This Earth of Ours [essay]

Title

Identifier

Elementary Science Section

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen : magazine for young people 3 (8) September 1937

Year

1937

Subject

Essay

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

250 THE YOUNG CITIZEN September, 1937 ELEMENTARY SCIENCE SECTION THIS EARTH OF OURS WHAT IS SOIL? Last month we learned that the earth is continually changing, chat parts of it are transferred to other places, or are broken into smaller, finer pieces with the help of wind, rivers. and p!Jnts and animals. By means of these actions which are called weathering and erosion soi! is formed. Let us now see how soil is formed from rocks. If we exanline a big piece of rock. we usually find no soil on it. But during the rainy season very tiny plants called lichens manage to grow HOMES IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM THE DEN OF A BUMBLEBEE Wherever there are flowers, you will sec a bumblebee gathering pollen and honey from the blossoms. She is larger than the honeybee: she is dressed in black with yellow trimmings, furrylooking or velvety. If you live where you can ·take a walk across the field or along the edge of : the woods you may see her flying very slowly. ·on its surface. During this growth the plants humming a tune with her wings. It will be a dissolve a little of the surface of the rock so that when the masses of the plant fall from the rock, s0me rock particles fall from it. More water faHs. more plants grow, and more and more soil material is built up. These may be carried by rivers or even rain water and the soil is carried to other places. When det>p beds of rock soil have been formed, these are enriched by fine sand, dust or clay blown by the wind. In addition to rock particles the soil contains humus which is the decayed bodies of animals and plants. All kinds of soil contain water in different amounts. When soil is composed of finely divided particles a film of water covers each particle. These fit together and form tiny canals (Please ttn·n to page 26.'J) lcw tune her house-hunting song. You know that different people like different kinds of houses. Animals also choose different kinds of homes. Some cave dwellers live in damp dens as you have read about the earthworm. Some prefer dry ones. Some like them in the shade. Some would rather have them in sunny places. Where would you like your home to be? It so happens that the bumblebee and the field mouse like exactly the same sort of cave. A den is a cave. This is very pleasant for the bumblebee for all she needs when she goes househunting is to find a vacant den that a field mouse September, 1931 fore you joined this Boy Scout affair, you smoked, no? When you became a 'Black Pirate' last year. you were as good as anyone of us in smoking. no?" Nano snapped his fingers contemptuously. "That was when I was not yet a Boy Scout, and as ignorant as any of you are. Now, I know it's not good to smoke. I took the Scout Oath last week, and I promised not to smoke. I will not.'' ""Then you are no longer one of us!'' came the r:asping voice of Max. "You're through, as far as being a Black Pirate is concerned. We can't accept sissies around here!·· Complete silence fell on the group. for each one of them knew the significance of being ousted from the gang. Eagerly. I watched rhe boys. "All right!" Joel stood. and pushed the chair backward with a loud noise. ··All right!" he repeated·. hitching up his trousers. and his voice, louder than before. 'Tm going away from your foolish. dirty 'Black Pirate' gang. Mother has always told me it's not good, and that all of you are bad boys. I used to disregard her advice, but I know it's true now. 'Tm not going to smoke. And furthermore, I'm quitting your gang. Go where you will and do what you like. I'm through with you from now on!" THE YOUNG CITIZEN THIS EARTH OF OURS (Continued from page 150) upwards. These are known as capillary passages and these help water to ascend from below to the roots of plants. In color the soil may be black, gray. brown, or even dull yellow. It may be either clayey and compact or sandy and porous. The fertility of the soil directly affects us. Many people live in places where the soil is fertile because they can make an easier living there. Now let us see what the different kinds of soil are. Soil that remains above the bed rock from which it was formed is called residual soil. Soil that has been carried From the place wh;re it was formed and deposited somewhere else is called transported soil. Volcanic soil is erupted from volcanoes. What kind or kinds of s01l are found in yOur locality? Tell your classmates what experiences you have had with the soil of Antipolo, of rice fields, in your garden or near a river bank. THE FOREST OFFERS ( Contintied {'rom page 151) ladder is used. The nuts are also allowed to drop to the ground as they do when fully ripe. Then the husk is removed from the nuts by soaking them With that, the little boy strode out of the parlor, into the rain, and ran across the street, to take shelter inside the Drug Store there. 263 JOKES Teacher-"lf you would apply for a position what would you put in the body of your letter? Luisa-"I have read in the newspaper that you are in need of a typewriter. I am very glad to apply for th_e position." Moises-''Why are you limping, Cirilo? Is your foot sore?" Cirilo--''No. '' Moises-"\Vhy don't you walk straight?" Cirilo--"Because I stepped on the horse manure of the carabao. '' Pacifico--' 'Why do you have a black eye?" Adriano--' 'Because of that beautiful new classmate of ours.'' Pacifico-"Did she strike you with her wooden shoe?" .Kdriano-"No, while looking at her, I bumped my face. against the wall." in cold water. In about an hour the pulp is removed. The nuts are then dried in the sun. Another method is to allow the husk to rot off by piling the nuts in a shade. Then the pili nuts are gatheied and packed and shipped for export. Some of these finally find their way to our homes.

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