, 1912-03-09
lbs of water.

100 Loan an
100 Clay Loan ;. 50
AS will be seen, the power of holding wa
ter increase with an increase of the fneness
of the PARTICLES of the soil, it thus CORES
ponds very closely with the capillary powers.
Of the soil, even if it be not due to the same
influence. The power of absorbing moisture
from the atmosphere is possessed by soils,
in somewhat corresponding proportions, thus.
lbs TBS.
1000 Sand in II hours of the night gained 2
1000 Loan !, 3, 21
1000 Clay Loan ,, >, 25
1000 Clay -. , 81
In connection with the influence in which
the mechanical condition of the soil depends
upon it's productive powers, is one of the
points Of good management, in which q good
Manager or Farmer excels. is the good care
of the soil, and that it naHy be prepared in
such a way as will enable the plants to
search for their food, and to receive it in q.
healthy conditions Jas it is to provide that food.
Sometimes fertilizing materials are not of
necessity plant food. because they may be in
an insoluble condition, but even after they
have taken a form in which they are ready
for use of the plant, the mechanical condi-
ton Of the soil often interferes with the
efforts of the growing crop to secure it's food.
The planter, therefore,, has not only to Sc
cure the presence of the materials necessary
for plant growth, and to have those materi-
ais in an available form, but he must also
take care that the mechanical condition of the
soil is favourable for that food being utilized.
The judgment and patience of the Plan
ter are sometimes severely tested in catch
ing the land just in that suitable condition.
which is desirable for securing successful
growth.
Y, " ...z.1-oJ L1ok 1nOHon ~ ,E
thoroughly understand the natural charac-
ter of the land he has to cultivate.
A man may have q MOST accurate know
ledge of the materials present in a soil, he
may also be able to state what plant food
the soil contains, but absolutely unable to
show that tact and skill, which are necessary
10 regulate the mechanical conditions of that
land. There is much more involved IN the
management Of the soil than appears to the
superficial observer. It is i'll consequence Of
this familiar acquaintance with the temper,
disposition and character of the soil, that
the Planter succeeds in his management,
even when he is not acquainted with the
mysteries of plant life. A knowledge of
these scientific details will be most valuable.
if it be rightly used, but If 1T is relied
upon as something which supersedes q
knowledge of the practical management of
the SOIL, TO WHICH I6l0I0uC0 LUIS OSSu LAuOSF
then it becomes a snare and II delusion. On the
other hand if a combination be made OF both
classes of knowledge great additional ad-
vantages are secured, and q higher and more
economical success will probably be gained.
The mechanical condition Of the soil has
been too generally undervalued by some of
those who advocate on acquaintance With
Agricultural science, and hence it Is the
more necessary to draw attention to the i'm
mense practical Importance of the subject
Much of the Planters success depends upon
the Cha, acter Of the seed bed, or land ready
for planting, which he secures for the crop
he cultivates; with some soils far more care
is necessary than with others, in fact we
fud as much variation in dealing with differ
ent soils as with different animals, or even
with different individuals. For instance, we
speak of the temper, disposition and char
acter OF soils, just us if these points OF char
acter we're manifested by living animals,
but powers of a somewhat corresponding
character are manifested by soils, aud a ia
miliar acquaintance with the practice of
agriculture shows that these powers must
be considered by the cultivator if lie
would secure success. Many are the in
L-ooo - rrh;o1 ~ Domino from dis