AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



EXERCISE 



1. Why is the soil wet under a board or under straw? 



2. Will a soil that is fine and compact produce better crops than 

 one that is loose and cloddy? Why ? 



3. Since the water which a plant uses comes through the roots, can 

 the morning dew afford any assistance ? 



4. Why are weeds objectionable in a growing crop ? 



5. Why does the farmer cultivate growing corn and cotton ? 



SECTION IV HOW THE WATER RISES IN THE SOIL 



When the hot, dry days of summer come, the soil depends 

 upon the subsoil, or undersoil, for the moisture that it 

 must furnish its growing plants. The water was stored 



in the soil during 

 the fall, winter, and 

 spring months when 

 there was plenty of 

 rain. If you dig 

 down into the soil 

 when everything is 

 dry and hot, you will 

 reach the cool, moist 

 undersoil. It be- 

 comes more moist as 

 you go deeper 



FIG. 8. 



USING LAMP CHIMNEYS TO SHOW 

 RISE OF WATER IN SOIL 



the soil. 



Now the roots of plants go down into the soil for this 

 moisture, because they need the water to carry the plant 

 food up into the stems and leaves. 



