How to manage a Garden 



use they should be passed through a half-inch sieve, and 

 should be stored always in a dry place. A little charcoal 

 may be put in every soil as it has a tendency to preserve 

 its sweetness. Let it be crushed fine for the purpose. 

 Mortar rubble is very useful in a compost. It is 

 chiefly used for the purpose of keeping the soil 

 well opened, and, like the leaf soil, should previously 

 be passed through a half-inch sieve. If the fine dust 

 is not required, the sifted portion may afterwards be 

 submitted to a quarter-inch sieve, and what will not 

 pass through the sieve retained for potting purposes. 

 Sand is also used for keeping the soil porous, and figures 

 more prominently in soil for seeds, cuttings, or young 

 plants. If cow manure is added to a compost, it is very 

 evident that it cannot be used in a raw state, but must be 

 allowed to become dry, and then broken up. The same 

 applies to sheep manure. Horse manure should rarely be 

 used fresh. For potting purposes it is quite as well that 

 the horse manure be first used for the cultivation of mush- 

 rooms, and when the crop has been taken off and the heat 

 of the manure spent, let it then be used for potting. The 

 best compost for general purposes is made up of two parts 

 loam, one part leaf soil, and one-tenth part coarse sand. 

 If the turf and leaf soil are good, this compost will grow 

 almost anything. 



How to Pot a Plant. 



It may be mentioned that pots should be well washed 

 before use if the plants are to do well. Then comes the 

 business of crocking. A large potsherd should be obtained 

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