38 SOIL. 



two active men can put into a heap forty to fifty 

 yards of soil a day, or a sufficient quantity for four 

 thousand to five thousand plants, figuring that the 

 beds contain six inches of fresh made soil and that 

 the manure and turf are one hundred to two hun- 

 dred feet apart. It is seen, therefore, that each 

 cubic yard of the mixture is sufficient for one hun- 

 dred plants, allowing a depth of six inches for the 

 beds. 



When soil is purchased, or even when it is 

 obtained from one's own place, it is never exactly 

 alike any two years. For this reason it is a good 

 plan to experiment a little before the general 

 mixing is commenced. It takes very little time 

 to make up several lots of soil in different pro- 

 portions, using a water pail to make the measure- 

 ments. For instance, we have soil from two local- 

 ities, one of which is moderately heavy and the other 

 light, and also well rotted manure which we make 

 up in the following combinations: 



(1) Light soil, one part. 

 Heavy soil, three parts. 

 Manure, one part. 



(2) Light soil, two parts. 

 Heavy soil, two parts. 

 Manure, one part. 



(3) Light soil, two parts. 

 Heavy soil, three parts. 

 Manure, one part. 



(4) Heavy soil, four parts. 

 Manure, one part. 



