774 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



THE POSITION OP THE SOIL. 



The surface of the soil is either horizontal or inclined ; in the latter 

 case the slope may be uniform or nonuniform, and vary in regard to the 

 points of the conipass and in respect to the horizontal. Tlie compass 

 direction is called the "exposure," the slant in respect to the horizontal 

 is the "inclination." 



The exposure may be easterly, southerly, westerly, northeily, or may 

 have some intermediate direction. With regard to varying- inclination 

 we have the following gradations: 



Level or slightly slojiiiig to fy^ to the horizontal. 



Sloping 5 to 10°. 



Very sloping 10 to 20°. 



Steep 20 to 30°. 



Very steep 30 to 45'^. 



Precipitons altove 45°. 



The exposure and the inclination are of great importance in many 

 ways, because upon them depend the conditions of warmth and humidity 

 of the culture layer, and also of erosion of the soil. The former con- 

 sideration determines the choice of crop and the latter the possibility of 

 cultivation. 



