The Sidney herald., 1959-03-04
I1av.Ans With The
COUNTY AGENTS

SdlliplCS AiOul WiliCii AGA tAlfby
recommendations are to made
should be conducted in such a
way as to give maximum relia-
bility of results. This necessitates
securing a sample which repre-
sents the field from which it is
taken. The following suggestions
are offered in an effort to get
the best possible samples from
| each field on which analyses are
to be made.
/. Sample only uniform areas
in the field. When soil is variable,
composite samples should be taken
from the relatively poor and
from the better areas. A few
poor spots occurring over the fielc
may be ignored.
2. Composite at least five sam
pies. A soil sample does not ade-
quately represent the soil condi-
tons in a field. Therefore, it is
recommended that at least five
samples be taken from various
parts of the field or some parti-
cular part of the field. These five
samples should be mixed
thoroughly together and submit
ted as the composite sample rep
resenting the area.
3. Remove trash before Samp-
ling. Stubble, leaf litter, etc. can
most easily be separated from
the soil at the time the samples
are taken. This material should
not be included in the soil sample.
4. Sample to a depth of six
inches. For most routine analysis,
samples taken from the surface
layer are adequate. This should
be taken uniformly to pillow depth
or approximately to a depth of six
inches. The different samples
taken over the field should be
approximately the same size.
4. Alkali Soils take three
samples to a depth of three feet.
Alkali salts To- up and down
in the soil profile with the mois-
ture. Consequently, when alkali
is believed to be a problem, soil
samples should be taken to a
depth of three feet. Samples from
depts of 0-6 inces, 6-18 inces, and
1886 inches r suggested.
6. Sampling tools. Satisfactory
samples can be taken with a num-
Der of tools. A shovel or auger
is usually the easiest to use.
Z. Take samples when soil is
relatively dry. 1t is easier to take
samples from soil that is rela-
lively dry. Dry samples are easier
to handle after they have been
taken. 1t is impossible to COM
or thoroughly mix several
samples of wet soil.
s. Send one quart of soil. For
satisfactory analysis, n quart
of soil is required.
STARTING PLANTS INDOORS
If you like to start your annual
plants indoors, l wonder if you
have tried using an ordinary
fluorescent lamp instead of clut-
your window stills with
flower pots.
F1uorescent lamps make a good
source of light and since they
give off little heat they can be
operated near the plants for a
nigh level of light. Gardeners
who use this method find they
turn most any in the
house into a Seeding nursery. A
basement in which the tempera-
.ure remains steady at IS to 70 7
degrees makes a good place for ;
his purpose. /,
Most popular is the standard
,ool-white lamp and you will
need a fixture with at least two
tubes. Suspend the fix
over a bench or table on
you have your flats or
rays. When the seedlings sprout,
he light source should be about
Tx inches above the surface of
he planting box. If the units are
they won't provide enough
concentrated light and the seed
ings may develop into spindly
To produce the best growth, ex-
the plants to the light for ID
hours a day.
OF course, lighting is only part
# the story in starting plants in
You'll also have to give
he usual close attention to water
.g, drainage, fertilizer and other
management practices you follow
n growing plants indoors.