CONTENTS 



PART I. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS. 



Page 



1. How Soils are Formed 7 



2. Taking Soil Samples 7 



3. Microscopical Examination of Soil Particles.... 8 



4. Determination of Total Moisture in the Soil ... 9 



5. Capillarity 10 



6. Effect of Drainage on Soil Temperature 11 



7. Effect of Color on Soil Temperature 12 



8. Effect of Evaporation on Soil Temperature 13 



9. Per Cent, of Air in Soils 14 



10. Separation of Sand, Silt and Clay in Soils 14 



11. Water Holding Capacity of Soils 15 



12. Effect of Humus on Water Holding Capacity of 



Soils 16 



13. Effect of Mulches and Cultivation on Evapora- 



tion from the Soil 16 



14. Effect of Vegetable Matter on the Capillary Rise 



of Water 17 



15. Effect of a Moist Atmosphere on Dry Soils.... 17 



16. Effect of Lime on Soils 18 



17. One Effect of Humus, of Sand and of Lime, on a 



Clay Soil 19 



18. Determination of the Specific Gravity of Soils. . 19 



19. Determination of the Apparent Specific Gravity 



of Soils 20 



PART II. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS. 

 SOIL ANALYSIS. 



20. Acids, Alkalis and Salts 21 



21. Preparation of Potash 22 



22. Preparation of Crude Phosphoric Acid "... 22 



23. Alkali Soils 23 



24. Gypsum Treatment for Black Alkali 25 



25. Acid Soils and How to Correct Them 25 



26. Directions for Obtaining Soil Samples 27 



