366 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



Litter: 



The soiled straw or leaves which have been used for bedding in stables, 

 but which does not contain any considerable quantity of manure except 

 that which it has absorbed in the form of fluids. Frequently used for 

 mulching purposes. 



Loam: 



Earthy matter containing clay, silt, sand, and organic matter in such 

 proportions as to make a soil adapted to supporting vegetable growth. 

 Loam varies from a very sandy loam to a very clayey loam. Usually 

 called topsoil. (See topsoil 6.) 



Loam, sandy: 



Loamy soil which contains a predominance of sand. 



Lump Lime: 



Burned limestone not evenly slaked so as to become finely divided. 



Magnesian Lime: 



A term describing a lime or limestone containing both magnesium 

 carbonate and calcium carbonate. 



Magnesium: 



An element, usually occurring as magnesium carbonate, which is a 

 compound useful in correcting soil acidity. 



Manure: 



Any material, either organic or inorganic, containing a superabundance 

 of plant food or material which upon decomposition or nitrification 

 becomes available plant food. 



Marl: 



An earthy, crumbly deposit consisting chiefly of clay and calcium car- 

 bonate much used as a substitute for land lime. "Green sand" marl 

 may be acid, but good chalk marl is valuable for neutralizing acids. 



Mildew: 



A diseased condition caused by the downy mildew fungus. 



Muck: 



Black swamp earth which varies widely in available plant food, 

 very similar to peat except that water is not constantly present during 

 the process of decay; hence the nitrifying bacteria are present and the 

 material is better suited for immediate use as plant food. It is in aD 

 intermediate stage between leaf mould and peat. 



