HOW TO CARE FOR SOIL 325 



The soil in flowerpots should be about the same as in 

 flower beds. The pot should have a hole in the bottom 

 to drain off the excess water. The soil should be kept 

 moist by applying a little water daily. If the soil is too 

 dry, the leaves of the plant will wilt ; if the soil is too wet, 

 the leaves will turn yellow. The soil in the pot should 

 be loosened occasionally by digging it up with a stick. 

 Do not use a sharp tool or the roots will be cut. 



Hotbeds are made by digging a hole about sixteen 

 inches deep and as large as desired. Put about twelve 

 inches of manure in the bottom and then cover this with 

 soil from four to six inches deep. The heat generated 

 by the decaying manure warms the soil so that the seeds 

 planted in it start to grow. The soil should be protected 

 from the cold air by a box or board construction with a 

 window sash for a cover. This glass cover is used to 

 let in light and heat from the sun when it is shining. The 

 heat from the manure and from the sun shining through 

 the glass cover will raise the temperature of the soil so 

 that the plants will grow rapidly. 



224. Soil Drainage. In hilly sections care must be 

 taken to prevent the water from draining away too rapidly, 

 or else the soil will be carried with it and in a short time 

 what is left will become unproductive and unfit for use. 

 By keeping the soil well supplied with humus and by 

 keeping it covered with vegetation, the water from rains 

 may be made to flow off very slowly; most of it will filter 

 into the soil and then flow away as underground water. 



In rolling districts the slopes are just about steep 

 enough to carry away the excess water slowly, and 

 usually no damage is done. It is not difficult to keep 

 the soil on gentle slopes supplied with humus and vegeta- 

 tion and thus prevent surface erosion. Tiles placed in 



