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.






CHAPTER I

THE OLD SOUTH