The Problem of Impoverished Lands. 113 



a mixture might also contain much decaying vegetable or organic 

 matter, and this would make the physical condition of the soil such 

 that it would be very fertile. 



4. What is inorganic matter f 



All matter which is not a part or product of a living organism is 

 inorganic or mineral matter, as a stone or a piece of iron. The bulk 

 of the soil is made up of finely pulverized stone, and is, therefore, 

 inorganic matter. 



5. What is organic matter f 



Matter which has life or has been produced by living organisms. 

 An animal or a tree, either living or dead, is organic matter. The 

 humus of the soil is decaying organic matter. 



6. Why are soils from which a thrifty forest growth has heen 

 removed capable at once of ijrodiicing good far in crops f 



Largely because of their good physical condition, due chisfly to 

 the presence of large quantities of humus. 



7. Have you ever observed lichen {^sometimes called ^^ moss^^') 

 groicing on hare roch or on a tom^hstone f 



This question is intended to call attention to the fact that low 

 forms of plant life are important in the early stages of soil formation. 



8. If any great amount of lichen should become mixed with the 

 disintegrated roclc^ would it he huTnus and form a loeak soil that 

 might produce an order of plants a little larger and stronger than 

 lichen f 



This mixing of the moss with the pulverized rock would be the 

 first step toward making a soil of good physical qualities. 



9. As the higher orders of plants come in and die down and mix 

 with the soil, would the process increase the p>roddictive power of 

 the soil f 



Yes, within certain limits. The more decaying vegetable matter 

 the soil contains, generally the more productive it is. 



10. In instances in which soil has heen removed hy grading^ 

 could a neio soil he well made hy adding commercial fertilizer 

 alone f What ivould you apply first to suck land? 



The addition of humus would be of first importance. Commercial 

 fertilizers would do little good applied to a soil in which there is no 

 8 



