THE SOIL 





underneath is the subsoil. The topsoil is usually 

 much looser than the subsoil, and darker because of 

 the humus it contains. On the steep bank of streams 



you can often see 

 clearly the differ- 

 ence between the 

 dark topsoil and 

 the lighter-colored 

 subsoil. 



Heavy and light. 

 - The farmer of- 

 ten speaks of heavy 

 soil and light soil. 

 A heavy soil is one 

 through which it is hard to pull the plow. A tough 

 clay is hard to plow and is called a heavy soil. A soil 

 that is easy to work is called a light soil. Sandy soils 

 are easy to plow and therefore are light soils. 



QUESTIONS 



1. What things constitute soil ? 



2. Define free water, film or capillary water. 



3. What is humus? 



4. What are the classes of soil on the basis of the size of the 

 soil particles ? 



5. How does the topsoil differ from the subsoil ? 



6. What is meant by a light soil ? By a heavy soil ? 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



i. Bring to school samples of several kinds of soil that are 

 found in the neighborhood. 



