THE SOIL AND ITS MANAGEMENT 57 



glacial, alluvial, aeolian, or colluvial. Determine the depth of the surface 

 soil and the subsoil in each case, the character of the drainage, gen- 

 eral texture, character of subsoil, and probable agricultural value. Com- 

 pare the soil in an old cultivated field with that of a rich garden or a 

 fence row. Note the respects in which they differ. 



3. Vegetation and soils. Study the character of the native tree 

 and weed growth on different soils and slopes and note how they are 

 related to the agricultural value of the soil. 



4. Character of layers of soil. Equipment: spades or shovels, 

 ij-inch auger with 3-foot gas-pipe extension and a T-handle. Two 

 squares of oilcloth 15x15 inches. 



By means of the soil auger, bore to the depth of the soil, deposit- 

 ing the borings carefully on the oilcloth. Note the difference in the 

 color of the soil and subsoil ; note the lack of organic matter in the 

 subsoil. Compare the texture of soil and subsoil between the fingers. 

 Take samples of the soil to the laboratory and compare them with 

 the standard types of sandy soils, loams, sandy loams, silts, and clays, 

 in order to determine more accurately the texture and classification. 

 If your laboratory possesses a microscope, or even some good hand 

 lenses, examine the soils from different depths under magnification. 



REFERENCES 



FLETCHER, S. W. Soils, chaps, i and ii. Doubleday, Page & Company. 

 HOPKINS, C. G. Soil Fertility and Permanent Agriculture, chaps, i-vi. 



Ginn and Company. 



KING, F. H. The Soil, chaps, i and iii. The Macmillan Company. 

 LYON, T. L., and FIPPIN, E. O. Principles of Soil Management, pp. 1-68. 



The Macmillan Company. 



THORNE. Farm Manures, chap. i. Orange Judd Company. 

 VIVIAN, A. First Principles of Soil Fertility, chap. v. Orange Judd 



Company. 

 WHITSON and WALSTON. Soils and Soil Fertility. Webb Publishing 



Company. 



