CHAPTER III 



THE SOIL AND ITS TREATMENT 



Ma-rket, climate, soil, — these are the leading factors 

 in determining the location of a market- garden. 



A good market - gardening soil is one which is 

 quick.'' It warms up early in spring; it comes 

 quickly into workable condition after a rain ; it is easy 

 to keep in good tilth ; it responds quickly to fertilizing 

 materials. Its physical condition is more important 

 than its original richness in plant-food : the latter can 

 be added. That is, in the determination of a soil for 

 market-gardening purposes, two coordinate factors are 

 to be considered, — the texture or physical make-up, 

 and the content of plant-food. 



Nearly all general market- gardens are on sandy 

 loams. There are a few crops, of which onions and 

 celery are examples, which demand particular types of 

 soils for best results ; but if one has a deep and uni- 

 form sandy soil, he can make an ideal garden of it, 

 other things being equal. If the land is well drained, 

 and if rainfall is sufficient, this sandj^ land can be 

 made immensely productive by a combination of three 

 things, — good tillage, the incorporation of plant-fiber 

 or humus, the direct addition of plant-food. When 

 thus ameliorated, it becomes a sandy loam. 



(80) 



