158 



SOILS 



when dry weather arrives, furnishing what wet soils fail 

 always in doing. 



Washing is prevented. If a soil is saturated with 

 water, the only means of escape for rains is by means of 

 surface washing, a most injurious operation for the soil. 

 For this reason : surface washing picks up dissolved plant 

 food, and fine particles of soil, and carries both to lower 



LOSING SOILS BY HEAVY RAINS 



The loss of surface soil by washing is often very serious. This soil has been 

 washed to the edge of the field and down into the Rulch: it is the finest and 

 richest soil. If the plow had been run deeper, and the land had been culti- 

 vated crosswise of the slope, instead of lengthwise, it would not have been 

 washed so badly. This soil needed cultivation also. Note the crust and 

 cracks at the bottom of the picture ; no wonder water does not get into 

 the soil 



depths. I have seen vast areas, gullied, and ridged, and 

 torn, and made so by surface washing of the land. 



Often plowing is done poorly : so shallow that rains 

 never find their way down into the soil, carrying as they 

 go their good effects to the lower depths ; but, on the 

 other hand, they flee along the hillsides, carrying away 

 treasures that are valuable and sadly needed, just where 



