CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



organic matter. The original rock " weathered," 

 undergoing physical and chemical change. A long 

 period of time was required for this work, and for 

 the mixing and shifting from place to place that 

 have occurred. Organic matter has been a fac- 

 tor in the making of soils, and is in high degree a 

 controlling one in their production of food. 



Organic Matter. Nature is resourceful and 

 is constantly alert to repair the wastes and mis- 

 takes of man. We may gain fundamental truth 

 about soil fertility through observance of her 

 methods in restoring land to a fertile condition. 

 Our best success comes only when we work with 

 her. When a soil has been robbed by man, and 

 has been abandoned on account of inability to 

 produce a profitable crop, the first thing nature 

 does is to produce a growth of weeds, bushes, 

 briers, or aught else of which the soil chances to 

 have the seeds. It is nature's effort to restore 

 some organic matter some humus-making ma- 

 terial to the nearly helpless land. Vegetable 

 matter, rotting on and in the soil, is the life-giving 

 principle. It unlocks a bit of the great store of 

 inert mineral plant-food during its growth and its 

 decay. It is a solvent. The mulch it provides 

 favors the holding of moisture in the soil, and it 



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