60 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



restricted to certain lines of production, and he is troubled 

 much in the growing of crops where he has land with this for- 

 mation lying close to the surface. But, on the other hand, it 

 is of extreme value if he can strike hardpan down to a certain 

 depth, because it furnishes the ability to hold as a reservoir 

 the percolating waters, to which plants may send down their 

 roots tlirough long periods of dry season, and there gain the 

 moisture Avhich they so much need. 



It is of the highest importance, to those who desire to 

 grow fruit and general farm crops, that they have some 

 knowledge of these diiferent kinds of soils, that they may 

 get the kinds of trees and crops on the soil best adapted to 

 their growth and development. I desire to emphasize this 

 statement. For centuries the soil has been cultivated and 

 made to produce food for the needs of the increasing mil- 

 lions of population, until at the present time much of it fails 

 to respond liberally to further demands. That has been one 

 of the great causes of our agricultural depreciation in the 

 east. For many years we have been drawing upon the food 

 supplies to that extent, without replacing the loss, that the 

 soil has declined further to 3deld up of her abundance as lib- 

 erally as she once did. Much of the plant food has not only 

 been seriously depleted, but also one of its most important 

 elements, — its organic matter. Its function is of the highest 

 importance. It is of value to the soil in diiferent ways. It 

 improves its texture, enables it to more perfectly hold and 

 to distribute moisture, and helps to make plant food more 

 available; in fact, it is one of the great necessities of our 

 present agriculture. 



In the process of production for so long a time the humus 

 of the soil has been largely used up or worn out, with the 

 result that for years many sections of our country have failed 

 to return j)rofitable crops. One of the most important 

 functions of humus is the improvement which it makes in 

 the texture of the soil. It loosens and lightens a heavv 

 clay, and softens and breaks down lumpy and cloddy condi- 

 tions. 



Now, take this ty[)o of land. Whoever knows clay land 

 readily understands that the period in the spring m which 



