6 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



Having grown tomatoes on a large scale in eight counties 

 and overseas, we can claim to have tested a variety of soils, 

 and if we had to choose the one we best liked (a very difficult 

 task) we should choose a sandy loam on chalk, and dress it with 

 burnt refuse and old leaves. Friability in soils, especially in 

 tomato soils, is much to be desired, for this makes it 

 susceptible to air and heat and is non-retentive of superfluous 

 moisture. 



Drainage is a matter of the very first importance. It is one 

 of the principal factors in successful tomato culture, and nothing 

 we could say could possibly exaggerate its importance. The 

 root system is the life of the plant ; the soil is the life of the root 

 system, and here we are up against a fundamental principle 

 which nothing can alter. 



HEAVY Sons 



It is not often given to us to choose our own sites and soils, 

 and so we must perforce make the best use of what we have. 

 Supposing, then, we have the heavy clays of Essex or Devon, 

 what ought we to do to convert them to our uses ? First and 

 most important, drain them. Next, mix in fairly heavy 

 dressings of burnt earth, also road sweepings where they can 

 be found free from petrol, or otherwise freed from that noxious 

 element by burning. Then add well-rotted leaves and light 

 stable manure, and dig the whole over to the depth of 

 18 inches. 



Where drainage is difficult and the soil not amenable to treat- 

 ment, dig trenches 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Put 

 3 inches of rubble, brickbats, sherds, or any hard material in 

 the bottom of the trench, and on this put a further 3 inches of 

 manure or leaves. Fill in the trench with prepared compost 

 and firm it down. The 2 or 3 inches remaining after the soil 

 has settled down are very useful when, later on, top dressing 

 has to be given. 



POOR Solids 



If you have a light, porous, poor and stony soil, dig in clay 

 or turf, and some cowshed manure if you can possibly procure 

 it ; but if not, then dig trenches as recommended above ; 



