10 VEGECULTURE 



The most important factor to consider when studying the 

 formation of the ideal kitchen-gardeti is the composition of the 

 soil. The perfect soil is undoubtedly a natural 

 Composition one a virgin soil, the result of centuries of 

 of the Soil accumulated deposits of decaying vegetable and 

 animal matter, sweetened and refined by atmo- 

 spheric, climatic, and underground influences. The nearest 

 artificial approach to this virgin soil is that of a garden which 

 has for many years been subjected to a wise routine of scientific 

 cultivation, aided, probably, by a natural adaptivity, composi- 

 tion and situation. But there is many a garden wherein these 

 favourable conditions do not exist, even to a partial extent ; 

 and it is in connection with these gardens that the study of the 

 composition and manipulations of soils becomes most impera- 

 tively necessary, in order to correct their inherent bad or 

 indifferent qualities. The ideal soil may be an impossibility 

 in such cases, but, nevertheless, earnest aspirations towards it 

 should be indulged in by every gardener. 



Soils are composed of minute particles or grains lying more or 

 less closely together, the interstices between the particles being 

 filled with either air or moisture, for " Nature abhors a vacuum." 

 It is from the extent to which air or water predominates that 

 soils derive their fertility and texture neither water nor air 

 in excess being desirable ; and it is also when the two opposing 

 elements are present in equal balance in the soil-spaces that they 

 coalesce and form a moist air or vapour, in which the many 

 chemical constituents of the soil are dissolved. The roots of 

 plants are furnished with an infinitesimal terminal suction- 

 mouth, that is capable of absorbing food in large quantities ; 

 and it will be understood from this fact that no solids, or even 

 crude liquids, can be taken up by the roots that all nutriment 

 absorbed must first be transformed into a moist air or vapour 

 a process accomplished by the correct relationship of air to 

 water in the soil interstices. It will be also readily seen how 

 greatly the state of the soil affects the food supply of plants 

 growing therein ; and indications of its correct manipulation 

 to bring about a congenial medium suited to plant life are 

 provided by an intelligent consideration of the foregoing facts. 

 The procedure to be adopted depends upon the kind of soil 

 one possesses. In cases far removed from the ideal, drastic 

 means, attended by hard work, will be necessary to bring the 

 earth into a sufficiently workable consistency; while better 

 staples, if needing but little alteration, will certainly demand, 



