“THE SOIL” 
157 
Exercise 5 
Object: To test soil for acidity. 
Material: Soil samples, water, glasses, and red and blue litmus 
paper. 
Procedure: Make up a ball of soil similar to a common mud 
ball. Split the ball and insert a piece of red and a piece of blue 
litmus paper. 
Results: If the blue paper turns red the soil is sour. If the red 
paper turns blue it is alkaline. If the red or blue paper retains its 
color the soil is neutral. Repeat the test using lime water and 
vinegar. 
WORDS TO BE LEARNED 
Alkali. Soda, ash or salt that is harmful to land. 
Avalanche. A large mass of snow and ice sliding down the 
mountain side. 
Humid. Containing moisture or vapor. 
Humus. Decayed plant and animal matter found in soil. 
Inorganic. Composed of materials other than animal or veg¬ 
etable. 
Leaf mold. Partly decayed leaves. 
Organic. That which is made up of plant and animal matter. 
Porous. Full of openings so that liquid will pass through. 
Sediment. The material deposited by water. 
Semi-arid. Having little rainfall. 
Solvent. A liquid used for dissolving a solid. 
Tilled. To plow and prepare for seed; cultivate. 
Virgin. Soil which has never been under cultivation. 
Weathering. To expose to air and other weather conditions. 
REFERENCES 
“The Soil and Its Management,” Miller, Ginn and Company, 
Boston, Mass. 
