66 



CllAi'lUt \i. 



THE SOIL (CONTINUED), AND SOME OF IaS CON- 

 NECTIONS WITH THE PLANT. 



Notore of mechanical improTement : mixini; of sandt and clajt. 

 EriU of wetness in the aoil. Beneficial effects of drains ; what 

 kind of drains V)e«t : proper (Vpth; materials of which they 

 should I ricR of tiles-, subsoil plough- 



ing; tr. II between inorganic part of 



the soil .wi a <>> ;ii>- |ii.>ijI u i u-. i > .lit'il. Plsnts seem to require 

 all of the inorganic substances in the soil, but not in tht sanM 

 proportions. 



SECTION 1. AVHAI IHL CONDITION OP THE SOIL SHOULD BE, 

 AND THE NATURE OF MECHANICAL IMPEOYEMENT. 



We are now able to say that a fertile soil should 

 have all of the substances uhich were mentioned in 

 Table I., and were also namtnl when giving the oom- 

 pocition of the planL These substances should l>e pre- 

 sent in abundance, an<l yet none of them in ttx) lari^e 

 quantity; tli' ' i Ik- in f^ • »• 



nourishmt'iii .andthti ,..* 



soil should bf Mil li tliut thr plunts could • 'trate 



in every direction with thrir roots to obi. a. Air 

 and warmth should also pervade every part, because 

 under tiieir influence the plant flourishes better, and 

 the necessary changes in the composition of Uie soil 

 take place more readily. To brin these con- 



ditions is a stu«ly lor the farmer, ai er of tbcni 



com*' :i' 



By lii. 1 niean the 



improvement ot its texture, and ot its otiier qualities. 



