A Student's Book on Soils and Manures

Edward John Russell (1872–1965) was a British agricultural scientist and Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden from 1912 to 1943. In this book, which was first published in 1940 as the third edition of a 1915 original, Russell presents an introductory guide to the properties of soil. The text falls into three main parts: 'An Account of the Soil'; 'The Control of the Soil'; and 'Fertilisers'. Numerous illustrative figures and appendices are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in soil, educational books and the history of science.

Part I. An Account of the Soil: 1. What the plant needs from the soil; 2. The composition of the soil; 3. The organic matter of the soil and the changes it undergoes; 4. The effect of climate on the soil and on fertility; Part II. The Control of the Soil: 5. Cultivation; 6. The control of soil fertility; Part III. Fertilisers: 7. The food of plants; 8. The nitrogenous fertilisers; 9. The phosphatic fertilisers; 10. The potassic fertilisers; 11. The minor elements of plant nutrition; 12. Manures supplying organic matter: the simpler organic manures; 13. Organic manures supplying plant food and humus, farmyard manure, composts, town refuse; 14. Chalk, limestone, and lime; 15. Manurial schemes for crops; Appendix I. Field Experiments; Appendix II. Some useful field data; Appendix III. Fertiliser substances contained in crops; Appendix IV. Some useful books on soils and manures and their uses.