances and considerations
which are imperative upon the owner OF the
land, and to which he must yield his prefer
enceS. The district In which he resides NAV
Dc one In which heavy clayey soil prevails
WIN or " tnOut good underdralnage; It may be
sandy soil upon subStratum OF gravel or 1t
nay De upon heavy clay; it may be ferru-
gfroUs soil, oYeTcharged with iron; peaty SOIL
oVeTchaTged with acids arising from the de.
composition OF the vegetable matters it con-
taiIs; a limestone soil, In which lime FREEDOM.
mates; or magnetism soil, In which magnesia
prevails IL Will readily be seen that soils of
such diverse Characters must receive diverse
treatment for what may be the best of treat
ment for The one may be the very worst for an
Other, and produce success or failure in their
cultivation accordingly.
Soils are usually divided into two general
classes namely: mineral soils and vegetable
soils, and these again into several sub-classes
Mineral soils are as follows:
Clayey soils are such as do not contain less
than one,sMth part of luminous matter and
do not eiferveSce with acids.
Sandy soils are those which contain at least
thlee-fourths OF sand. II they ererveSce with
acids they contain lime or Chalk and are
termed either calcareous or silicious, as they
e1eTyesce Or not
Limestone soils are those which contain a
large quantity OF lime In some form or otLer
ana produce a decided efferyescence when
them will throw down white Sediment when
boiled and allowed to settle.
Marty soils are such as contain decomposed
limestone or shells In state similar to clay
They effervesce with acids, like limestone soils
and are similar In character to them.
Vegetable soils are divided as follows:
Loamy S0ll5 or those which contain not less
than one third OF fine earthly matter, combined
with decayed vegetable matter, or with amin al
manure In the proportion of not more than
one-halt. They will usually effervesce with
acids. They are generally designated by the
llrrh NJ tom. a{,al,%
contain, such as clayey loan, sandy loan,
granite loan, marty loan, ferruginous lOam
etc, and sometimes by their color and tex
ture, as stiff yellow loam Or light frtab!e
Peaty soils contain at least one-half decayed
vegetable matter, and are designated either
Doggy or dry peat, according as they contain or
VIII hold more or less or water.
Ii Is commonly thought that all claws nv
kneadlng with water, can be made into a tena-
clous, compact ball, bur this is by no means
no means tenacious being but Slightly 40.
Some are so firm, hard. and tenacious as to be
almost imperv1ouS TO water; others Imbibe
water SO freely as to be readily cut with any
sharp instrument; some, as granite CLAWS are
SUN, refractory, and retain moisture and are
consequently STERILE others, again. as basaltic
clays, are soft and ductile, and part with the
water they contain. These are generally fer
tile. Color Is also an indication OF the fertility
or sterlllty or clayey soil Fertile clays are
generally light as they contain more or less of
SoiOouale vi I4Iic. htu, Que. or yellow clayS
DO lot contain much, If any, lime, but contain
iron In some form In greater or less degree,
and In proportion as they do so are consequent
~ sterile. When very tenacious, all clays are
naturally barren, because In wet weather they
90 not permit the rain TO permeate them. and
la Dry weather they bake so hard that the roots
OF Ihe plants can not penetrate them.
Inc way TO improve such lands Is 10 render
lnt7n hgnler by frequent digging or ploughing
Wnen IL Is neither TOO dry nor too wet III dug
VI VI pi9 Hga When wet they are more injured
t tnan Dehentea as they are rendered still more
Gtnaclous. Ridgsng up such soils late In the
autumn In order TO expose then 20 the alter
nate lreezings and thaw1ngs OF winter is very
useiul Ia some cases but not in all. Whether
IL Is so or not can only be found out by actual
experiment, as no Certain crfterta are known
by which we may judge OF It's propriety, Sand
and coal ashes are very Injurious unless laid on
In very large quantities, as they have ten
dency 10 bind clays together when In small
quantities. A most excellent way OF rendering
such soils more friable Is to dig or plough Ia
laIge quantities OF green vegetable matter, such
as buckwheat or clover. Horse or COW manure
Is best for such soils, and should be ploughed In
when quite fresh, before or during warm
weather. and then Its fermentation In the soil
has tendency TO tighten IT, as bread is
lghtened by any ferment.
Nnen sandy soils have some proportion OF
cay, loan, or other earthly substances In their
GGbbnposiIlon they are called heavy sands, but
mae.e lneSe materials are to great extent
waning, tney are called light sands and Wher
enSS art ehtlrely wanting, they are called loose
Ev a. cos sanus- SANDY soils are best Inn proved
~ iacoIporaIing Ito them clays or other tena
y SOILS rSt,t Is also most excellent article
S thel[ aeoration especially IL they be very
service, particularly when there are ind9
VI non Ia tne soil. as the lime decomnnsaS the
OAIde OF IRON, and Deutralkes It's had efree en
heavy earths, particularly cIay aud roari anu
eHGeNent tmprovers OF sandy soils. Anoiher, a az
ceLent mode OF Improving them is TO fold sbe eA
capttn Ined' tsSdihg tnem with green food their
| uTopplngs manure IL at the same time.
1 Limestone soils vary much IL hardness and
IiaoLuIy. Some are very fertile, whilst others
4 especially those which contain mueh msonaS,s
are sterile, although on some soils magnetism
/ Limestone appears 70 act as useful u19nmre
/ Lime acts, however, more as a solvent To,
| vegetable and animal matters In the soil rhan
| as direct manure, and il too frequently ap
| Piled Is Injurious. 1t Is an excellent app,irs