DRAINING THE LAND 



155 



But they do not like wet soils and in them they do but 

 little work. On the other hand, much work is done by 

 the nitrogen-freeing bacteria : the evil-doers which re- 

 lease soil-nitrogen, and send it back again into the atmos- 

 phere. Here is the way these bacteria work : When 

 given soils that are well drained, good bacteria add to the 

 nitrogen store ; when given soils that are wet and un- 

 drained, evil-doing bacteria rise in power and take from 

 the stores in the soil. In the first instance, constructive 

 workers are at hand and in the second, destructive ones. 

 Consequently, if you would have the help of the benefi- 

 cial and would drive the harmful away, and, at the same 

 time, have manures of all kinds most effectively used, 

 you must pay close attention to draining the land. 



The soil is made warmer. Wet soils are always cold. 

 And since warmth is necessary for both germination and 



DRY SOIL 



IUAM I2M 2PM 



WET SOIL 



10AM 12M 2PM 



H. HUMUS; C.CLAY; S.SAND 



SOIL TEMPERATURE 



ra'ures were taken for seven consecutive days averages being shown 

 here 



for active growth of plants, it follows that wet soils 

 never can equal well-drained ones \\hcn it comes to high 

 production. It is out of the question to expect other- 

 wise. 

 The season is lengthened. Wet soils often become dry 



