CHAPTER IV 



SOIL COMPOSITION AND PREPARATION 



IN THE first place, soil is divided into two 

 great classes, though each must be divided 

 again, according to its physical differences. 

 These two great classes may be called "Mineral 

 Soils " and " Organic Soils, or Peat." The former 

 class covers the greater part of the earth's sur- 

 face, while the latter may be found in swamps 

 or in places where, under certain climatic condi- 

 tions, an accumulation of vegetation after great 

 length of time becomes available soil. 



Peaty soils are composed almost entirely of 

 vegetable matter, with but little mineral, -if 

 any at all, contained in it. On the contrary, 

 mineral soils are created through the disintegra- 

 tion of rocks and stones by action of water, frost, 

 or the atmosphere, and need not contain peat to 

 be fertile. 



Peat may be divided into two classes that 

 containing fibre and that which does not. The 

 peat to be found in this country has practically 

 no fibre, and is most useful to mix in our gardens 



26 



