10 VEGETABLE GAKDENING. 



from a sandy loam to a clayey loam ; but what might 

 be termed a true loam contains the necessary in- 

 gredients in the following approximate quantities : 



Sand . . . . . . . 40 to 50 per cent. 



Clay . . . ... . . 30 to 40 



Humus (and Lime) . . 10 to 20 



Improvement of Soils. Many soils fall short of 

 the loamy condition so desirable for vegetable growing; 

 but a good deal may be done to alter and improve the 

 texture and composition of the soil, and so modify 

 whatever faults it may possess as to bring it into a 

 more friable and better balanced condition. 



Light sandy ground is improved by increasing 

 the humus in the soil, by means of liberal applica- 

 tions of the heavier kinds of farmyard manure and 

 the addition of all available vegetable material ; the 

 digging in of turf, or soil of a heavy nature, and 

 dressings of lime, which has a binding effect on loose 

 sandy soil. 



Peat soils are very unfavourable for gardening 

 purposes. They are sour, more or less water-logged, 

 and difficult to manage. Thorough draining, liberal 

 and frequent liming, and mixing with mineral 

 material, will in time improve them and render 

 them more fertile. 



Stiff clay soils may be altered and improved by 

 digging or trenching in early winter and laying the 

 soil up roughly to the action of the weather ; drain- 

 ing to remove surplus water and allow air to pene- 

 trate freely ; by digging in liberal quantities of 

 strawy manure, leaves, and vegetable refuse ; also 

 by the addition of any sandy material of a free porous 



