The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-27

There is a very wide difference in the
agricultural capabilities of soil known
as sandy. But all such soils have one chief
characteristic, says the American Guilt
vator They are all deficient in vege;a-
BILE matter. This is because the porous
character of sandy soil allows water to
drain through it readily. When the water
goes out air from the surface follows.
Hence, whenever there is a heavy rain
the soil receives an accession of oxygen
which rapidly destroys whatever vegetable
matter it contains If the subson also is
sandy it becomes exceedingly difficult to
keep any fertility in it. While the thin
surface covering of vegetable matter re-
mains from the decay of the original for
est, even the soils that are sand down to
and including the subsoil, will produce
good crops. But unless care is taken TO
grow clover or some other green manure
such soils soon become drifting sands
entirely worthless for farming purposes.
But there is very little sandy soil that
does not overlie a stratum of clay. Such
soil has great advantage in case of cultiva-
ton and in it's quick response to manure.
If land of this character is plowed shallow
and sown with clover as often as every
third or fourth year, it will not be diff
cult to make il fairly productive for an in
definite period. 1t is so easy TO work
sandy soil, and it can be worked so much
earlier in the spring, that many farmers
who have learned the secret of it's man
agcment prefer it to all others. 1t is free
from stones, and in blowing much less
labor is required than in turning a hea>
vier soil. There is nothing to gain, but
t.s- III. IF H..
land. If only three or four inches of the
surface is mixed with vegetable matter
that should be the limit of depth for the
pillow until the growing of clover has ex-
tended vegetable matter to a greater
depth.
Sandy soils are always deficient in min
eral plant food. They especially lack
phosphate and potash. and these if IN
available form are always beneficial. But
phosphate tends to revert so rapidly, ex-
cept it be in combination with vegetable
matter, that on sandy or gravelly soils
phosphate fertilizers alone do little good.
They should be mixed with stable manures
whose decomposition in the soil will fur
nish carbonic acid gas and keep the min
eral fertilizers in available form. We nave
often heard farmers on sandy or gravelly
soil remark that mineral manures do 10
good on their land. But when they ap-
ply the commercial fertilizer with stable
manure Inc GDilDiildtiOl plONuCtS OH I'll
feet that neither viii do alone.
1t is probably owing to its lack Of min
eral elements, as well as 10 its tendency
to become too dry, that sandy soils are
unadapted to the growing of most kinds
of fruits. Peaches are an exception to this
rule They thrive better on a sandy soil
than on any other, but need liberal sup
plies Of potash and phosphate 10 do their
best. The apple. pear, plum and cherry
all prefer a heavier soil. Yet we have
known successful orchards of all these
kinds of fruits on sandy land, when care
was taken to keep the soil supplied with
mineral manures, and enough vegetable
hurnus to enable the soil to retain nitro
gen. which pure sand is utterly unable 10
do. The chief endeavor of the farmer
who cultivates sandy soil should always
be TO maintain and increase its proper
ton Of humus. On sandy soils near the
ocean this may be done by drawing and
spreading sea weed on the soil, and using
the fertility thus gained to grow clover
and the grasses.