Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-28
GARDENS ARE NOT MADE, BUT REMADE;
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BY YOUR SOIL
Advantages and Disadvantages of Gravely Clayey and
Sandy Soil Described and Methods of Attaining Ideal
Loamy Garden Stated-Drainage an Important Factor
By JOHN BARTRAN

TNIIE question Of soil is an important one
i in gardening. as gardens are not made,
but remade. Tho average city back yard
or even newly built suburban place needs
reconstruction of the soil If success Is TO
attend tilling Mortar eXcavated subsoil
and debris are often found and must be
changed But the job is not so formidable
as il sounds. Almost any sort OF ground
can be made over and hear the first year.
gaining in profita bleness every season
Lonmy soil is IDEAL the sort of soil that
the dictionary defines as rich and friabe.
Most ground has to be made that way, even
that Of the professional farmer who pays
great attention to tine composition and Ter
tilization of his acres There are two pro
cesses which supplement each other, thor-
ough and continuous tilling. ana addl'lon
OF nutritive elements, elther natural
manures or commercial compounds.
Both methods are simple and couple OF
years cultivation. that is. working or the
ground and fertilization will effect wonders
in promoting fertility. som" SOILS are
intialy more advantageous Tor use than
others but by patience and fair amount
| of labor any soil can be made productive
| on a Worthwhile scale.
For gardening purposes soils may he
| classified roughly into gravelly. clayey ana
| sandy. The geologic basis of classltlca- 4
| ton is the degree of decomposition from
| the fundamental element, rock All soils
/
Centuries and aeons of weatherlng nave
effected reduction IF the rocks to various
degrees Of flneness.
GravelIy soils are perhaps the least de-
| sirable for the amateur G-.rdenor, thousn
they have advantc ges for gardening on a
large scale They have tie one good asset
! of being naturally we'll drained, However
| they are deficient in plant nutriments
which are usually suspended in water ano
| on q gravel soil drain away. Such Soll
! is made practicable by mixing in proper
| tion Of good clay earth and by speciaiiZins
on stable manure for iertillZer' as ti'
rotting of this over series of years VII
| make a deposit of humus and mould. sane
should not be applied to gravel soil. Event
ually one can turn gravel 20 very proht
able soil. during the process attaininI
fairer and fairer results, by filling in witt
clay, loan, stable manure and by cohs'ah
| cultivation.
Clay soils are hare to wor'. initally oI
account of their stiffness and propenslt!
for retaining moisture. They are 'coid
and that means late garden Yet cl@!
is an easy soil to work with the ide'
of making il permanently productive
Drainage is the first requisite in order Il
get rid of characteristic wetness Ther
are various methods: Dynamiting the SUI
subsoil with one Of the well-known brand
of farm powder. running waterfall :
that is. a trench yard wide and two fee
a
receive overabundant water after heaV
rains trenches a foot or two wide ant
the same depth on each side or the pio
for the same purpose and tile drains, l
which a series of main tiles and branche
follows the natural incline of the grounc
Any of these methods may be done b
the amateur himself on a small area
The trench system has the advantage O
! proyiding temporary irrigation canals. The
NAV be made during the plowing or els
done with the spade. Clayey soil can b
!. Immediately improved by the addition
I sand About three tons should be, put o
a space 6OxlOO feet, but seven less viii b
! helpful This should be- spread over u,
ground and worked In with the piowin
e or shading or II this has been cared fo
already the sapd will gradually work
e with later cultivation OF the crops Ne'
J winter save all the finely sifted ashes froI
d the heater and spread these over an inc
d or two deep, but have the ashes free fro'
a clnders The ashes have an opening an
: loosening mechanical effect, though the
: do not add any nutrition to the soil. the
d are cheaper than sand. some OF whio
should be aided from year to year u
the soil is light and mellow. Air-slaked liE
and land plaster-on sale at the supp
houses-also have a good mechanical enec
4 hut add no plant food likely to become sol
' on clayey soils Last Of all this type or SC
should be top dressed each spring or ia
: with rotted stable manure. Fertility
gained by this as well as a decided M
chanical action
IN make a garden. It Is naturally draint
r and permits early working and quick crop
II n too has certain disadvantages. 1t mu