THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



643 



is to work upon the plant food in the soil, bringing 

 about certain chemical changes therein whereby this 

 food becomes available for plant use. To thrive, these 

 micro-organisms must have air; moreover, in order to 

 properly functionate, the rdots of plants must have free 

 access to air. 



Water excludes air. Hence the presence of water 

 (not soil moisture) in a sr>il is inimical to the welfare 

 of both soil life and root growth. 



The first essential in soil productivity, then, is 

 proper drainage. 



Humus in soil is essential that friability may be pro- 

 moted and the moisture capacity made large to its 

 full capacity. Humus consists of decaying vegetable 

 matter and large quantities of this are consumed or used 

 in the various processes of denitrification. The humus 

 content of any soil is depleted through excessive crop- 

 ping without returning vcgetaljle matter in quantities 

 equivalent to that used or consumed in producing the 

 crop removed from the land. The humus content of a 

 soil is increased and maintained by the plowing down 

 of vegetable growth, and also by the root growth of 

 plants. 



A soil deficient in its humus content is, in a great 

 measure, irresponsive to tillage and the application of 

 chemical fertilizers. The humus content of a soil facili- 

 tates, too, the maintenance of a condition of good tilth 

 in land. Humus facilitates the processes of preparation 

 and maintenance of tillage, for the reason that the 

 vegetable matter comprising the humus prevents soil 

 grains from adhering closely. This is more especially 

 true of those classes of soils which are largely of a clay 

 composition. 



That growing crops must have water (soil moisture) 

 is generally known. The exact reason for this is not 

 so generally understood. No plant can prosper to the 

 fullest degree unless the soil in which is located its 

 feeding roots contains the maximum water content, an 

 amount sufficient to supply, on demand, every need of 

 the plant. The reason for this is plainly evident when 

 the manner of plant feeding and growth is understood. 



Not only is moisture required to supply the needs of 

 plant respiration, which takes place on all leaf surface, 

 and in the construction of all plant and fruit tissues as 

 well, but soil moisture is needed as a carr3'ing agency 

 for plant food. 



In the absence of soil moisture, plants must star\'e 

 though the soil be exceedingly rich in every necessary 

 element of plant food.' On the other hand, plants can- 

 not thrive in a soil depleted of its plant food resources, 

 even though it contain a maximum moisture content. 

 To secure results in plant growth these two factors 

 must be properly combined. 



Now the moisture content of a soil is influenced and 

 determined by several agencies. Aside from the factor 

 of precipitation, the moisture content of a soil is influ- 

 enced by the character of the soil, humus content, 

 drainage, and tillage given. The condition of the seed 

 or plant bed as regards the fineness and compacts 

 of the soil grains and exactness in maintaining the 

 earth mulch are factors which determine in no small 

 measure the de,gree of moisture content maintained 

 throughout the period of crop production. 



Then, too, in the matter of seeds and plants, there 

 is every chance of increasing profits through excellence 

 in cultural methods and proper selection of seeds and 

 plants. Here, also, there are well-defined, exacting 

 natural laws, and along lines that are in harmony with 

 these laws, human endeavor must proceed to win the 

 highest obtainable results. 



Then as some special line of agriculture is followed 



up it is found that results are influenced by factors, 

 ofttimes peculiar to that special crop, and to none 

 other. Diversity in habits of plant life and manner of 

 growth and perpetuation of species necessarily bring 

 into operation certain sets of factors differing greatly 

 in character and manner of operation. 



Take, for instance, the matter of strawberry grow- 

 ing. While fruit growing does bring into operation 

 certain factors difl'ering in character from those in- 

 volved in cjthcr lines of agriculture, the life habits and 

 characteristics of the strawberry plant bring into 

 play certain factors peculiar to the culture of that fruit 

 alone. The leaf and root system of this plant differs 

 greatly from that of other fruit plants, necessitating a 

 marked difl^erence in the cultural methods required. 

 For instance, the strawberry plant is short lived in its 

 period of profitable productivity. This requires fre- 

 quent renewing of the plantations to keep the business 

 on a paying basis. 



The strawberry plant is a surface feeder. Its roots 

 delight to luxuriate in the warmth generated by the 

 sun's rays at or near the surface. This necessitates 

 shallow cultivation. Deep cultivation reduces the 

 maximum root feeding area and, in so doing, restricts 

 the fruiting capacity of the plants. 



Al fruit plants, of whatever kind, require restriction 

 in the matter of expending reproduction energy, but 

 the habits of this plant, and the manner in which it 

 perpetuates its kind, requires specially adapted methods 

 of restriction. 



The habits of this plant and the character of the 

 cellular tissues composing the crown make it neces- 

 sary that these plants be protected from the elements 

 through its period of dormancy. 



What is true of the strawberry holds good with re- 

 spect to the culture of every kind of fruit, or of any 

 special line of agriculture. The attainment of the 

 highest success in any line is secured only by making 

 use of the whole combination having to do with the 

 production of the product in question. 



Pelargoniums 



The new everblooming type, 

 Easter Greeting and its sports. 

 Also novelties in Geraniums. 



Send for catalogue 



F.H.DeWitt®Co. 



Wooster, Ohio 



