Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-13
,.,y Method Of Approach to Dr.
ticuIt But Practical
Subject.
u,Sls OF GOOD AGRICULTURE.
-,tng the Natural Agencies That
Make Soil-frost, Heat Water,
winds. Plants and Earthworms.

.-5,y THE interesting subject Of soils
/, aiken up. We take the class into
as Geld. have each one take a handful
n soil. and ask each one TO tell what
). finds in H. As each one sees the
,,,n stones, the bits 0f wood. the
-r1. etc., be may become far enough
arrested to ask how the soil Is made.
r,a Is The time to take a Journey 10
he mill IN which the soil is made
the mountain side on the mountain.
The following procedure might be taken.
THINGS TO BE OBSERVED.
Al he foot OF a elm, for example:
% Notice outside conditions. the cracks
and surface structure, ~ use a ham.
nsr to note firm condition Of inner
mk. 90 compare the angular frar-
rents az the base OF the cliff with the
FUNDED pebbles IN the stream: 40 dis
uss The erosion by which this change
b produced, 90 notice any indications
e the action OF frost or heat on the
'ok tsl note what parts the roots Of
plants may have taken in the process
~ observe how organic matter becomes
mixed with the talus or rock frag-
nsnis 90 look for Indications OF chem.
tl action on the rock-rust. yellow
t'lor.ngs, etc, 90 study the means by
which the soil is carried from the foot
q he clif. 00) observe the formation
Ggravel cones al the mouths Of gulch-
the gravel and sand further down.
% clay, SIN further while the large
g'1ts remain IN the canyons.
MEANING or THE FACTS.
arequires intelligent questioning IN
.ng out from the class the meaning
tihe phenomena thus observed. That
Tos' VIII split d cracked stone II
-o.sture fills the crevces: that heat
M cold may do the same thing: that
ne rocks split of In segments or LAYERS
Win the change Of temperature ami
'hc unequal shrinkage Of the parts Of
ihe solid mass; that on the Sahara des-
Ot .arge stones have been known 10
burst open from the expansive force Of
ne heat In the daytime and the con-
Inactive force Of the cold al night: that
growing plant roots may split open the
rock IN places where cracks afford the
roots admission that the wind may aid
90 The same work, that water may dis
solve the softer parts Of rock and make
the first openings that animals may
aid IN some Of the processes and thai
chemical action may do 50 likewise
'hese are topics 10 each n which one
% more lessons may be devoted, show
rg how soil Is made. Frost Is natures
f'oNmsn In breaking up the soil. and Is
'hs best fertilizer We have. one stu
dent may report the bursting Of water
pre on Of q glass pitcher by the frost;
another viii tell Of the frost-work on
rarts. another will measure how deep
ihf soil Is frozen In rloughed and IN
sold ground. showing that the frost
Ualerates much further IN the solid
than In the loose soil So tho action
Of the wind IN carrying sand against
hou.ders and slowly wearing them OF,
may be explained. Water as a solvent
81 the cement that holds the particles
ol sand together In the form Of 4 sand
stone and It's work IN e.formation
hy 1.vsolyns the lime rock. together
with It's production Of stalactites, ETC..
and rs work IN fertilizing lands by the
deposit Of the matter IL carries sus-
pfnded or dissolved. from the hillside
10 the field or fsrm-these facts are
readily shown by experiment
EROSION BY WATER.
Fin a strong clear glass bottle with
ordinary pebbles washed clean. Pour
On some clear water Then shake the
l0ttle vigorously for a minute, AMI
the water becomes muddy. the stones
have been ground down by the attri-
ton 81 the surfaces. The almost In
credible results OF the croslve power OF
water may be imagined by listening 10
tsr sound ~ the rolling stones IN the
apdly moving mountain streams. Get
q copy Of Tyndalrs Forms Of Water"
Humboldt Library. Is centsl, and
study The action Of water and especial
.F uf glacial action In erosion. The
flint marble machine, showing how the
f.Hts tmarhles) are made by erosion,
was m unexplained A model Of this
machine may be seen In the training
school
PLANTS ATTACK ROCK.
Plants ala I'm the dlsintegration Of
rocks to make soil Just as large stones
"f, sII- open in the quarry by drilling
N1.ts soto Che rock, and driving wooden
Naf's into The holes When these stakes
absorb moisture the rock will split
oI'H from tho expansive force Of the
WOOL duo 90 he capillary attraction Of
JUS particles The roots Of a boXeldc.
,ee ll mis- 6.ty grew into the creviccs
l ROCK foundation and forced apart
ll' stones Place piece Of marble
WIN smooth surface IN a box and
over ne marble slab with soil. Plant
Gas thefein and water them. At The
M ol me season. II may be found that
footlets have eaten small holes I'm
To- surface NJ The marble. showing that
' plants develop acid (hydrochloric)
DE urs Of their roots. Plants are
~ The most powerful agencies that
''' away the solid rocks.
THE EARTHwoRM
Examine ne plowod soil on a spring
morning in place where the earth
worm a'o1nds 4 number of small
.ts'nes, o. molds Of earth made by
Industrious creatures will be
Nl04 Have tho children gather the
KS from a square yard and care
tl weigh them. Compute from this
= the amount 81 soil pulverlled IN
'.f in ono acre of ground by these
creatures. and tho result Is mar
'''l> Their work may weigh many
IT'S 10 tho acre Place an earihworn
sheet Of paper and allow the sun
shine upon e. The worm manlfests
p licms Of pain. Moistou SIS body
.H water and rs coniortions will
-a'' This shows that the worm.
aiming through iis skin. requires
Ilte Tor its mode ~ ne. The
features arc found % be blind and
ray underground unless the surface ~
tround ls wet after O storm. Then
cont ~ the moist surface IN the
Ntni lime and as long as the ground
n'ist, 'hc creatures thrive. A. soon
llt Eround cries. or day approaches
,NE tnrrow into the earth again. But
.uer get upon a hard path or pave
,ht ma cannot hnrrow again. their
Nh dfics ana they are suffocaied, for
-ty 10 not know IN which direction -
-aNl 10 get o. the soft earth again.
DIS fact has led eorns manila "a f,,