A Deere Model Dairy Faxm, Moline, Illinois 



SOIL 



SOIL is the substance in which plants grow. Fertility or plant food 

 is composed of compounds made up of organic and inorganic ele- 

 ments. The essential inorganic elements are found in varying quanti- 

 ties in the particles of disintegrated rocks. They are silica, alumina, 

 iron, phosphorus, lime, sulphur, magnesia, soda and potash. All exist 

 in most soils in gi'eat abundance except potash and phosphorus. Other 

 elements of fertility are oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen. These 

 elements exist in the atmosphere in inexhaustible quantities and are 

 utilized by the growing plants in a greater or lesser degree. 



It must be understood that growing plants are very exacting in their 

 requirements. The laws governing their growth will permit of no 

 radical interference. A deficiency of any one element will be reflected 

 in the production, and an excessive amount of some of the elements will 

 prove even more disastrous than a deficiency. For instance, an exces- 

 sive amount of the sodas will cause alkali poison. 



The productiveness of soil depends upon its physical condition, its 

 humus content, the amount and availability of water and the amount 

 of available plant food it contains. Soils differ in their adaptability to 

 certain crops, a matter which should be thoroughly studied by the 

 farmer. In this particular, soils are not unlike live-stock. We know 

 that some cows are milk producers, other varieties are useful for beef 

 only. Likewise, we have draft horses and roadsters. So it is with the 

 soil — some fields are adapted to potato raising, others to sugar beets, 

 while others will excel in grain or corn; hence, no fast rules can be laid 

 down governing the adaptability of crops to certain lands. If the 

 farmer will make some careful experiments, he will be able to plant 

 crops which are best adapted to his soil. 



