66 Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



from the soil. Take some home-made lye and taste a 

 drop on the end of a broom straw. Allow to filter through 

 the soil as above and try the taste of the drippings. 

 Has the soil absorbed any of the salts? 



QUESTIONS 



1. What are the ends to be worked for in soil management? 

 2. What is meant by "soil?" How does a geologist classify soils? 

 4. What is the farmer's classification of the layers of soils? 5. Name 

 the four chief components of soils. 6. What are the advantages 

 and disadvantages of a sandy soil? 7. Of a clay soil? 8. Of a limy 

 soil? 9. Of humus in soils? 10. What is the importance of the size 

 of soil particles? 11. Which are more important, soil particles, or 

 granules? 12. What does the farmer mean by heavy and light soils? 

 13. What kind of soil warms up most quickly? 14. Why does the 

 farmer harrow or plow up the crust formed by rains? 15. What is 

 meant by dry-land farming? What is its advantage? 



