SOIL PREPARATION 1 3 



times considered better, is to dram the planting bed by laying a line 

 of porous farm tile along the bottom in a manner shown in the draw- 

 ing. (Fig. 2). Suitable outlets for drains must be provided. A line 

 of porous tile will drain the soil on each side of it to a considerable 

 distance. Tile lines laid at intervals and piped to suitable outlets will 

 effect drainage for areas of any size. 



SOIL FERTILITY 



Soils are made fertile by using proper methods of tillage, by intro- 

 ducing into the soil at frqeuent intervals the amount of organic matter 

 necessary to give the soil the proper texture and water holding power, 

 by maintaining the proper conditions of drainage, and by adding to 

 the soil, when necessary, such organisms as are essential to the growth 

 of particular plants. 



The preparation of planting areas offers the one best opportunity 

 for incorporating with the soil those elements which, acting as the main 

 food of plants, are necessary for their growth. Rather than take time 

 to experiment with the soil to determine what scientific methods would 

 have to be followed to make it most suitable, it is safe to assume that 

 the main kind of food needed by the plants can be safely applied in 

 reasonable quantities. 



Fertilizers are materials added to the soil for the purpose of sup- 

 plying food for plants. A soil amendment is a substance of material 

 that modifies the physical, chemical and mechanical nature of the soil. 

 Manure is both fertilizer and amendment. Lime is used mostly as an 

 amendment being applied to correct acidity in soils or to help break up 

 the particles. 



The intensity of the use to which soil is to be put coupled with the 

 permanency of the preparation or the inability to add fertilizer at a 

 later period should determine the extent to which fertilizing should be 

 done when the planting beds are prepared. 



FOODS NEEDED BY PLANTS 



All growing plants take from the soil nitrates, potash, and phos- 

 phates, and these are the main elements which should be supplied as 

 plant food. The work of these three elements varies of course; but, 

 speaking in a general way, nitrogen promotes luxuriant growth in leaf 

 and branch, potash builds up and adds strength to wood and fruit, 

 while phosphate seems to contribute to the growth in general. 



For ordinary purposes the amount of food that should be supplied 

 to the average soil may be supplied in a compound fertilizer where 

 these three elements are proportioned as follow: 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 

 per cent phosphoric acid, and 10 per cent potassium. 



