The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-01
nee OF SOILS.
ssition Of Rocks Pro-
arees Food Of Plants.
..sfEaEncEs IN EARTHs.
=. Re Ksmedisd BY sup-
=. ,rfusrsi Substances In
Il '.....s ne soil II Deficient
80 4 state Agricultural

Sam 4 state Agricultural
rolIege Bulletin
20 PRODUCED by the decom-
8. sfsIusegration Of the .origi-
=. '.,ssxes. We are apt TO look
go AZ being very durable. and
.,e But they are not proof
- action OF certain agencies
a q. ~onfh1ualiy at work tearing
a ! ~ ana breaking them in pieces.
-. sruportnt OF these agencies
- air ard frost. All rocks are
go poroaIs and absorb conzid-
IA 9 .r ,s which freezes during the
!.l -. The tremendous expay-
- -. ex<rted when water changes
81. Z. : vel known. and this force Is
5....,t "a tear the rocks apart. The
- ,rs.h which rock decomposition
+! 80 on from this cause Is pro-
..'s:s-al 10 the porosity or the rock
II ..rer4ty Of the frosts-
~. eseks contain compounds
IS ~ - capabie of uniting with oxy-
"a 49, ordinary conditions. The air
F5!k.s.k.. this oxygen. and the chenli-
s ..srres produced by such a COM
-, 6sten result In fracturing the
~. srfnding power of moving gfa-
u e. also played an important part
~ fosmafion OF soils.
Il ,.turally follows that soils will re-
~ II composition the rocks from
sI'a fhey are derived. The disinte-
-. u q sandstone and a limestone
r ,.uds,oe soils having character
ID. ufach differ as much as do the
- themselves.
- II not for the transportation
rs Of wiad aud water. sells would
- consist OF the decayed under
f551Ir rock. enriched by the decomposi-
~ ovxduets OF the vegetable matter
- they support. But because Of
eare with which they are trans
SsHrd b. these agencies 1t frequently
11Slu,s that fertile soil Is found in
isas underlaid by rocks which by
~ decomposition would yield one
Is aaTren. Equally krue Is it that a
- soil l. often found everything
g .haf contain all the elements es-
faI 10 fertility. Ordinarily. how
2. unless there Is clear proof to the
LAZY, We may assume that the
n q given locality have fur
ked the material for the soil OF that
ljm Tails being true. 1t bec0mes
(lent that geology and agricultural
Eenistry are closely allied. A knowl-
- q the geological formations OF
RI seton gives at once a. cite con-
{ lning the general character OF the
4 - term "soil' is used TO designate
= mixture Of mineral (earthy) mat
E II ind decayed vegetable matter in
Sorse plants grow. and from which
~ derive much Of their food. AL
1npxh II Is true that they possess dis
81 features Indicative OF their origin.
81 GaaaIly true that they have many
10 In common.
HERE can be no effect without an
Hquste cause. Hence when soils pre-
81 70 Us different degoees of fertility,
y muA conclude that these variations
~ soue cause. which may be easily
N7d to inherent qualities which they
ness. All soils wherever found have
lxin fixed AID definite properties;
- 4 has been satisfactorily proven
~ krenness and fertility depend
- the absence or presence in them
hose forms Of mineral matter that
- 70 be found In the ashes OF plants,
- also upon the degree OF availability
4 ltis matter.
apsosl in distinction TO surface soil
tszt PARTON lying directly under the
nc Ia many cases there is a clear line
y conservation between them, the sub
- Usually being lighter In color be-
- cosltaining less ilumus. In other
/ = \ Is impossible to distinguish any
sksa difference for a depth OF many
inls u q characteristic feature OF
Taeiai drift OF Clarke county. and
n sa'ls OF hasaltic origin in Eastern
ssl';gton. In regions OF abundant
e tzressive rainfall the differences be-
.eea sarfacs soil and subsoll are usu-
- very important and striking. but
Wy regions they are often barely
tSsptihle.
nl'e the suhsoii has an important
ses'tss In the economy OF plant
yvssa. ne surface soil il what con-
- Us most. As already stated. It
-. sss'sss Of the products of rock decom-
!. sse.s'a' ENRICHED by decayed organic
sssaf. When soil is heated 60 red
70 portion Of IL PASSES away, and
~. which remains generally assumes
"a. '''a'sh csslor. This remaining por-
81 me Inorganic matter. and what
a away Is the organic substance
~ s'nhlnei water.
80 organic matter Is very complex.
- OF decomposition products
e s'u'aiate between woody fiber and
"a 1sss into which vegetable matter
49, s.s.'s resolved BY complete deconn-
81 Although all fertile soils con-
- ss'ise organic matter, IL is not es-
.sss. % FERTILITY that any given pro-
49, 49, VI II Should BE- present. It is
= = vary from IT, per cent. 10 50
.ssal''. and neaty soils. as high as
- ~ cent. X seems 90 make very
No difference in the fertility OF
49, 49, seals whether the minimum or
Exsss..s.saaa amount is present. A small
~ So s the organic matter in In
- q humuS." which is a mix
~. several OF the intermediate
III y decay. This hunres. 10 which
~, - eesor Of many soils Is artNar-
s > eas : e very important cons,ltu-
~ i. so'as' inaSuuch as 1t furnishes
- 50 necessary for growing
~ II WAS formerly supposed
~ = absolutely necessary soil fac
Ns now know that this Is no,
- ~ YET ~e recognize its value not
has source 81 nitrogen. hut also
10 .Ra'iesiee on the physi,aal con,s,.
49, soils /, gives then, an in
IsAs.s ! power n retaining moisture.
ii sassh more responsive 20 solar
- FINDERS thefn more easy OF