THE STORY OF
THE SOIL


From the Basis Of Absolute Science
and Real Life




BY
CYRIL G. HOPKINS

Author of "Soil Fertility and Permanent Agriculture"





BOSTON
RICHARD G. BADGER
THE GORHAM PRESS
1911

Copyright, 1910, by Richard G. Badger.
All Rights Reserved.



TO MY WIFE


PREFACE

Truth is better than fiction; and this true story of the soil is written in co-operation with the Press of America and in competition with popular fiction.

The scenes described exist; the references given can all be found and verified; and the data quoted are exact, although some of the story dates antedate the scientific data.

As a rule the names employed are substitutes, but the general localities are as specified.

If the Story of the Soil should ever fall into the hands of any individual who suspects that he has contributed to its information, the author begs that he will accept as belonging to himself every gracious attribute and take it for granted that anything of opposite savor was due to autosuggestion.


CYRIL G. HOPKINS.
University of Illinois, Urbana.