REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST 297 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Character of the Soil. — Tlie character of the soil is, generally speaking, the factor 

 most likely to affect the physical condition of a field where no special attention has 

 been paid to improvement of this imperative condition of fertility. The more the 

 farmer studies the influences affecting physical condition and attempts in the right 

 way to improve the same, however, the less will he find to be the necessity for con- 

 sidering the kind of soil making up his fields. 



In the case of well drained alluvial soils he can hardly make a miss did he try. 

 Other soils, however, require more careful treatment, especially is this the case where 

 the extremes, as they might be called — a heavy clay or a light sand — are to be con- 

 sidered. The intermediate soils demand less careful treatment and are very seldom 

 injured by time or manner of cultivation. 



The Water-line. — While once the water-level is 6 or 8 inches belovc the surface, 

 it is quite possible to cultivate the fields, yet if success would be assured some way 

 must be found to make the water-line at least 2 feet below the average soil surface 

 level. Frequently, good crops may be grown where the water stands higher than 

 this, but under average conditions it will be found profitable to so drain as to insure 

 a root bed of at least twenty-four inches in depth. Roots will not penetrate below the 

 water-line to any appreciable extent. The water-line is, therefore, the lower boun- 

 dary of any farm or field. By how much lower this line, by so much more farm land 

 for the owner may be said of it. True, the area of arable land is not changed, but the 

 hunting ground of the root is extended, and this is, generally speaking, accompanied 

 by a more vigorous, rank and rapid plant growth, there being, of course, so much 

 more room for root development. 



The condition of' the soil at time of cultivation enters so materially into the suc- 

 cess or failure of the whole year's operation that it is justly considered by many 

 farmers the chief point, making for a good or bad crop. The heavy soil that shows 

 a shining surface, glistening with moisture behind the plough, cannot be expected to 

 give good returns from the next crop. The particles becoming compacted form into 

 more or less large clods and all fertility contained in them is locked in the lump, not 

 for one year merely, but for an indefinite period. The harm done by the simple 

 operation cannot be undone save by years of patient, skilful toil. 



As the gradation of soil goes towards the lighter or sandy forms less and less 

 care need be given to its condition at time of cultivation, since there is less danger 

 of the particles compacting. 



The Previous Crop. — As a factor in the physical condition of a field at a given 

 time, the previous crop on that field is usually of great importance. The turning 

 down of a heavy sod makes a great difference in the physical condition of a field and 

 in no kind of soil is the good effect more evident than heavy clay. The turning 

 down of stubble is also beneficial, but not to the same extent. 



The influence of fallow or partial fallow, as after corn, roots or potatoes, is also 

 beneficial. The manure usually applied with such crops in addition to the cultiva- 

 tion puts the soil in a loose friable condition and a part of the plant food previously 

 unavailable may after such crops be taken up by the plant. 



Humus.-— As an influence on the physical condition of a soil, humus is without a 

 peer. As a factor in the improving of our soils it cannot be over-estimated. Its influ- 

 ence goes to render friable the heavy clay and to relieve it from the tendency to bake 

 or harden. It has an opposite effect on light or sandy soils, the particles of which 

 it causes to adhere and so make a firm root bed, the condition so often lacking in such 

 soil, yet so essential to good results. The effect of humus on the water-content is 

 to increase the amount of water possible of being held by a given volume of soil with- 

 out doing injury to the plant root life therein. For this reason all dry soils are very 

 greatly improved by humus, and for the same reason the humus should be retained 



