CONCERNING THE TEXTURE OF THE SOIL 3$ 



The manner of their arrangement, their size, their num- 

 ber and their structure, all enter into a clear understand- 

 ing of the texture of the soil. For let this be said : the soil's 

 physical conformation, in so far as it influences the tem- 

 perature of the soil, the supply of water, and the circula- 

 tion of the air, has more to do with successful plant 

 culture than its chemical composition. There are many 

 soils that are abundantly supplied with all the necessary 

 chemical constituents, but, being in such a poor physical 

 condition, they are quite unable to do any work of a 

 serviceable nature. They are of poor texture. 



Soil texture may be modified. The texture of the soil 

 may, of course, be modified. There is a limit to the 

 change that may be effected, however, and time is re- 

 quired, also, if this is to be done. Our clay lands still 

 remain clay lands, although man has been at work with 

 them for thousands of years. And the same is true of 

 sand areas, or of any other special type of soil. 



But they may be modified. Organic matter, when added 

 to soils, improves them : the clays open, air and water 

 more freely enter and do good ; the barren sands more 

 tightly grasp soluble plant food and water, and hold them 

 longer for growing plants. Organic matter warms the 

 heavy clays and lessens the burning of the sands, and it 

 increases available plant food in all. 



Since it is not within the ability of a man to effect 

 marked changes in the character of his soil, it follows that 

 the wisest practice will be to select those crops best suited 

 to the peculiarities of individual localities. Therefore, we 

 shall not attempt to grow wheat, for instance, in soils of 

 light texture the sand types nor garden vegetables in 

 the clay types. 



While, on the other hand, we do grow crops in all parts 

 of the country, in all sorts and types of soil, we do so only 



