32 



is a matter that should be brought up at this morning ses- 

 sion. It has been the custom generally at the first session 

 of the association to select a committee on nominations of 

 officers : I therefore move that a committee on nominations 

 be nominated from the floor, and to start it myself I will 

 nominate Mr. Hittinger of Belmont. 



The President. We have a list of directors by coimtie;s, 

 and they will consider the county arrangement. We have 

 a motion that Mr. Hittinger be one of the committee to nom- 

 inate officers for the ensuing year. All in favor of Mr. Hitt- 

 inger serving, please manifest by raising their hands. Con- 

 trary minded. It is a vote. Five members are to be ap- 

 pointed. Is there another? 



A Member. I nominate Mr. Wilfrid Wheeler of Con- 

 cord. (Messrs. Hittinger, Wheeler, Cook, Race and Clark 

 are selected a committee on nominations). 



The Presiderjt. This committee will bring in a list of 

 officers at the opening of the afternoon session. Officers are 

 to be elected the first thing after the opening of the after- 

 noon session. 



Mr. Wilder, Soil Specialist of the Department of Agri- 

 culture. (Applause). 



Mr. H. J. Wilder : Ladies and Gentlemen : I have 

 prepared a paper, all of which I will promise not to read to 

 you, but only some parts of it. 



SOILS AND THEIR RELATION TO VARIETIES 



HENRY J. WILDER 



Bureau of Soils, Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C. 



From the practical viewpoint there is just one reason 

 why we should try to know as much about the soil as pos- 

 sible, and that is that we may know best how to make it 

 yield us good crops. This involves two things, viz: to 

 know the crops the different kinds of soils are best ad- 

 apted to produce, and then how to handle those soils so 

 that the best possible yields may be secured. To solve the 

 latter problem much time has been spent. Experiment 

 Stations, farmers, scientists, agricultural students and fer- 

 tilizer manufacturers all have sought this, and great ad- 

 vances have been made. But a given method of farm prac- 



