PK E LI M IN A 1! Y <' 1 1 A I >T 1 : 1 : . 9 



morons to mention. Silica, or tlio earth of Hints, alumina, 

 lime, magnesia, potash, and various salts and metalloid 

 compounds, unite in chemical or mechanical combinations 

 to make up these soils. The humus or gein. which gives 

 richness and fatness to the land and blackness of color, is 

 chiefly derived from successive growths and decays of 

 grasses and other vegetation. 



The productiveness of these soils depends not alone on 

 the nature of the soils themselves, but also upon climatic 

 and atmospheric influences, and the nature and properties 

 of the sub-soils and underlying drift materials. If the sub- 

 soil is gravelly, marly, leachy or porous, so as not to retain 

 too much moisture, fruits and cereals will flourish. If a 

 hard pan or impervious clay lies under the soil, so as to re- 

 tain the surplus moisture, corn and grasses will perhaps do 

 better. The practical agriculturist will knock the bottom 

 out of such a soil if he can. by deep plowing or nude rdrain- 

 ing. so as to let the surplus water leak out, and permit the 

 sunbeams and kissing winds to penetrate and sweeten the 

 land. 



Xot only the agriculturist, but the horticulturist may 

 learn a lesson from this. In the rirst place let him select 

 one of nature's orchard spots, if that be possible, on which 

 to plant his trees and vines. A light soil, porous sub-soil, 

 sheltered sunny exposure, and well drained slope or hill 

 side, is the favored spot. Then let him plant, in proper 



-on. of the best and hardiest Varieties, in holes big as 

 little cellars. Take care of the young trees, feed them with 

 fertilizers and good cultivation, wage war with their insect 

 foes, and in due time an abundant fruitage, even in this 

 climate, will be the result. 



If nature has not given him an orchard site, then he 

 must make one. Do artificially what nature has failed to 

 do. Drain and underdrain. plow and sub-soil plow, ma- 

 nure and feed with fertilizers, plant shelter belts to modify 

 and sift the blistering winds, and in this way an orchard or 



