For February, 1920 



77 



SOIL VENTILATION 



ll is curious how the discov- 

 eries of the scientitic agricul- 

 turist confirm the accepted 

 practice of the gardener. The 

 ilhistration of this fact consists 

 in the recognition that ventila- 

 tion, that is to say aeration, is 

 a factor of first importance to 

 the growth of field crops. The 

 ■deep and thorough cultivation 

 as practiced by gardeners, the 

 constant stirring of the soil, the 

 incorporation with the soil of 

 gritty material, all serve among 

 other things to supply plenty 

 of air to the roots of plants. 



There is evidence that this 

 abundant supply of air is bene- 

 ficial in numerous ways. Firstly, 

 of course, because, roots, like 

 all other parts of plants, re- 

 quire oxygen for their growth. 

 Secondly, a constant circulation 

 of air allows of the escape of 

 the carbon-dioxide given otif by 

 the roots. It appears to be 

 well-established tliat an excess 

 of carbon-dioxide in the soil 

 results in a check to the growth 

 of roots. Indeed, roots seem 

 to be peculiarly susceptible to 

 injury from carbon-dio.xide. 

 Thirdly, it cannot be doubled, 

 but that a good supply of air 

 favors the activity of beneficent 

 soil bacteria. 



It is, of course, evident that 

 deep cultivation has other ad- 

 vantages as well as that of pro- 

 viding "root ventilation." It 

 increases the water-holding ca- 

 pacity of the soil, improves 

 drainage, and helps to liberate 

 larger stores of plant food. 

 .Anything, therefore, which 

 helps to induce ihc agriculturis' 

 to practice more widely a sys- 

 tem of deep tillage is bound to 

 be to his benefit and to the 

 benefit of the world at large. 



owes 





-V 



^- 



'^. 



^.^ 



It touches your pocketbook 

 This paint film test 



Touches it, because it touches on 

 paint lastingness, the thing that most 

 of us are the most touchy on, when 

 it comes to paint and painting. 



It happens that even two coats of 

 paint form a film of protection less 

 than one one-hundredth of an incli 

 thick. The necessity of that thin film 

 being the best possible, presents itself 

 to you most forcefully. 



One of the vital requirements of a 

 good paint is that it be water and 

 moisture proof. To prove that Lowe's 

 High Standard Outside Paint is water 

 and moisture proof, we took a two 

 coat film of it and made this test. 



Being flexible like a sheet of rubber, 

 we poured some granulated sugar on 

 it; tied it up and suspended it for 

 weeks and weeks in a water filled 

 globe. When we took it out, the 

 sugar was just as dry and granularly 

 free from moisture as the day it was 

 put in. 



To this test we could add any num- 

 ber of others, just as conclusive. 



Write for a piece of paint film: see 

 for yourself. Send 10c. for our Happy 

 Happening Book, which tells you just 

 the things you want to know, and 

 otheis you ought to know, about paint 

 and painting. 



THE KEYED LIST 



The landscape architect stands 

 at his drawing table and pro- 

 ceeds to fill in his i)lan and key 

 the planting. His mind is con- 

 centrated upon producing a 

 picture for his client, if he is 

 a good plantsman and knows 

 his material well, from whence 

 it can be procured at the prop- 

 er time and in the right grades, 

 the materialization of his pic- 

 ture will proceed apace, but too 

 often his training has been 

 along lines that has only given liim a 

 casual acquaintance witli p'lants. he knows 

 little or nothing about their habits or re- 

 quirements, (Upending on book or catalog 

 description, and his elTorts fall very short 

 of his aim. 



The keyed list may be properly termed 

 a mechanical effort lo produce landscape 

 art. The very nature of plants forbids that 

 it will ever be a complete and successful 

 method. It never can be anything more 

 than a starting point, framework, or skele- 

 ton of ihc [licinre in the mind of the artist, 

 and unless the man who actually carries out 

 die idan has iilenary powers to substitute, 

 adjust as ennditions may require and is 

 thoroughly interested and" an able gardener. 

 — Xatioiial Nurseryman. 



^'ZoweBro/Aors 



Company 



Jloston 



482 EAST THIRD STREET, DAYTUN, UHIQ 



New York Jersey City Qlicago Atlanta Kansas City Minneapolis Toront 



ifPai nts 



ORCHIDS 



W.- lire S|i.-.i;ili-ls in nnliiiN. Wr ('..llr-ft. 



Krnw. luiport. export and soil Dreliids t'X- 



cluslvi'Iy. ir you nro in Mip market iuv Orclihls, 



\vi> stilicit viiiir impiH-ii'S atul oidr-rs. Cuta- 



lojriies an<) wucinl lists on nppllcniinn. 



LAGER & HURRELL 



Srehid Growers and Importert 



Summit. N. «J. 





HILL'S EVERGREENS 



Send for Price-list. Mention this magajinr 

 D. HILU NURSERY CO. 



Evergreen SpecialiftB, 



Largest Growers in America 



Box 305 



DUNDEE. ILL. 



HARRY BALDWIN 



Manufacturer of 



Greenhouse Shading 



Lath Roller Blinds 

 lUAMAROIMEICK. N. Y. 



