28 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



harmful. They form what may be termed the " life" of the soil, and 

 they work for our good or our ill, largely according to how we treat 

 the soil. This work is not carried on promiscuously but is wonderfully 

 organized. Certain groups of bacteria do certain work, which is then 

 taken up and carried on by another group, as it is in a perfectly- 

 organized factory. We are largely indebted to Russell and Hutchin- 

 son of Rothamsted for our knowledge of the work of these minute 

 organisms. Students of this subject are strongly recommended to 

 read " The Masters Memorial Lectures," given by Dr. Russell, and 

 published in the Journal of the Society (vol. xli. pp. 173-188). It 

 will be seen from those lectures that without the aid of these bacteria 

 the dung and organic manures we apply to the soil are useless ; in fact, 

 all the rest of our care is useless unless the soil is made suitable for 

 bacteria. It will be learned that the essentials for their life are 

 moisture, air, lime, organic matter, and certain minerals, such as 

 phosphates, all of which, it is interesting to note, are essential, as we 

 have seen, in the care of the soil for other reasons. 



The soil therefore is a wonderful and complex thing, far more 

 than an anchor for the roots of trees. Its very origin sounds almost 

 like a fairy tale. It is full of mechanical problems and forces ; a 

 complex chemical study, for every known chemical is found in it ; a 

 storehouse of plant food ; the home of innumerable minute organisms 

 working unceasingly for us, playing their part unseen, and for centuries 

 unknown, in the great scheme of things, the great plan of Nature. 

 Here is the answer to the problem of perpetual motion, and here may 

 be found, in one form at least, perpetual life. Many things are yet 

 to be discovered, yet to be learned, but do we not already know enough 

 to fill us with wonder and awe and reverence for great Mother Earth, 

 who gives all the minerals for our industries, the food for the plants, 

 and through them for our beasts and ourselves, and receives us 

 altogether — the plants, the beasts, and ourselves — when our appointed 

 course is run ? Is it a thing to be treated as " dirt," to be uncared for, 

 unstudied ? Is it necessary to plead further for the " care " advo- 

 cated ? — the study, the patience, the storing up of each valuable bit 

 of knowledge until gradually one begins to understand and to know 

 the soil one is cultivating ? This is what is meant by " the care of 

 the soil." 



