MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



think ; I doan't like myself to turn up much o' 

 the yaller; it 's a kind o' cold sile." 



"Yes, but if you exposed it to the air and 

 light, would n't it change character, and so add 

 to the depth of your land ?" 



"Doan't know but it might; but I ha'n't 

 much opinion o' yaller dirt, nohow; I kind o* 

 like to put my corn and potatoes into a good 

 black sile, if I can get it." 



"But color is a mere accidental circumstance, 

 and has no relation to the quality of the soil." 



("Gee, Bright! gee!") 



"There are a great many mineral elements 

 of food lying below, which plants seek after; 

 don't you find your clover roots running down 

 into the yellow soil ?" 



"Waal, clover 's a kind of a tap-rooted 

 thing, — nateral for it to run down; but if it 

 runs down arter the yaller, what 's the use o' 

 bringin' on it up ?" 



The scientific gentleman sees his chance for 

 a dig. 



"But if you can make the progress of the 

 roots easier by loosening the sub-soil, or incor- 

 porating a portion of it with the upper soil, 

 you increase the facilities for growth, and en- 

 large your crops." 



"Waal, that 's kind o' rash'nal; and ef I 



260 



