SECTION SECOXD. 



THE SOIL. 



CHAPTER I. 



FORMATION AND CHARACTER OF THE 

 SOIL. 



IN the foregoing section, we have studied the cha- 

 racter of plants and the laws which govern their 

 growth. "We learned that one necessary condition 

 for growth is a fertile soil, and we must examine the 

 nature of different soils, in order that we may under- 

 stand the relations between them and plants. 



The soil is not to be regarded as a mysterious mass 

 of dirt, whereon crops are produced by a mysterious 

 process. "Well ascertained scientific knowledge has 

 proved beyond question that all soils, whether in 

 America or Asia, whether in Maine or California, 

 have certain fixed properties, which render them 

 fertile or barren, and their fertility or barrenness de- 

 pends, first of all, on the presence or absence of those 

 minerals which constitute the ashes of vegetable pro- 

 ductions. 



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