42 SOIL. 



in the business to compete with the best 

 growers can afford to run the risk of 

 growing his plants in the field and mov- 

 ing them into houses. From the time the 

 cutting is made until the old plant is thrown away 

 the work is or should be entirely under glass. 

 Where violet farming is practiced, i. e. , where 

 land is plentiful and the crop is grown in frames, 

 it is customary in some sections to merely plow up 

 a fresh piece of sod each year or every two or 

 three years and move the frames. We do not 

 recommend this practice and believe that it 

 pays to bring the soil into heaps and mix it as 

 described even if it is to be used in frames. The 

 more the soil is handled the better, providing 

 of course the work is not done when there is too 

 much moisture present. Never allow a shovel to 

 touch the soil when the latter is wet, for irrepa- 

 rable injury can be done at such a time. Wait 

 until the soil is mealy and never touch it when 

 it is pasty and putty-like to the touch. It must 

 be remembered that the soil is not a dead, 

 inert mass, but is an exceedingly complicated 

 material an active working laboratory, teeming 

 with life and performing functions which we 

 as yet but little understand. Fortunate is the 

 man who knows enough to appreciate this fact and 

 to let the soil alone when by so doing its wonder- 

 ful mechanism is brought into play for the best 

 use of the plants it sustains. 



