NARRATIVE
	
	IN THIS CLASSIFICATION THE MINERAL SOILS ARE GROUPED INTO SEVEN 
CLASSES ON THE BASIS OF SOIL SURVEY INFORMATION.  SOILS CLASSES AS
1,2,3, OR 4 ARE CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF SUSTAINED USE FOR CULTIVATED FIELD
CROPS, THOSE IN CLASSES 5 AND 6 ONLY FOR PERENNIAL FORAGE CROPS AND
THOSE IN CLASS 7 FOR NEITHER.
	
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS ON WHICH THE CLASSIFICATION IS BASED ARE:
	THE SOILS WILL BE WELL MANAGED AND CROPPED, UNDER A LARGELY
	MECHANIZED SYSTEM.
	
	LAND REQUIRING IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING CLEARING, THAT CAN BE MADE
	ECONOMICALLY BY THE FARMER HIMSELF, IS CLASSED ACCORDING TO ITS
	LIMITATIONS OR HAZARDS IN USE AFTER THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN 
	MADE.  LAND REQUIRING IMPROVEMENTS BEYOND THE MEANS OF THE FARMER
	HIMSELF IS CLASSED ACCORDING TO ITS PRESENT CONDITION.
	
	THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT CONSIDERED:  DISTANCES TO MARKET, KIND OF
	ROADS, LOCATION, SIZE OF FARMS, TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, CULTURAL
	PATTERNS, SKILL OR RESOURCES OF INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS, AND HAZARD
	OF CROP DAMAGE BY STORMS.
	
	THE CLASSIFICATION DOES NOT INCLUDE CAPABILITY OF SOILS FOR 
TREES, TREE FRUITS, SMALL FRUITS, ORNAMENTAL PLANTS, RECREATION, OR
WILDLIFE.
	
	THE CLASSES ARE BASED ON INTENSITY, RATHER THAN KIND, OF THEIR
LIMITATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE.  EACH CLASS INCLUDES MANY KINDS OF SOIL,
AND MANY OF THE SOILS IN ANY CLASS REQUIRE UNLIKE MANAGEMENT AND
TREATMENT.
	
	FOR PROVINCES  OTHER THAN SASKATCHEWAN, ALBERTA AND BRITISH
COLUMBIA, NO DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN IRRIGATED AND NON-IRRIGATED LAND.

	IN SASKATCHEWAN AND ALBERTA, LAND IS AGAIN CLASSIFIED ACCORDING
TO ITS PRESENT USE, BUT FURTHERMORE A DIFFERENTIATION IS PROVIDED FOR
IRRIGATED AND NON-IRRIGATED LAND.  
		
	LAND GIVEN A CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION OF 6 OR 7 WILL NEVER
WARRANT IRRIGATION SINCE THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM IRRIGATION WOULD BE
NEGLIGIBLE.
	
	ON THE CANADA LAND INVENTORY AGRICULTURAL MAPS, THE SYMBOLS
PERTAINING TO AN IRRIGATED LAND AREA ARE PRINTED IN RED.
	
	IN BRITISH COLUMBIA THERE IS NO CLEAR STANDARD.