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Q. Why is the soil of most of our farms actually 

 poor and infertile ? 



A. Because having been tilled during a great 

 number of years without dung or manure, it con- 

 tains no longer the substances necessary for the 

 nourishment and the. life of the plants. 



Various kinds of soil. 



Q. How many principal kinds of soil are there ? 



A. For the usual practical purposes, soils can be 

 divided into two special kinds : 1'^ strong soils or 

 clav soils, 2<» light or sandv soils. 



Q. What is the difference between the composi- 

 tion of a strong soil, and that of a light soil ? 



A. Strong soils contain a large quantity of clay 

 with but little sand ; light soils contain much sand 

 and little clay. , 



Q. Are strong soils all of the same kind ? 



A. No ; some soils are so strong that they are 

 unfit for culture. The best are those composed of a 

 mixture of clay and sand in due proportion. 



Q. What do you call soils composed of a mixture 

 of sand and clay in due proportion ? 



A. They are generally called mould. 



Q. Are the light soils all of the same quality ? 



A. No ; there are soils so light, as, for example 

 the sandy shore soils, that they are not susceptible 



