THE GARDEN PRIMER 



strengthens wood and fruit, while phosphoric acid 

 seems to be the especial food which flowering plants, 

 whether shrubby or herbaceous, most appreciate. 



Learn to watch your garden and find out from 

 the plants and the way they grow just what it is that 

 they need. Do not for instance give nitrogen when top 

 growth is rank and luxuriant, but fruit of poor quality 

 and not abundant, for such a condition probably means 

 that trees are starving for potash. Of course all the 

 elements should be present in order to get the best 

 results but frequently it is necessary to supply only 

 one in order to make the proportions right, as already 

 suggested. The trick is to find out which one. 



It is largely a matter of common sense, once you 

 know what is what and without knowing this no 

 amount of directions will be any real help. It is 

 necessary to realize what is going on down in the ground 

 where the roots are doing their work how they are 

 gathering up one substance and another in the tiniest 

 and most minute particles in order to realize that a 

 very little too much of one thing or a very little defi- 

 ciency of the other will actually work ill to a plant or 

 well. 



Finally, there is one other thing about the soil 

 that should here be mentioned, partly for the reason that 

 it is so generally overlooked in all that is said or written 

 about soil, good or bad, and partly because it is interest- 

 ing. It is a phase of soil fertility that does not enter 

 perhaps into the beginner's gardening, but who can tell 

 what moment the beginner, inspired by success and 



34 



