CHAPTER III 



THE SOfL AND ITS TREATMENT 



MARKET, climate, soil, these are the leading factors 

 in determining the location of a market- garden. 



A good market - gardening soil is one which is 

 "quick." It warms up early in spring; it comes 

 quickly into workable condition after a rain ; it is easy 

 to keep in good tilth ; it responds quickly to fertilizing 

 materials. Its physical condition is more important 

 than its original richness in plant-food : the latter can 

 be added. That is, in the determination of a soil for 

 market- gardening purposes, two coordinate factors are 

 to be considered, the texture or physical make-up, 

 and the content of plant-food. 



Nearly all general market- gardens are on sandy 

 loams. There are a few crops, of which onions and 

 celery are examples, which demand particular types of 

 soils for best results ; but if one has a deep and uni- 

 form sandy soil, he can make an ideal garden of it, 

 other things being equal. If the land is well drained, 

 and if rainfall is sufficient, this sandy land can be 

 made immensely productive by a combination of three 

 things, good tillage, the incorporation of plant- fiber 

 or humus, the direct addition of plant-food. When 

 thus ameliorated, it becomes a sandy loam. 



(80) 



