CHAPTER III 



PREPARING THE SOIL 



THE soil is composed of countless microscopic par- 

 ticles which are separated one from another by equally 

 microscopic spaces of moist or dry air. Day by day the 

 tendency is for these particles to settle down, to become 

 closer to each other, and, in the process, to drive out, 

 more and more, the intervening air compartments. 

 Now air, especially moist air, is- a necessary factor for 

 plant growth ; therefore, as the soil settles, it gradually 

 loses its capacity for producing crops. 



In order to restore this constant loss, digging and 

 trenching is resorted to. Digging, we are frequently 

 told, should be performed to a good depth, but unless 

 this little piece of advice be supplemented with common 

 sense, it will lead to more harm than good. What, then, 

 is the rule which should be observed ? On no account 

 should the subsoil be brought to the surface and the 

 surface soil buried below the subsoil. The former has 

 been cultivated, contains humus and is, probably, in a 

 fair condition of friability, but the latter has been hidden 

 from the sun and air through countless ages and, more 

 than likely, possesses little in the way of plant food. 



If the layer above the subsoil is deep, that is, three or 

 more feet in depth, there will be little need to interfere 

 with the subsoil itself, but in many gardens and allot- 



