MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 69 
of plants. Light and moisture also play an important part. 
The average back-yard soil is generally made up of a mix- 
ture of excavated subsoil obtained from the foundation dig- 
ging, rubbish, ashes, and tin cans. To make it fit for plant 
growth the addition of available food in the form of manure 
or concentrated commercial fertilizers is necessary. The best 
time to prepare the soil is in the fall, when manure at the 
rate of one wagon-load to a 20 x 30-foot lot should be spaded 
in 6-8 inches deep. If not done in the fall the same amount 
of well-rotted manure should be applied in the spring. In 
addition to the manure, concentrated fertilizers containing 
the necessary constituents of plant food, nitrogen, phos- 
phorus, and potash, should be sitet Nitrogen helps in the 
production of foliage and comes in the form of nitrate of 
soda, sulphate of ammonia, tankage, etc. Phosphorus is 
needed for quick maturity of fruits and seeds, being com- 
monly sold as bone meal or acid phosphate, while potash is 
important for the growth of root crops, like radishes, car- 
rots, etc. All the three elements are often combined in a 
complete fertilizer, twenty-five pounds of which is sufficient 
for the plot. 
The above substances are direct fertilizers, but there are 
soils from which the full value cannot be realized without 
the application of a stimulant or indirect fertilizer. Lime 
is used for this purpose. It sweetens sour soil, produces 
better drainage in clayey soil, makes loose, sandy soil more 
retentive of moisture, and causes certain constituents of the 
soil to become available to the plants. The amount of lime 
necessary varies according to the soil, but from 10 to 100 
pounds is usually sufficient for a plot 20 x 30 feet. To deter- 
mine whether the soil is sour a sample should be mixed with 
water to a consistency of paste, and into this a piece of blue 
litmus paper dropped and left for one hour. If the paper 
turns nk: the soil is sour and lime is needed. Another 
method consists of stirring a teaspoonful of soil in a glass 
of water and then adding a teaspoonful of weak ammonia. 
If after standing several hours the liquid becomes dark 
brown or black it is an indication of soil acidity. 
No fae of garden work calls for ied ies ent and more 
careful attention than the sowing of seed. Most of the fail- 
ures originate at this time, and the blame which is placed 
upon the seed or seedsman will generally be found to rest 
upon the carelessness of the gardener. A proper start for a 
successful garden is made by buying good seed from a reli- 
able dealer, and unless previous testing has proved that a 
local grocer carries reliable seeds, he is the last one to depend 
upon. The seed should be bought from an accredited seed 
