River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-08-26

There Is no more important study for the
farmer than careful study Of his soil. While
soils are composed of three distinct constituents
sand, clay, humus-yet these vary greatly in
their composition. All soils, far as their inOr-
ganic materials are concerned, were originally
composed by the breaking down and decOmpOsi
ton Of rock. Sands result from the decompOsi-
ton Of quartz or other rock containing quartz or
silica in some form, and the composition Of each
individual grain Is that Of the rock from which
il IL formed
. Soils formed OF granite are among the most
productive known. Why Granite Is composed
u quartz, feldspar, and mica. The quartz Is
pnre sileX, so necessary for proper divisions OF
soil. Feldspar again consists Of silica, alumina.
and potash. Alumina j. the base Of clay, lust
a. the metal aluminium j. the base of alumima
alumina being oxide Of aluminium, and is the
Characteristic Ingredient in all clays. Without
II soils could not De combined and held together.
With too much alumina IL becomes too dense.
hard, and imperviOus both % water and the roots
Of pants.
Humus II any organic matter in process Of de-
cay or in that state when reduced 10 impal-
paDle powder. Prairie soils contain great deal
Of humus that seems 10 have been deposited
when the soil waz under water or partially so.
To the fact that these soils, rule. are large
ly composed OF clay, are due their fertility and
lasting qualities, the dark color Of this sol being
due TO humus, and aleO 70 the effects Of burn
/ ing Of the vegetation yea after year.
Soils are generally clsssed sandy, loan
clayey, mucky, and peaty, the latter being form
ed III marshy land under water. Our very black
rairie soils, containing much clay and cge-
able matter, are often designated muck A dis
tinctly clay soil is that composed Of pure clay
Pure sand has no fertility, pure clay cannot be
classed a. fertile, and peaty soils are Lot fer
tile until they have long been unearthed by
careful thorough drainage.
Mixtures Of sand and clay are our most fertile
soils. They are classified loan wAen they
contain equal volumes Of sand and clay. as Sand
loan when about IS per cent is clay. A. soils
approach either Of these conditions they are
classed with that 10 which they relate mosl
closely.
The province Of humus IN the soil i two-fold
to render the soil light and mellow, though il
principal value is the power that hGmus pos
sesses Of decomposing and rendering SOLUBLE
the valuable constituents Of the soil, especially
those Of potash with nitrogen.
HHmus Is formed by the action Of the air on
solid anima vegetable matter. in fact. il il q
process Of exceedingly slow combustion. q,
much a. 500 years being considered necessary
10 reduce large oak u humus in the natural pro
gress Of decay. During all this time, however suet
I portions a. are gradually converted into humu,
+ are pertaining their natural functions in the
soil. One OF the most important is the con
/ seryation Of nitrOgcn-the most costly. a. il 4;
+ the most EASILY dispelled Of the organic pro
duct. Under the action Of heat and moisture
nitrogen combines with the potash Of the soil
I forming nitrate OF pOtassa, the common name o.
/ which is saltpetre.
From the foregoing the farmer may by care
/ ful observation estimate the value and charactel
{ Of his soil, and hence the proper crops % be us
ed, aud also the manures necessary To increase
prOduCtiveness. q sandy so may be rendered
/ productive by the addition Of clay. Ten pei
/ cent OF cay will convert it iuto q sandy losm
+ But pure clay cannot be rendered productive
+ by the addition OF sand. II would require a
/ least . per cent Of sand 10 convert il even 20
+ stiff clay loem Pure clay freed from un
combined silica consists Of aiumina IL 3, silics
+ 80, and water 1913 parls in 100. But except il
rare cases it j. not found, except combined NOR,
( or less with free silica, or sand.