MORE ABOUT THE SOIL. 
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MORE ABOUT THE SOIL. 
1 . We know that there is plant-food in the soil, 
but we must not think that all the soil is food ready 
for the plant. The roots can only take in what is 
dissolved in water, and this is only a very little 
part of what is in the soil. 
2 . You may have plenty of uncooked meat in the 
cupboard, yet you are unable to feed on it until it 
has been properly prepared for your use. So also 
the food which the plant needs may be around its 
roots in abundance, and yet the plant may be unable 
to use it until the gases in the soil have so changed 
it that it will dissolve. 
i 
3. If we soak some soil in a glass of water for 
some time, a small portion of what it contains will 
be taken up by the water. This is the part that is 
ready for the plants to feed upon. If the same soil 
be dried, and then soaked again, nothing more will 
be taken up by the water. But try it after you 
have left it open to the air for some weeks, and you 
will then find that the water can dissolve more of 
it. So the air must have caused changes to take 
place; from which you learn what a good thing it 
is to dig and break up the soil, that fresh parts of 
it may be laid open to the sun and air. 
4. But something besides a sufficient supply of 
plant-food is necessary for our crops. In addition, 
the soil should be in such a state that air and water 
