CHAPTER II 



Making the Soil Foundation 



The ideal and practical substitutes — Loam and when 

 to get It — The compost heap — Spring vs. fall 

 making- — Manures of various kinds — Leafmould 

 —[Peat — Muck. 



Good soil is an absolute necessity to 

 success with plants and there is only one 

 way to get it — by mixing. A workable 

 soil may be made from loam, sand, and 

 manure, but it will be much better if it has 

 an addition of leafmould, peat, or well- 

 weathered muck. 



When it is impracticable to make a com- 

 post heap, any good garden loam may be 

 used and it is not absolutely necessary to 

 prepare it any length of time beforehand. 



PASTURE LOAM FOR COMPOST 



The best loam to use in a potting soil is 

 well decayed sod taken from a pasture. The 

 best time to secure it is in the fall after the 

 grass has been killed by hard frosts; it can, 

 i8 



