FODDER IN INDIA. 



land — cheaper, more immediately productive of a grass crop ; 

 on the other hand crop lands are expensive to buy and expen- 

 sive to put down to grass, and much slower in giving any 

 return. Of course one is not always able to pick and choose. 



CHAPTER III. 



There are several excellent publications about 'Soils,' 

 and the student will be well advised to 



Soli. 



peruse one or more of them carefully for a 

 better understanding and more minute detail than will be 

 found herein, although sufficient information is given for 

 forming a foundation and immediate need. Soil then is the 

 upper surface (crust) of the earth, formed from the disinte- 

 gration of rock with an intermingling of animal and vegetable 

 matter in a greater or lesser state of decay. It comprises a 

 depth of only from 2" or 3" up to i' o", rarely more and usually 

 less. Sub-soil is found immediately below soil, and where 



the "soil" is of considerable depth, say 



Sub-soil. f J J 



over 10 , " sub-soil hardly enters into 



our calculations being beyond the depth usually cultivated in 



India, and beyond the question of moisture, including 



drainage, is but little used by the roots of grass or crops. 



The general average constituents of soil are : sand, clay, 



calcic carbonate, humus, gravel ; and 



Classification of Soils. .- , . 



soils are usually classified as follows : — 



Gravel in varying small percentage will usually form 

 some part of any or each of the above kinds of soil. A sub- 

 soil may consist of one or more or all in varying percentages 

 of rock, clay, sand, gravel, calcic carbonate, or humus. 



