WI>I say, again... (natural) sand is *always* silica... but not all silica is
  >sand.  It doesn't matter if the sand is of the kind that packs (in and of
  >itself...) because it is not going to be with "itself", but with clay and
  >compost.  I asure you that if you have clay soil and wish to break it up  
(u
  >sand... *any* [non-saline] sand) and *keep* it broken up (use compost... 
any
  >kind of compost!).  *And* keep turning it... and turning it... and turning
  >it...  (part of the secret of getting it to a "friable" state!)  *Also*, 
use
  >the weather.  Freezing is one of the *best* of tools for this!  (And, it's
  >*free*, for many of us!  :)
Thanks very much for this information.  I had a difference of opinion 
with Chris Greaves re sand/silica.  I am not the person that is having 
trouble with clay soil.  Although we are in a hard clay area, my 
husband has gradually added compost and peat moss to our gardens.  He 
removes the soil from our tomato garden and replaces it with soil from 
elsewhere in the gardens as we have only one spot to grow tomatoes.  I 
might add that we have been very fortunate in having pretty good crops 
each year..some years, of course are better than others.
                           Doris Dignard
                      dorisdignard@better.net
                    doris.dignard@capcanada.com
                      
 * 1st 2.00 #9125 * I never get mad, I just get even...
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