BOOK OF THE HOME GARDEN 



pound the clay soil before you start mixing, as it is 

 apt to be very lumpy. 



Now, for those who live on a shale soil ! You have 

 so many stones you will have to sieve your soil so 

 as to get rid of them; and when you have enough 

 sieved soil to fill one-third of your box, add humus 

 and sand just as the "clay" people do. The sand 

 soil people need one-half soil and one-half humus. 



I can just hear some of you saying: "Where can 

 I get sand ? There is none near us, so I can't make 

 any seed box." For a few pennies you can get a box 

 of bird gravel (which is coarse sand) , at the grocery 

 or drug-store, and that will do splendidly. Again, I 

 can hear some say: "I can't get any humus; there is 

 no manure pile or compost heap or woods for me 

 to get it from." Then don't forget your good 

 friends who will sell you some from the beautiful 

 valleys. 



Still others I hear say: "I just can't get any 

 soil like that at all what shall I do?" If you will 

 go to the florist's, he will sell you some potting soil 

 for he makes all the soil he puts in his greenhouses 

 just as I have told you how to make it. 



After the soil and sand and humus are well mixed 

 it should be sprinkled while you stir it. You will 

 need to be extremely careful when you do this or 



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