THE YOUNG FARMER 



bur oak, a somewhat warmer and better 

 drained soil. Beech indicates a rather poor 

 soil ; a heavy clay, lacking in organic matter. 

 Certain species of elms, maples and oaks, as 

 red maple and the Spanish swamp oak, in- 

 dicate wet soils. 



The occurrence and vigor of certain her- 

 baceous plants are especially indicative of 

 fertility of the soil, as, for example, rag- 

 weed, bindweed, certain plants of the sun- 

 flower family, such as goldenrod, asters and 

 wild sunflowers. Soils adapted to red 

 clover and alfalfa are usually well drained 

 and contain plenty of lime. Alsike clover 

 will grow on a soil too wet or containing too 

 little lime for either of the former. Soils 

 that produce sorrel and redtop when red 

 clover and timothy are sown need drainage 

 or liming or both. Sedges usually indicate 

 a wet soil, although certain species grow on 

 dry, sandy soils. The point of this para- 

 graph, however, is not to give comprehen- 

 sive advice but to cause the young farmer to 

 observe the conditions and make his own 

 applications, which will vary in different 



