Cooperative Work with Columbia University 469 



complain; if I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or 

 have caused the owners thereof to lose their life : let thistles grow 

 instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley," 



Good soil management is producing profitable crops, and at the 

 same time adding fertility to the soil. If the land needs drainage, 

 this should be given first attention. A good system of tile drain- 

 age often doubles the yield and improves the quality of the crop. 

 It will lengthen the growing season, raise the temperature of the 



Fig. oS7. — Clover ,Stuui!LE, .Sjiuwxxg Ckowns and Roots of I'lants 

 That May Produce Humus When Plowed Under 



soil, admit the air, and encourage a deep growth of roots, thus 

 enabling the plant better to withstand the dry weather. If the 

 farmer can have just enough, and not too much, moisture in his 

 soil, he has one of the main factors in the production of a good 

 crop. 



This can often be accomplished by drainage and by deep and 

 thorough tillage. So far as possible, deep tillage at first, followed 

 by more shallow tillage through the growing season, is best. In 

 its virgin state the soil contained a large quantity of decayed 

 organic matter, commonly called humus, which retained the mois- 



