SOIL FOR 



with very little trouble. This substitute con- 

 sists of material that can be found in road- 

 side, field, or pasture-lot. Turn over a square 

 of sod, and you will find that immediately be- 

 neath the sward the soil is full of a multitude 

 of tiny roots. Shave these away with the 

 spade, cutting close to the crown of the grass, 

 and you have a mass of light, spongy soil. 

 When the roots comprising the largest part of 

 it have decayed, it will be almost as rich in 

 vegetable matter as soil procured from the 

 woods. This, mixed with loam, will furnish 

 excellent nutriment to nearly every plant 

 adapted to culture in the house. To it should 

 be added sand — clear, coarse, gritty sand — 

 to facilitate drainage and secure the friability 

 which will prevent the soil from becoming 

 heavy and compact, as it very often does, 

 under repeated applications of water, unless 

 means are taken to avoid this unfavorable 

 condition. 



The proportions in which to combine loam, 

 vegetable matter, and sand should vary, be- 

 cause the root-systems of all plants are not 

 aUke, those having very fine, thread-hke 

 roots, like the Heliotrope, Primula Obconica, 

 and some of the Ferns, will do best in a soil 



14 



