QUANTITY PRODUCTION 285 



rather coarse, sharp sand; with about 40 per 

 cent of some good pasture or forest soil which 

 generally contains more or less leaf mold. To 

 this is often added 10 per cent finely powdered 

 moss or peat. These mixtures, with the addition 

 of about one or two per cent of fine ground 

 bone meal or superphosphate, make soils in 

 which seeds of almost any kind of plant from 

 any part of the earth will germinate. Seedlings 

 thrive in this soil until they are ready for trans- 

 planting. 



If seeds of choice plants are to be grown, the 

 soil is sterilized by a thorough scalding to destroy 

 any fungus or insect pests. 



Usually we find it suits the plants better if a 

 part of the soil last prepared is left over for use 

 with the new mixture, like yeast for a loaf of 

 bread, and I always prefer to have a little of the 

 old on hand for this purpose. 



Common sharp sand, if the right texture can 

 be obtained, is far better for cuttings than the 

 soil just described. The sand found along creek 

 or river banks is generally free from injurious 

 insects or fungous diseases. But for rare cut- 

 tings and very choice seeds, this should be 

 rinsed by pouring large quantities of water 

 through it, at the same time stirring or jarring 

 the material. 



