192 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



manure. This should average an inch or an inch and 

 one-half in thickness. The area is then plowed to a 

 depth of six inches, and left until near the middle of 

 October. It is then again plowed and thoroughly gone 

 over with a disk harrow. About the middle of Novem- 

 ber, or just before the ground freezes, it is once more 

 plowed, and this time it is left in ridges so that frost 

 may penetrate to every part. The freezing tends to kill 

 insects which might winter in the soil. As soon as it is 

 possible to work the soil in the spring, the area is plowed, 

 and after a week or two it should be plowed again. It is 

 next drawn into ridges so that alleys may be opened for 

 carts, and then frequent disking is practiced. One suc- 

 cessful rose-grower states that he disks his soil on an 

 average of once a week from the time the soil is sufficiently 

 dried in the spring until it is ready for the benches. This 

 thoroughly incorporates the fiber and manure with the 

 mineral particles, and renders all plant food readily avail- 

 able for the feeding roots. After the surface soil has been 

 removed from a given area the next year sod soil may be 

 carted on to this area and prepared as described (Fig. 

 22). 



161. Utilization of waste material for fertilizers. - 

 Every well-organized range should compost the waste 

 of the range. Dead leaves and other waste materials 

 from greenhouses make valuable fertilizing material after 

 they have become thoroughly decomposed. When special 

 crops are grown, care should be taken that leaves are not 

 infected with fungous diseases which may not be destroyed 

 in the decomposing process. This heap of waste materials 

 should be wet and turned frequently to prevent rapid 

 decomposition, which results in heating the material to 

 such a degree that there is a considerable loss of nitrogen. 



