This section is from the book "Commercial Gardening Vol1", by John Weathers (the Editor). Also available from Amazon: Commercial Gardening, A Practical & Scientific Treatise For Market Gardeners.
Sand and clay in about equal proportions, and with a quantity of organic material, constitute a "loamy soil" - the ideal soil for the horticulturist or agriculturist. When a loamy soil contains more sand than clay it is called a "sandy loam "; when more clay than sand, a "clayey loam". The various compositions may be expressed as follows: -
Per Cent of Sand. | Per Cent of Clay. | |
Sandy soil contains ... | 80 to 100 | 20 to 0 |
Sandy loam „ .......... | 60 „ 80 | 40 „ 20 |
Loam „........... | 40 „ 60 | 60 „ 40 |
Clayey loam „........ | 20 „ 40 | 80 „ 60 |
Clayey soil „............. | 0 „ 20 | 100 „ 80 |
 
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