The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-11-14
ACR|CULT TURE THE MOST VITAL
INDUSTRY TO ANY NATION

mated that We drew during the yea,
1909 more than $S,296,OOO, 900, ant
its possibilities are as yet only par.
! TALLY realized. There are still in this
/ country millions of acres which have
never felt the plow, while those
| which are now under cultivation can
! by the ppl'cation of scientific prin-
ciples, be made to produce manJ
times the present value of theil
| products. How to use and not
abuse this great resource is the
most important problem which faces
the farmer today-one worthy OF
the best efforts of our most pro
found and learned SCIENTISTS for up
on its solution depends the future
prosperity of the nation"
The above is a statement from a
recent Bulletin of the Bureau of
Soils, relative to the soils of the
country. While comparatively
small percentage of the soils OF the
United States have been surveyed
and analyzed By the Bureau, more
than 800 types of soils have been
discovered during the progress Of the
soil survey. The existence of such
large variety of soil types, each
possessed of definite and peculiar
characteristics calls attention to the
importance Of careful study of the
soils and their relation to agricul.
ture. The bulletin says:
The old idea of soil investigation
was to collect samples, examine
them in the laboratory, and see what
difference could there be determin-
ed; the newer idea is to study the
characteristics and properties of
soils in the field classify them ac-
cording to obvious differences, and,
with the information in hand, use
the laboratory as means of ascer-
tanning the cause of such variations
as can not be determined in the
field This method of attacking soil
problems is the reverse of the usual
practice bat because of the great
difficulty in duplicating fiel dcondi-
tions, it is believed that a field ex-
animation should precede laborato-
ry studies. The field observations
can thus be made a check upon lab
oratory investigation and as an aid
in their Interpretation. Field stud
les furnish a safe and necessary an
Choir with which to keep the labora-
tory eXperimenter from being dash
ed against the rock Of pure specu-
lation. The classifying and map
ping Of the various soil types, to-
gether with the study of the condi-
tions and processes under which
they have been formed will furnish
essential and invaluable data for the
conduct of laboratory investigations.
Natures great laboratory is in the
field, and a study of her methods
can not fail to offer many valuable
suggestions, and in some cases, is
the only means of solving her prob
lens. 1t is through a combination
of field and laboratory Investigations
that an understanding of this ex-
tremely complex body-the soil-can
be reached
Since the soil varies so much as
regards both its inorganic and or
ganc constituents, marked differ
ences in character must necessarily
result from the almost indefinite
of combinations which may
be found. All these differences,
however, may be traced 10 two sets
Of factors: First, the character OF
the rock or material from which the
soil has been derived; and, second
the processes or agencies by means
OF which this material has been
from mere rock or rock de-
bris into a medium suitable for the
growth of plants. The former has to
do with soil-formiDg material, the
latter with soil-forming agencies. To
these two groups of factors are to
be attributed the numerous varia-
tions in soil conditions found over
various parts of the earth.
The Importance OF distinguishing
between these two groups of fac