16 LABORATORY MANUAL OF AGRICULTt l;l 



ence in color, texture, stickiness, and amount of moisture 

 and organic matter present. Record your observations in 

 the accompanying outline. 



Examine the soil on a steep slope and in the valley in the 

 same manner, recording depth of surface, subsurface and 

 subsoil. Also record difference in color, texture, stickiness, 

 and amount of moisture and organic matter present. Record 

 the data in the outline form. 



Examine the surface soil of an old cultivated field and the 

 surface soil of the adjoining fence row. Make careful notes 

 of any differences observed. 



QUESTIONS 



1. How do you account for the difference in color between the 

 surface, subsurface, and subsoil at the top of the hill? How do 

 you account for the difference in stickiness ? For the difference in 

 amount of organic matter present ? 



2. Explain the cause of the difference in depth of the surface 

 soil on the hilltop, the hill slope, and in the valley. 



3. Explain the difference in color as found in the three places. 



4. Which do you think would grow the better crop, the hillside 

 or the bottom? Why? Can you state from your knowledge of 

 crops whether this is generally true ? 



5. What differences did you observe between the soil in the cul- 

 tivated field and the soil in the fence row ? How do you account 

 for these differences ? 



6. Was the soil all over the cultivated field originally like the soil 

 in the fence row ? What has been the cause of the change brought 

 about by cultivating the soil ? 



7. What can the farmer do to make his cultivated land as mellow 

 and black as the soil in the fence row ? 



-f&. What are the uses of humus or organic matter in the soil ? 



REFERENCES 



1. Elements of Agriculture, Warren, pp. 95-96, 109-110. 



2. First Principles of Soil Fertility, Vivian, pp. 98-104. 



