The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-12
Soils.

In the earlier days of greenhouse gar
dening, gardeners knew of nothing better
than the natural good garden soil, says
American Gardening The advantages of
the well composted artificial material,
rich in fiber and humic content, were not
known. AS far as mere richness is con-
cerned, there is no reason why good nat
ural garden soil should not answer well
in growing plants-and indeed it does an
swer fairly well for some plants. For
the most part, however, it is not fibrous
and open enough, and after some water
ing tends to run together, become COM
pact and sour readily. On this account
it is better to use an artifcially prepared
soil.
That used by the florists is prepared by
taking the sod one, two or three inches
thick, from good closely grazed or mown
pasture or blue grass land The sod from
loan land is the best; and 1t should be
taken from high ground invariably, and
not from low, wet ground no matter how
rich it may be.
The sod so taken up in sheets is piled
up in a neat pile, grassy sides together,
with layer of COW manure between the
successive layers, and so on until mound
is Quilt up. This sod, after standing about
three months, will have rotted somewhat,
and is then to be turned over from time
to time, to aerate and mix it thoroughly.
Some florists, however, allow the pile to
stand and chop up and fine the soil as
needed adding some sand and more hui
mus. according to the kind of plants they
are potting.
That the soil may not be wet at the time
when wanted a portion, or all the pile,
after standing exposed some months, is
covered over.
Conveniently at hand there should al
ways be bin of dry sand and a pile of old
leaf mold, or wen decomposed manure, to
use in mixing with the soil.
Some years ago Henderson claimed that
one soil answered for all plants, but most
florists find 1t desirable to alter the pro-
portion of the ingredients according to
the needs of certain plants. 1t is true
that many plants will thrive in almost
any kind of SOIL but begonas, ferns, pam
sizes, gloxinias are always grateful for
special soil-rich, and little lighter than
usual.
Roses delight in a fibrous loan; again,
other plants do better with a little larger
proportion of sand than is commonly
needed. Even a gravelly soil suits some
things. This Is true in the case of lettuce,
as we have found in our experiments. and
as has been also mentioned by DR.. Gallo
way In forcing radishes a light soil is
also found to be best.
Some of the florists do not depend on
natural sod Cor their composts, but grow
the sod for the purpose. The ground to
be used Is heavily MANFRED with potash,
phosphates, and some clover mixed ain
with the grass to afford nitrogen; but
some sow the nitrate of soda. This is a
mistake unless the sod is ready at once
to take in, for nitrates leach out and work
away too readily. The other substances
may be applied at any time, as on going
into the soil they are fixed in an insoluble
form.
In using soil It is a mistake to make II
too fine. Except in the case Of very deli
cate young seedlings, some small Jumps are
an advantage; they facilitate aeration and
drainage.
For young seedlings. cuttings, and for
seed sowing finer soil may be used. 90
For the finer and more delicate sorts of
flower seed the mold from well-rotted ma
nure or hops Is excellent; II remains nicely
moist, does not crust, and admits oxygen.
so essential in the process Of termination.
The dark color also absorbs the suns heat
freely, which In winter time, may be of
some advantage.
In both seed sowing and potting plants
the soil should be more or less firmed or
pressed down. While roots need oxygen
and do not thrive in too dense a soil, It Is