68 ADDRESSES 



greatly hampered in their work by a lack of definite knowledge as to the char- 

 acter of the soil in the different sections with which they have to do. With- 

 out such knowledge definite advice is often impossible or, if given, may not 

 apply. In order, therefore, to furnish this information there has been organ- 

 ized what is known as the soil survey, the primary object of which is to se- 

 cure a knowledge of the character and properties of the soil in any given area. 

 Such a survey is now being conducted by the Ohio Experiment Station as a 

 part of the great Agricultural Survey which it is making of this State. 



A SOIL RECONNAISSANCE. 



During the summer we have made a soil reconnaissance of a large part 

 of the State and have secured much information in regard to the character of 

 the soil in different sections. This work, however, is preliminary to the making 

 of a general soil survey, including a map which will show all the larger areas 

 of the most important soil types of the State. In making this survey we shall 

 not endeavor to show the location of all the numerous small areas of the 

 different types, because experience has shown that this is expensive both in re- 

 gard to time and money. We hope, however, to be able to describe the types 

 found in each township in the State in such a way that the farmer himself can 

 recognize them. 



Two QUESTIONS ASKED. 



In the conduct of soil survey work there are two questions which we are 

 asked over and over again; first, "What are you doing?" and second, "What 

 are you doing it for?" I might add that there is a third question which often 

 precedes either of the others and that is, "How much do you get for doing it?" 

 Since you gentlemen are connected with agricultural work in the state, I am 

 sure that you realize that we do not get enough to make us millionaires and shall 

 therefore consider it not necessary to discuss further this last question. We 

 are willing to admit, however, that our salary is a little more than that of the 

 members of the State Board of Agriculture. The other two questions, I do 

 want to discuss, and to explain to you in some detail the nature of the work 

 which we are carrying on, to state some of the benefits which will accrue there- 

 from. Let us therefore consider first the question of "What are you doing? 5 ' 

 I want you gentlemen to know so that if you see a man with an auger boring 

 a hole in your field you will understand what he is doing and not think that 

 he is boring either for gold, oil, or gas, although he may get gold for boring 

 and may make a lot of gas over what he has done. 



THE SOIL SURVEY DEFINED. 



.A soil survey consists in examining the soils in the field, in order to de- 

 termine the different kinds of types, in studying their origin, processes of 

 formations and various obvious properties and characteristics, in the writing of 

 a report describing these different types, and in showing on a map, by means 

 of color or otherwise, the location of the different soils so far as this is 

 practicable. In brief, it is taking an inventory of our soil resources. 

 The soil survey will give us information in regard to the different kinds or 

 types of soil, just as the Geological Survey has furnished us with a knowledge 

 of the different geological formations. By means of the soil auger it is possible 

 to secure a sample of both soil and subsoil down to any desired depth, for the 

 purpose of studying its various characteristics. In usual practice it is only 

 necessary to examine the soil to a depth of three feet in order to determine 

 the type to which it belongs, although it is always well to secure all obtainable 

 information in regard to the character of the material at greater depths. It is 



