THE GARDEN PRIMER 



the proportion between them and the air and water 

 which they retain in the infinitesimal crevices separat- 

 ing them — these are the things which govern the phys- 

 ical characteristics and the soil texture; these, clearly 

 understood, make it possible for anyone to follow a 

 line of common-sense reasoning and arrive at the right 

 thing to do to put any soil in the condition most favor- 

 able for supporting vegetation. For soil may be 

 modified almost as one chooses, especially within the 

 area one has at his disposal on the average home 

 grounds. 



Deep soil means that having a depth of at least 

 eight inches from the surface to the less productive 

 sub-soil. 



Light soil is a term that has nothing to do with 

 the actual weight, but means loose or sandy — open 

 textured, the contrary to Heavy Soil. 



Loam is a soil in which the sand, silt and clay are 

 properly balanced, making it mellow and friable. This 

 is the ideal soil most generally favorable to plant life 

 because, being a combination of sand and clay — of 

 large and small soil particles — in about equal propor- 

 tions, it retains moisture in sufficient quantity to sup- 

 ply plant food in solution, and at the same time it is 

 properly aerated. Air is an important factor in soil 

 and needed by the roots of plants quite as much as 

 water. 



The first thing toward actual garden making for 

 the beginner to do, therefore,- is to determine which 

 side of the balance between sand and clay is over- 



T2 



