IlS THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

 THE STERILISATION OF SOIL. 



I find that comparatively few gardeners are acquainted 

 with the good results of steaming soil in order to killl the 

 seeds of weeds, as well as to destroy spores and the larvae 

 of insects. But the steaming process is a very valuable 

 way of enriching mould intended for growing cuttings 

 and plants in pots and boxes. 



When every yard of loam has to be carted five or six 

 milles it becomes an expensive business, and when it is 

 first used for large plants, then, perhaps, for cucumbers 

 or tomatoes, and afterwards for propagating, the soil 

 loses some of the properties which a chrysanthemum re- 

 quires. At the same time it has probably become full of 

 weed seed, or spores, or other soil pests. This being the 

 case I determined to try sterilising a heap of about 90 

 yards at the Merstham nurseries, the object being prin- 

 cipally to get rid of chickweed seed. 



I believe that the plan of steaming soil could be very 

 advantageously followed in large nurseries and gardens 

 where great quantities of plants are raised in boxes and 

 pots. In hothouses weeds grow riotously in the humid 

 atmosphere, so that by hand-labour it is next to impossible 

 to keep them down. The moulld for potting cuttings, 

 being used again and again year after year, in time be- 

 comes fu<ll of seeds. Apart from the labour necessary for 

 ceaseless cleaning, the weeds, growing with almost tropical 

 rapidity, take away the food constituents of the soil from 

 the plants which the gardener is devoting all his skill and 

 time to raise. 



As regards gardens of moderate size, small quantities of 

 soil may be steamed by putting the mould in a pail and 

 standing the latter in a copper with water which reaches 

 half way up the pail. As the water boils the soil will be 

 steamed through. The lid should be kept on the copper 

 to prevent fhe steam from escaping. 



