Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-11
BENEFIT FROM
EN~'F'
 A SOIL SURVEY
It Is Most Thoroughly Done and Ae- s eemplishes Widespread Good.


 Regarding soil surveys, the chief of | the bureau of soils has this to say;
 In the field work of the soil survey | the soils are studied to determine their | texture, or the relative amounts of | coarse or fine particles of which they consist their structure, or the rela- tionship of these particles one to the | others; their organic matter content 1 both quality and distribution; their internal natural drainage, and their topographic relief. These factors op- erating together determine the charac- ter Of the home which plants are to find in the soil. All masses or areas of soil which are found to be closely similar in all of these respects are said to belong to the same soil type, Un- der similar climatic surroundings the type is capable of producing similar kinds of crops. and under the same conditions of farm management and of farm efficiency they may be expected to produce practically equivalent amounts of crops.
 It has also been found that several soil types in a given region may differ only in their texture being identical or similar in all other respects Such a group of soils is called a series. Again, several series have been found to be derived from the same classes of material by similar processes and to exist in a region having similar cli- matic features in the broader sense Such a region constitutes a soil prov ince.
 Many Types of Soil.
 Careful consideration must be given to the fact that between 1900 and l. 500 types of soil possessing distinctive yNrr ,1- It rests with some one, whether a pri- vate individual or a public official, to determine the crop or crops to which each one of these soils Is best adapted to devise the methods Of soil manage ment by which each one of these soils may be made to produce a sufficient crop to repay all the expenses and to render a profit; to adapt the systems of farm economy through crop rota- tions, tillage, and fertilization so that these different soils may produce their crops for long periods of time at least without deterioration, and if American farming Is to become a science, with | actual increase in crop producing pow ] CT,
 Moreover. it is necessary that the 1 discovery introduction and culture of crops adapted to these various types shall follow such lines that the great est food values as well as the highest commercial values shall be rendered by | each soil It Is also necessity that l upon widely extended types such crops 1 shall be grown as are subject to wide | demand in the markets of the world 1 Otherwise the farmers engaged in crop | production must face a destructive | competition or else portions of the soil | type must be neglected or but feebly utilized.
 Has Dual Aspect.
 | The soil survey work thus possesses dual aspect: CD It must deal with 1 those problems of crop and soil adapt l ation which concern the present indi- viduals and generation; and (2) it must accumulate fund of information in regard to soils which will assist in solving the broad problems of the nations soil resources and the utiliza- l tion of these resources, not only for the support of the growing population, l but also for maintaining a favorable 1 balance of trade for the nation. l The scientific classification of soils | as given i'll the soil survey reports and the accompanying maps has a many sided value to different classes of peo- 1 pie and business associations, and | forms fundamental basIs for all oth- CT agricultural Investigations The re- ports describe the origin, mode of for nation, and physiographic features o1 the soils, and discuss their physica and chemical characteristics, fertility factors and manurial requirements l their adaptation to crops and to rota- tion. and the methods of management required to achieve the best results il ] cultivation.
 Reports Much Used.
 These reports are now extensively used by experiment stations, universi- ties, agricultural schools, and state of ficials, government departments anC federal officials, boards of trade, mu- nicipal authorities, and business or ganizations, banks, insurance compan- ies, attorneys. and others interested 1T local values, granges, practical agT1- culturalists, and agricultural firms anC are being more used. and more full! appreciated with extension and bettel understanding of the work
 The soil surveys giving, as they do the orderly arrangement and classifi
 cation of the soils of the state, are O value to the experiment stations 1T giving a soil-type basis for inVeStiga tions of the fertilizer requirement, crol rotation, crop adaptation, plant breed ing, plant diseases, and soil manage
 ment of particular farms or of largi areas in any particular state, for thu establishment of sub stations on i'm portant soil types, and for farm dem
 onstration work.
 They are of value to the state geo logical surveys, as the mapping of tn material (the soiD assists them il
 their work of mapping according t
 (Continued on Page Three.)