III 
SOILS AND MANURES 
oam. Good fibrous loam, obtained by cutting sods 
in a rich pasture or by the wayside, when well de- 
cayed, is the best and cleanest soil that can be had 
for general purposes. It can be obtained, ready 
‘ for mixing, of any florist. This can be made up to 
suit most plants by mixing with clean silver-sand 
and decayed manure or leaf-mould, or in some cases with peat, 
as directed in the special chapters on plants. 
Leaf Mould consists of decayed leaves and twigs of decid- 
uous trees. It is found in woods and forests or made up by 
allowing heaps of leaves to rot gradually. This soil, when 
sifted, is very useful for mixing with loam for a number of green- 
house-plants, and is especially useful for seedlings and cuttings. 
Peat is found in swamps and bogs, and is formed of decayed 
bog-plants, the fibrous and decayed parts of ferns and mosses, 
and is a very light and porous soil, deficient in mineral sub- 
stances, but suitable for ferns, orchids, and plants of the Pine- 
apple family, as also, when decayed and sifted, for mixing in 
soils for many soft-wooded plants, such as Begonia and Primu- 
las. It is also required for the Azalea and Camellia. 
Sand. If possible, clean white silver-sand or coarse sand 
from a river-shore must be had for making up light soils for 
bulbs, cuttings, seeds, and a number of plants. It is indispen- 
