Tells the story of one of America’s richest treasures - the thin layer of topsoil on which the people of America depend for most of their food, clothing and other necessities of life. Topsoil takes centuries to produce; it is one of nature’s most delicate and most precious gifts; yet it may be totally destroyed in a few years by improper farming methods. This film points out the difference between the topsoil and the less productive subsoil, and ends by showing how precious topsoil may be conserved while still being used for maximum production.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
322963
Language
English
Subject categories
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Agricultural productivity
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Agriculture - United States
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Farming
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Soil degradation
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Soil formation
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Soil structure
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Conservation of natural resources
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Soil conservation
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Soil degradation
Climate, Environment, Natural Resources & Disasters → Soil formation
Documentary → Documentary films - United States
Mathematics, Science & Technology → Soil formation
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)