vi INTRODUCTION. 



dry to crumble into fine particles, by a persistent use 

 of the plow and the harrow. Every particle of soil 

 contains a given amount of plant food; in other 

 words, all the elements that contribute to plant 

 growth or development are found in the soil, and 

 are acted upon by the elements in the atmosphere, 

 brought down from the leaves by the sap to and 

 through the roots. Here decomposition of the soil 

 commences, and the result is the building up of the 

 plant. These delicate little roots that perform this 

 important work are of microscopical size and have 

 riot sufficient strength to penetrate, a hard lump of 

 earth; consequently they must fasten themselves to 

 the outside of it. And, when the soil is left in a 

 lumpy condition as they cannot enter it they 

 must needs perish from without, as they cannot exist 

 a moment if exposed to a dry atmosphere, which 

 they must needs do when the soil is left in a lumpy 

 condition before planting. 



The soil, no matter what its character may be, 

 is in the best possible condition for planting when 

 there cannot be found in it a particle larger than a 

 pea. The English and French gardeners fully 

 understand the importance of this, and their method 

 of preparing the soil with the spade is much more 

 effective than ours, because their tillage is more 

 thorough. Not that we cannot properly prepare the 

 soil with the plow and the harrow, but because we 

 do not. Our mistakes consist in not being thorough 

 enough. Most of the tilth the soil gets during the 

 season should be given before the seed is sown, or the 

 plants are set ; all that it needs afterward is to keep 

 the surface, to the depth of an inch, constantly stirred 

 with a fine rake or harrow. This is necessary to 



