AGRICULTURE FOR SOUTHERN SCHOOLS. 7 



Lesson 9. — Composition of Plants. 



1. Organic v. inorganic matter. 



2. Crude fiber. 



3. Carbohydrates. 



4. Proteids. 



5. Fats. 



Illustrative material. Chart showing composition of plants. 



SOILS. 



(36 lessons, 18 periods for practical work.) 

 References : Any of the general texts in soils. Also, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture Bulletin 355, Extension Course in Soils. Price List No. 46, 

 United States Public Documents Relating to Soils (for sale by the Superinten- 

 dent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C). 



Lesson 1. — WeatJier and Water in Soil Mahing. 



1. Weathering of rocks. 



2. Work of water. 



3. Ice as a factor. 



Lesson 2. — Worh of Plants and Animals. 



1. Lichens and mosses. 



2. Stems and roots. 



3. Work of animals. 



4. Sources of organic matter in the soil. 



5. Life in the soil. 



Illustrative material : Stones upon which lichens, mosses, or other plants 

 are growing. 



Lesson 3. — Transportation of Soils. 



1. Residual soils. 



2. Gravity as a factor'!— colluvial soils. 



3. Water as a factor — alluvial soils. 



4. Ice as a factor — glacial soils. 



5. Wind as a factor — loessial soils. 



Exercise 4. — A Field Study of Soils. 



Purpose: To determine the nature of soil and to study the various 

 processes of formation and transportation. 



Directions : In connection with a study of soil formation the entire 

 class should be taken to a near-by railroad cut, a gully washed by 

 water, or some excavation where the students may study the relation 

 of the soil to the subsoil and the underlying rock and note the effects 

 of the various agencies in the formation and modification of soils. 



Record 2iiidL report: A written report, which should be required 

 of each student, should bring out, with any notes of special interest, 

 answers to the following questions : Are the soils of the neighborhood 

 visited residual or transported? What relation, if any, do you note 

 between the nature of the prevailing types of soils and the rocks 

 which prevail in the district? What is the difference between the 

 soil and subsoil? What particular effects, if any, did you note of 

 the action of water in the making of soils? What are the effects of 

 water in the transportation of soils ? What effects of lichens, mosses, 



