52 THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF 



suitable for the purpose a small holder has 

 in view. There are instances, more especi- 

 ally among the chalks, the heavy and the light- 

 est soils, in which the crops are failures in 

 a dry summer. It is important — nay, 

 imperative — that there should be no possi- 

 bility of failure from lack of moisture. A 

 soil which is well stocked with humus, or 

 decayed organic matter, not only contains 

 more water than another, but it has greater 

 power of absorption, while it loses less by 

 comparison. It is for this reason that a 

 garden soil so seldom fails ; hence the 

 importance of converting the Small Hold- 

 ing into a garden soil by manuring 

 with large quantities of dung and heavy 

 cropping. Humus materially assists in the 

 improvement of texture, so that land 

 is more easily and quickly tilled, while 

 constant tillage, whether with spade or 

 plough, and heavy manuring, increases its 

 depth and productive power. If in his 

 estimation of the value of the land 

 which he seeks to take, a farmer makes 

 a point of noting the quality, depth, 

 and texture of the soil, its condition 

 with regard to drainage, its altitude and 

 aspect, the climate as suited to his stock 



