Soil — Composition and Preparation 33 



as all leaching may thus be saved. Over the 

 manure spread leaves, garden trash, and all 

 kitchen refuse, two feet more, and over that six 

 or eight inches of loam or clay and sand. Al- 

 ternate the three layers, one foot deep each, 

 until the pile has reached a convenient height 

 and the last layer is soil. Wood ashes, Ume, or 

 old plaster scattered between the layers of trash 

 will keep the soil from becoming sour, and 

 bonemeal sprinkled in the soil will add greatly 

 to its fertility. 



The manure soon becomes heated, breaking 

 down the fibre and tougher materials in the 

 compost, killing all weed seeds, and destroying 

 pupa and insects. Wetting it aids materially 

 in the decomposition, and in a year the finest 

 garden loam in the world is to be had. 



The shallow pit is not, of course, absolutely 

 necessary, but it will hold the precious liquid 

 in the lower layers after seeping through the 

 compost, instead of running to waste on the 

 surface of the ground where there is no pit. 



The use of coal ashes in the making of dahlia 

 soil is of very questionable benefit. Many think 

 that it contains considerable fertilizing value. 

 Analysis has shown, however, that it possesses 

 only traces of soluble potash and phosphoric 

 acid, and even such analyses vary with the 



