| Chapter | | Page |
| XVI. | A Fertile Soil | 141 |
| | Physical properties: | |
| | Power to absorb and hold water | |
| | Power of ventilation | |
| | Power to absorb and hold heat | 142 |
| | Biological properties | 143 |
| | Nitrogen-fixing germs | 144 |
| | Nitrifying germs | 145 |
| | Denitrifying germs | 147 |
| | Chemical properties: | |
| | Nitrogen in the soil | |
| | Phosphoric acid in the soil | |
| | Potash in the soil | |
| | Lime in the soil | |
| | Great importance of physical properties | 147 |
| | Maintenance of fertility | 150 |
| XVII. | Soil Water | 151 |
| | Importance of soil water | 151 |
| | Necessity of soil water | 151 |
| | Sources and forms of soil water | 153 |
| | Too much water | 154 |
| | Not enough water | 154 |
| | Loss of soil water | 155 |
| | How some farm operations influence soil water | 156 |
| | Hoeing, raking, harrowing and cultivating | 158 |
| | Manures and soil water | 159 |
| | Methods of cropping and soil water | 159 |
| | Selection of crops with reference to soil water | 160 |
| XVIII. | The After-cultivation of Crops | 164 |
| | Loss of water by evaporation | 164 |
| | Loss of water through weeds | 165 |
| | Saving the water | 165 |
| | Time to cultivate | 166 |
| | Tools for after-cultivation | 167 |
| | Hilling and ridging | 169 |
| XIX. | Farm Manures | 171 |
| | The functions of manures and fertilizers | 171 |
| | Classification | 171 |
| | Importance of farm manures | 172 |
| | Barn or stable manure | 173 |
| | Loss of value | 173 |
| | Checking the losses | 176 |
| | Applying the manure to the soil | 177 |
| | Proper condition of manure when applied | 179 |
| | Composts | 181 |
| XX. | Farm Manures, Concluded | 183 |
| | Green-crop manures: | |
| | Functions | 183 |
| | Benefits | 185 |
| | Character of best plants for green-crop manuring | 185 |
| | The time for green-manure crops | 186 |
| | Leguminous green-manure crops | 186 |
| | Non-leguminous green-manure plants | 191 |
| XXI. | Commercial Fertilizers | 192 |
| | The raw materials | 192 |
| | Sources of nitrogen | 193 |
| | Sources of phosphoric acid | 195 |
| | Sources of potash | 199 |
| | Sources of lime | 200 |
| XXII. | Commercial Fertilizers, Continued | 202 |
| | Mixed fertilizers: | |
| | What they are | |
| | Many brands | |
| | Safeguard for the farmer | |
| | Low grade materials | |
| | Inflating the guarantee | 202 |
| | Valuation | 205 |
| | Low grade mixtures | 207 |
| | Buy on the plant food basis | 209 |
| XXIII. | Commercial Fertilizers, Concluded | 211 |
| | Home mixing of fertilizers | 211 |
| | Kind and amount to buy | 212 |
| | The crop | 213 |
| | The soil | 215 |
| | The system of farming | 215 |
| | Testing the soil | 215 |
| XXIV. | Rotation of Crops | 219 |
| | Systems of cropping | 219 |
| | The one crop system | 221 |
| | Rotation of crops | 224 |
| | Benefits derived from rotation of crops | 230 |
| | The typical rotation | 231 |
| | Conditions which modify the rotation | 232 |
| | General rules | 233 |
| | Length of rotation | 233 |
| XXV. | Farm Drainage | 235 |
| | How surplus water affects fertility | 235 |
| | Indications of a need of drainage | 235 |
| | Drains: | |
| | Surface drains | |
| | Open ditch drains | |
| | Covered drains or under drains | 236 |
| | Influence of covered drains on fertility | 237 |
| | Location of drains: | |
| | Grade | |
| | Tile drains | 238 |
| | Glossary | 241 |
