ACCESSORIES 141 
Trowel. Don’t buy a cheap trowel. They may 
be had for fifteen or twenty cents but a fifty-cent one 
will outlast a dozen of these and not break just when 
you need it most. 
SOIL INGREDIENTS 
A sufficient quantity of soil constitutents should 
be kept on hand in barrels or covered boxes. Store 
where they will not dry out. 
Rich Loam or Rotted Sod. This is the basis of 
most plant soils. Keep a good supply ahead, that it 
may be thoroughly decomposed. 
Sand. What is known as “ Builders’ Sand,” 
medium, coarse and gritty, is the proper kind. Con- 
trary to some horticultural superstitions, it makes 
no difference what the color is, “silver” or gray, 
red, white or yellow. 
Leaf-mould. Easily procured by scraping aside 
the top layer near some stone wall or hollow in the 
woods where leaves collect and rot from year to 
year. | 
Sphagnum moss is another very valuable acces- 
sory. It can be gathered in most swampy places or 
bought cheaply at the florist’s. 
Peat. Not obtainable in all localities, but it can 
be bought cheap from florists. Found under mucky 
bog-swamps but must be thoroughly dried and pul- 
verized before use. 
Bone meal. This is invaluable for enriching plant 
