CHAPTER XXIV 



THE SOIL 



We want to tell the child something about soil. 

 What it is made of; how it is made, and its use to 

 mankind. 



It must, indeed, be little at first, and we must make 

 as much use as possible of eyes and hands to help the 

 imagination. A few samples of rough and smooth 

 stones, sand, clay, loam, and a magnifying glass will 

 be a great help. Tell something of how rocks are 

 broken by great forces exerted by heat, cold, water 

 and wind. How glaciers ground the rocks and car- 

 ried them along; how freezing water split them, and 

 running water wore them smooth. 



Break some of the stones, and compare the rock 

 dust with sand and earth under the glass. Tell how 

 the surface soil has in it decaying animal and vege- 

 table matter, and how the falling leaves and dying 

 grass add to it. How worms and burrowing animals 

 mix these with the soil. How rains wash the fine 

 surface earth into rivers, which carry it down stream 

 to deposit elsewhere. 



Keep the samples and the glass where they can be 

 referred to, whenever the child wants to use them. 

 Day after day, as you work together, tell a little 



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