38 THE OLIVER PLOW BOOK 



It is plainly evident that all these conditions are 

 necessary to bring about plant growth. When we 

 understand that plant growth, in the form of either 

 legitimate crops or weeds, consumes plant food, or 

 fertility and the water which is contained in the soil, 

 we see why it is necessary to replenish the fertility and 

 change the condition in this ground before new develop- 

 ment of plant food will take place. Plowing is the only 

 means known to human endeavor that will successfully 

 start this process. It is highly important then, that 

 one should understand the peculiarity of the soil he 

 desires to plow before he can do this efficiently. 



There is scarcely a farm, regardless of how small it 

 may be, that is made up of less than two distinct soil 

 compositions. The fact that most farms are made up of 

 several soils, some of them radically different, means 

 the necessity for a thorough understanding of the types 

 because they must be handled in an entirely different 

 manner to bring about good results. 



There are many soil combinations but the most 

 common are clay, loam, clay loam, sandy loam, loamy 

 sand, sand and muck. We will go into some detail in 

 the clay, loam and sandy soils because they are by far 

 the most common and will serve as illustrations of the 

 fact that each soil must be tilled according to its kind. 

 Indeed, there are many types of soils that are never 

 mentioned in books which have bountifully repaid the 

 tillage of farmers who studied their characteristics, and 

 by long, bitter experience learned how to handle them 

 for crop growing. 



Clay is the hardest soil to till on account of the 

 peculiar effect water and air have upon it. It holds 



