126 
[The Committee subsequently determined to construct the 
two greenhouses presented by the Messrs. Guggenheim as soon 
1 1 +e at } dand lod 
The Rose Garden stairway given by Mrs. Westcott was built in 
May, and a contract will soon be let for the School Garden 
esha given by Mrs. Thompson. The gifts have all been paid 
in full, and plans have been approved by the Municipal Art 
Commission.] 
GARDEN SOILS AND THEIR TREATMENT* 
In garden making the labor is so much the most important 
a 
elements of success and failure in garden soils may be eae 
under the following hea 
. Physical, ie ae the amount of available water 
a for the plant, the amount . air space in the soil, size of 
. soil particles, a the tempera 
e chemical properties ee ‘che soil, which include the 
amount of available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium; 
and a few other elements. 
3. Bacteriological ae which include the preserice of in- 
life and 
nee iBorhood of fifty per cent. of pore space, which allows of 
rapid movement of water and air. Soils of this nature do not 
hold as eee avalene bua as clay soils and a that reason 
every o increase the wa 
as it is only the water which is held on the surface of the ground 
in the form of a film which is available to plant roots. It is 
occur. On most Long Island soils nature has provided 
* Abstract of a lecture delivered at the New York Botanical Garden on May 
19, 1917. 
