QUESTIONS 



73 



Fig. 42. — Soil sieve. 



to pack under repeated watering, affords better drainage and re- 

 duces the danger of damping-off. In order that the seedUngs may 

 make a vigorous growth, rotted manure also is often added in 

 preparing soil for seed flats; though since the manure increases 

 the danger from damping-off, some growers omit the manure from 

 the seed flats, but use it in large amounts in the soil which is to 

 receive the seedlings at the first shift. A very good formula for 

 preparing a soil for planting seeds 

 in greenhouse flats — unless damp- 

 ing-off is feared — and for growing 

 young seedlings after the first shift, 

 is four parts rich garden loam or rot- 

 ted sod, two parts fine, thoroughly 

 rotted manure and one part sand. 

 All the ingredients should be sifted, 

 and thoroughly mixed together by 

 shoveling. If the soil is too dry, 

 water may be sprinkled on repeat- 

 edly during the mixing, until it is of 

 the right consistency. The fineness 

 of the screen (Fig. 42) to be used 



in sifting the soil will depend upon the condition of the soil and 

 the kind of seed to be planted. For ordinary purposes a three- 

 quarter-inch screen for the manure, a half-inch screen for the 

 loam, and a quarter-inch screen for the sand, will be satisfactory; 

 but for some fine seeds a quarter or even one-eighth-inch screen 

 may be used for all ingredients. When a soil is thus carefully pre- 

 pared the plant roots have no difficulty in reaching every part 

 of it, and a small mass of soil is capable of supporting a large 

 amount of plant life. 



QUESTIONS 



1. What is the first operation in the preparation of soil for planting? 



2. When should the ground be plowed for early spring planting? 



3. What advantages has fall over spring plowing for early garden planting? 



4. How may a seed bed for vegetables be prepared without the use of hand tools? 



5. Describe a method of determining when the soil has reached workable 



condition in spring. 

 G. Describe the proper method of treating land to conserve moisture for late 

 spring planting. 



7. How may soil be prepared for planting small seeds in greenhouse flats or 



boxes? 



8. Can you describe bad examples of soil ])reparation which you have wit- 



nessed? 



