41 



than fifty per cent, be contained in a soil, it becomes sour, and 

 requires manuring. In a cold climate, color should not be for- 

 gotten, as a dark soil will absorb heat better than a light one. 

 Plowed fields lose their covering of snow sooner than meadows. 

 In manuring, therefore, care should be taken that the soil as- 

 sume a dark appearance. Organic matter administers food to 

 plants through their roots ; consequently, land which has been 

 long cultivated, and scantily manured, becomes poor, through 

 the absorption of organic matter. Organic matter disappears 

 in two ways : 



First. — By sustaining plants, as aforesaid. 



Second. — By decomposition through exposure to the at- 

 mosphere; therefore, it must be artificially supplied, or the 

 land grows poor. 



The best way, when land runs down, is to cultivate crops to 

 be plowed under, such as clover, buckwheat, etc. 



The different soils which appear on the earth's surface may 

 be generally classified into three kinds, with their mixtures. 

 They are — 



The sandstone ; much of which composes poor soil, although 

 many sandstone soils are very good. 



The limestone, as a general rule, very good. 



Clay. — This soil is impervious to moisture, but usually of 

 good quality ; and, by proper skill, may be made most valuable 

 for agricultural purposes. 



The soil must be prepared when laboring under difficulties 

 of a local nature. 



There are three kinds of manure, viz. : the vegetable, the 

 animal, the mineral. 



The Vegetable. — There are many of this kind, some few of 

 which are subjoined. These manures are very important, since, 

 although they are not so energetic, they are certainly cheaper 

 than others. 



Clover, buckwheat, etc., etc., turned upside down, make a 

 cheap and effective manure. 



Seaweed is also very serviceable, when easily got. 



In England, rape dust is used as a manure. This is a 

 powerful manure, and one easily portable, that should claim 

 attention. 



The Animal. — This comprises the blood, flesh, bones, hair, 



