44 BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



on plowed land at the rate of about 1,200 pounds 

 to the acre (more or less according to the soil and 

 the crop). Or, if you care to bother with the home 

 mixing of such a fertilizer, you can buy the separate 

 ingredients, mix them yourself, and perhaps save 

 some money. Write to the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C, and ask for free 

 Farmers' Bulletins Nos. 44, 192, 245, 257 and 278, 

 and you will obtain full information on this and 

 kindred subjects. 



HUMUS. This has to do with the mechanical 

 condition of the soil. Humus is decayed vegetable 

 matter, without which any soil is almost worthless. 

 Humus separates the soil particles, makes the ground 

 mellow and loose, and aids it to retain moisture and 

 air. A soil without humus is dead, airless, and either 

 dry and hard as a stone, or a sticky mass of mud. 

 Therefore, stable manure has a value aside from its 

 fertilizing contents i. e., its ability to supply humus 

 to the soil. Leaves, straw, or any decaying vegeta- 

 tion, would answer the same purpose. If these things 

 can not be had, then the gardener must occasionally 

 grow some crop like clover, rye, vetch, oats, etc., 

 which can be plowed under and thus furnish the 

 necessary humus. 



COVER CROPS. By these are meant humus- 

 making crops which are sown broadcast after vege- 

 tables, etc., are off, and which then grow through the 

 fall, cover and protect the ground through the win- 

 ter, and are plowed under in the spring in time for 

 regular garden planting. Red clover, or sand vetch, 

 or rye, or oats and crimson clover combined, etc., 

 may be used for this purpose. A "catch crop" is 

 the same as a cover crop, only it is sown at the last 

 cultivation, before the vegetables are off. 



