The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

II the recommendation OF experts from
the Bureau Of Soils, United states De-
partment OF Agriculture is followed out
by Elliott Woods, superintendent OF the
Capitol Building and grounds. when Con-
gress convenes next December II will md
the Capitol lawns plowed UP. 10 be plant
ed IN cowpeas.
This recommendation is the result OF
an examination OF the soils OF the Capitol
grounds by II. II. Bennett. soil expert.
and DR.. Oswald Schreiner. OF the labor
atory force, ct the request OF Mr. Woods,
owing TO tho inability or the gardeners
70 get grass TO grow on certain sections
OF the grounds. After recommending that
certain kinds OF manure be placed on the
grounds. the report says:
The examination OF the lawns showed
that there were considerable areas In
which the grasS was either suffering Sc
verely or had died out on account OF
insufficient supply OF moisture. Borings
were made and the soil was found 10 be
variable IN texture. ranging from good.
mellow loan TO hard. compact. sandy
loan.
hUEu ana LlIelesA-
Below depth Of twelve to eighteen
inches considerable rubbish in the shape
OF fragments OF stone, brickbats, &c.
was encountered. Spots were found in
all these lawns IN which poor structural
conditions obtained and on which the
grass was nearly or completely parched.
The soil in these areas was so hard that
It was difficult 10 penetrate It with an
augur. while IN the better portions the
augur penetrated readily on account Of a
good. mellow structure
The soil Of the nonproductive areas
was very dry and had a bleached, lifeless
appearance. Water from the sprinkler
seemed 70 be unable to enter the soil in
such places.
Laboratory examinations showed that
the soil was not acid. and II therefore
appears that the difficulty rests mainly
IN the unfavorable material or filing. the
lack OF organic matter. and lack OF soil
treatment The water holding capacity
OF a soil deficient in organic matter is
always much lower than in case OF. good.
mellow loan or land that contains enough
organic matter to prevent compacting and
hardening. A good grass soil should con-
tain considerable quantity OF clay, uni
formly mixed with sand and silt, and
this should rest upon a cfAyGy founda-
ton. Had this point been held In view
when the soil material was hauled In,
there would not now be this trouble OF
poor grass on unsuitable land II was
further found that the lawn had re-
ceived neither fertilizer nor any special
treatment for period of many years.
Organic Material Essential.
1T IS absolutely essential TO introduce
into these soils some form OF organic
manure. This can be accomplished by
spreading over the soil in the fau we'll
rotted stable manure. which is as free as
possible from detrimental weed seeds
This should be fine and well decomposed.
so that It Will be carried beneath the
surface OF the grass by rains and showers
during the winter. leaving very little ma
terial to be Taked off in the spring
"A good treatment would be 10 plow the
land in the late summer or early fall 20
a depth Of from six to eight inches. so
as to subject that material to the bene-
fetal action Of winter freezes. This would
loosen up the compact places, have a
tendency to aerate The soil. and allow the
moisture to penetrate deeper. Cowpeas
OF soy beans should be planted the fol-
lowing year, and plowed under green
when nearly grown.
Following this, burnt lime should be
applied broadcast 10 the surface at the
rate Of from 1000 to 2.00 pounds per acre.
After a good rain the lime should be
thoroughly narrowed IN. and the soil
reduced TO a good tilth before seeding
to grass The grass should be given a
winter top dressing OF we'll decompoSed
manure
In this way there would be secured
a tIlth favorable 70 the retention OF a
supply of moisture sufficient for healthy
plant development"