THE SOIL 



dissipated and lost by spring, but the con- 

 tinual freezing and thawing of rough straw 

 manure and the clods of clay will change the 

 texture of the soil and make it very produc- 

 tive. Straw manure also prevents clay soil 

 from running together and puddling in low 

 places. Work the decayed manure into the 

 first three or four inches of surface soil in the 

 spring. 



Coal ashes are not generally advisable even 

 though they are sifted very fine. There is 

 little or no plant food in them and if they are 

 used in excess the soil dries out quickly and 

 the plants suffer during the months of July 

 and August. On the other hand, some clay 

 soils have been benefited by the use of a little 

 ashes and air-slaked lime, worked into the soil 

 in the fall. 



Clay soil is cool and usually rich in plant 

 food but it is only made available by continual 

 cultivation, by the exposure of the soil par- 

 ticles to the elements and by adding horse, 

 sheep and cow manures. 



17 



