384 Missouri State Horticultural /Society. 



paratively new pistillate variety, the Manchester, with the Sharpless 

 and the James A'ick, two of the four varieties used to fertilize the 

 Crescent. The results obtained were- precisely similar to those 

 already described. The Manchester fertilized by the Sharj)less pro- 

 duced large berries resembling the Sharpless, and possessing few of 

 the characteristics of the Manchester. When artificially pollenated 

 by the James Vick, the Manchester produced a small, firm, perfect 

 and regular berry like that of the male parent. 



Director Lazenby must be credited with having made the first 

 systematic experiments to determine the effect of pollen from dif- 

 ferent varieties upon the pistillate kinds. 



THE ORIGIN OF SOILS. 



Barely does the farmer whose plow or hoe is dulled by striking 

 against a buried stone, reflect that upon the mineral composition 

 of that stone was dependent to a very considerable extent the 

 barrenness or fertility of the soil he cultivates. Yet such is the 

 case, for soil is but disintegrated or decomposed rock, mingled 

 with more or less organic or vegetable matter. 



XO SOILS ORIGINALLY. 



In the earlier days of the earth's history there was no soij, but 

 the exposed surface everywhere consisted of hard, barren rock, 

 affording neither nourishment nor foothold for any kind of plant 

 life. After a time, however, through the combined chemical action 

 of air and water, the surface of the rock became weathered and 

 porous, and there began to grow upon it the lower kinds of plants, 

 such as lichens and mosses, just as we may now see them growing 

 ujjon ledges and stone walls, especially where it is a little damp. 

 These lived and died, and furnished by their decomposition not 

 only vegetable mold for other plants to take root in, but also small 

 amounts of humic and other organic acids which partly dissolved 

 the rock, thus allowing the growing plants to drive their minute 

 rootlets still farther down, and wedge off more small particles, and 

 expose fresh surfaces to its solvent action. 



Thus, aided by heat and frost, through hundreds and thous- 

 ands of years, the rocks continued to weather or disintegrate, and 

 the vegetable mold continued to accumulate, affording nourishment 

 and rooting place for more and larger plants, until as now the land 

 was covered with vegetation of all kinds, varying in size from the 

 minute fungus, visible only with the microscope, to the giant 

 Sequoia tree of the California forests. 



