THE HOME GAUDEX. . 213 



Soils generally, have the power of fixing the plant food added to them. 

 By fixing, we mean holding the food in such a state that it cannot be 

 washed out by the rain. This is true of phosphoric acid and potash, but 

 nitrogen is very easily lost by leaching in the form of nitrates and, under 

 certain conditions, escaping into the air as free N. The best way to 

 hold the nitrogen is to keep the fields filled with growing crops, catch 

 crops as they are called. These make use of the nitrogen and return it 

 to the soil when plowed under. But it is only the clovers and others of 

 that family that add more nitrogen than was originally in the soil. Clays 

 hold the plant food more firmly than sandy soils and the same is true of 

 moisture. Humus also helps to hold the moisture by absorbing it in the 

 same way a sponge does, while clay holds it by surrounding it as though 

 it were in a cup. 



Oxygen or fresh air is very necessary to the soil to promote the 

 growth of the innumerable bacteria that are always present in a fertile 

 soil and to assist the chemical reactions that are continually going on. 

 When the water in soil evaporates or is used by the plant, air rushes in 

 to take its place. When more water is added, air and any injurious gases 

 which may have been formed are driven out, and when this w^ater is gone 

 more fresh air is taken in. Also fresh air is taken into the soil at night. 

 When the evening comes on the soil cools and shrinks and air is. drawn in 

 to fill the vacant spaces. The opposite occurs when the soil grains expand 

 with the heat in the morning. So you might say that the soil takes a 

 breath once every twenty-four hours. 



THE HOME GARDEN. 



This article is written in the hope that it may assist the amateur, and 

 from a western viewpoint. Make garden east and west — 50 by 150 is a nice 

 size, fence well, anchoring corners so they can't get away. Use high, 

 strong fence and chicken tight. Plant grapes, each six feet on south side 

 one foot from fence inside. Plant currants and gooseberries each six feet 

 and two feet from fence on north side. At one end plant asparagus, win- 

 ter onions, rhubarb and horse-radish, at other end have a strawberry bed. 

 Plow garden early in spring and some deeper each year until one foot 

 deep. Mine was plowed eleven inches last spring. If land has not been 

 manured regularly spread well rotted manure on ground before plowing 

 and use light coat on top. Do not use too much and rake until fine. Plow 

 with two horses with 12- or 14-inch plow. Throw ground out one year and 

 in next. When throwing it in use one horse during last few rounds and 

 plow more shallow so as not to molest roots of fruit plants; your single 

 tree will not catch in fence and all your ground will be utilized. Mulch 

 currants, gooseberries, grapes and both ends of garden each fall with straw 

 except strawberry bed. On that use some damaged hay if you can. Your 

 horses can turn on beds at end of garden without damage to stock planted 

 there. 



Garden tools are very useful, but a comman rake and hoe will do. 



