DIFFERENT HANDLING OF SOILS 49 



carries with it the grains of sand until they strike other 

 grains and cannot be carried farther. Thus, the process 

 continues until the final arrangement of all the soil 

 grains is such that there is no further opportunity for 

 the force of gravity to operate. This principle must be 

 carried constantly in mind when farming sandy soils 

 because the water compacting the soil in this manner on 

 its downward trend makes the finest capillary connec- 

 tion possible between the top of the ground and the 

 lower surface. Thus, when the weather warms to 

 such an extent that water vaporizes on the surface, 

 moisture is drawn from below by capillary attraction 

 with great rapidity. The only way that this can be 

 stopped is by changing the relationship of the soil 

 particles on the surface. This can be brought about by 

 the use of any implement that will stir the soil. What- 

 ever implement is used, the relationship of the soil 

 particles must be entirely changed so that the moisture 

 from below cannot escape into the air by capillary at- 

 traction. 



With this understanding it naturally follows that 

 sandy soils require more frequent liming, fertilizing and 

 a greater amount of humus than the clay soils, also more 

 frequent cultivating on the surface if one expects to get 

 the most out of them. A question often arises as to the 

 advisability of plowing sandy soils in the fall for spring 

 planting. These water peculiarities of sandy soils 

 make a great difference between the time of plowing and 

 the planting season. In the chapter on the temperature 

 of the soil, reasons are given as to why sandy soil be- 

 comes warmer earlier in the spring than clay soil. This 

 earlier warming of sandy soil and the quickness with 

 which the soil compacts offer good reasons for per- 



