What a wonderfully active and retentive mind that gifted child must have!
He had a most retentive memory and a very keen power of observation.
An uneven subsoil, especially if retentive, is most undesirable, as water is apt to collect in the hollows, and thus affect the upper soil.
I used to be anally retentive, then I lost my ass, Cheers, Gerry.
Speaking generally, clay soils retentive of moisture produce heavy-cropping tobaccos which cure to a dark brown or red colour.