952 



Rural School Leaflet. 



GARDEN LESSONS 



I 



Soils 



Ethel Gowans 



Purpose. — To study the composition of some of our farm soils. 

 Dsfinition. — Soil is composed of particles of rock, and a greater or 



less amount of humus, air, and soil 

 water. Before soil is a congenial place 

 for roots it must contain a certain 

 amount of heat, and the soil water in 

 which plant food is soluble must be 

 slightly alkaline. 



Materials. — A cupful of ordinary soil, 

 some humus, three cne-quart fruit jars, 

 and water. 



Method. — Humus is the decaying 

 roots, stems, manure, etc. Leaf mould 

 found in the woods is a good form, 

 and the children should be asked to 

 bring som^e to school. The sand, silt, 

 and clay can be obtained from the ordi- 

 nary soil as follows: 



Place the cupful of soil in v.'ater in 

 one of th^ jars, and let it soak for a 

 few hours. This will insure the thorough 

 separation of the soil granules. 



Fill the jar two-thirds full of water, 

 stir the contents of the jar thoroughly, 

 then let the soil particles settle for one 

 minute. 



Drain off the water and the soil sus- 

 pended in it into another jar, leaving 

 sand and gravel in the bottom of the 

 first jar. Let the contents of the second 

 jar settle for five minutes, and drain, 

 as in the first instance, into the third 

 jar. In the second jar is left silt. 



Let the contents of the third jar settle for two or three days, then 

 drain off the water. There will be left clay. 



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Fig. 33. — At work 



