A Lesson on Soil.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 September 1910, Page 3

A Lesson on Soil.

Flaunts shed considerable water from their leaves, which is taken up by their roots. Tlie latter must secure from the soil as much water as they need, or tho plants cannot thrive. The soil gets its water from rains and snows at irregular intervals. Therefore it is plain the soil must sorve as a reservoir to supply the needs of the crops. Living cells need air as well as food. The live roots tof plants consist of living cells, not one of which can survive long without air. The soil mustbe porous enough to admit all the air the roots need. Rootlets will not grow into clumps or clods t/hat are so compact that air cannot enter them. A soil in the right condition for tho quick growth of roots may ibe compared to a wet sponge with air, circulating through its pores, while the substance of the sponge contains much water.

The .roots of most crops grow faster just at the_ bottom of tlie layer of soil that is turned by the plough. Tlie soil above this point is better supplied .with air than the part below, while the subsoil, wtliidh is the air below this point, is better supplied with water than above. Tho point whore the _ ploughed soil rests on the subsoil is, therefore, best supplied with both air and water.

The majority of farm and garden soils consist principally of a mixture k>f sand and clay. Such a soil is known as a loam. Sandy loams contain more sand than clay, and consequently dry rapidly. Clav loams consist mostly of clay, and retain water much better. The ideal soil for growing crops contains sand enough to allow tho surplus water to move downward, and clay enough to retain sufficient water f<Vr the use of the crops. Too much clay will cause the soil to. 'bake" (harden oir dry). Such soils can 'be improved hy manuring, by the addition of sand or ashes, and sometimes by 'tho use of lime. Should the pores of a soil remain fill with water a long time after rain, the air would be forced cut, and the roots of the crop growing on the land might Ibe smothered. he hest soil is that which is well drained, so that its pores will not remain filled' with water even in wet weather. Tin's means that the subsoil must permit'the surplus war, tor to pass through it rather easily. If the soil over a subsoil contains too much clay, it will dry slowly in the spring, and also be improved' by draining. Ditches connecting with an Outlet on lower ground may be dug through the land. With the exception of carbon, the rood of plants comes from the soil, •and is dissolved in the soil water. Should the soil not contain sufficient food, tho plants cannot grow very well, even though they have everything else they need.