HOW THE SOIL BECOMES POOR 85 



the porous nature of the soil or by ditches cut by 

 the farmer. This subject was discussed in the last section. 



NOTE TO THE TEACHER. Ask your pupils to explain how lye is 

 made from ashes kept in hoppers. Point out that this process is 

 leaching- Leaching does more harm to rich than to poor soils. This 

 process removes from the soil chiefly nitrogen and little or no phosphate 

 and potash. The loss of plant-food due to the sale of lint cotton and 

 of cotton seed is shown in Fig. 94. 



FIG. 54. THE POOR SUBSOIL 



In the foreground the top soil has been removed by grading. Note the contrast 

 with the corn on normal soil. 



