Care of a Greenhouse 



Composts. 



Before treating of the general make-up of a compost, a 

 few words might be expended on the materials of which 

 it is composed. Turf has already been mentioned. The 

 next in importance is leaf soil. The best leaf soil is 

 formed from oak and beech leaves; that from elms, 

 sycamores, chestnuts, &c., being far inferior. Usually, 

 however, the grower has to have a mixture. As far as 

 possible, all sticks should be omitted. The leaves are 

 then set up in a heap and frequently turned over to pre- 

 vent fermentation. They are hardly likely to be sufficiently 

 decayed for use until the following year, by which time 

 they should be capable of being passed through a half- 

 inch riddle. Leaf soil is greatly valued on account of 

 its quality of retaining moisture, in addition to being a 

 plant food. Peat is usually bought of two qualities the 

 orchid, and the common. The latter is more generally 

 used. Though not in itself largely endowed with plant 

 food, it can retain food which is applied, and by reason of 

 its opening nature is greatly in demand where the turf is 

 lacking in fibre. It should be broken up into pieces as 

 large as a plum, and well incorporated in the soil, the dust 

 resulting being thrown about on the ground. Charcoal 

 and wood-ashes may be classed together as resulting from 

 the same process. They are of a hot, burning nature, and 

 must not be too liberally applied. They are a valuable 

 addition to a soil wanting substance, and to plants whose 

 soil will not be changed for some considerable time. 

 Ashes resulting from the burning of rubbish are also 

 spoken of as wood-ashes and are very valuable. Before 



