Comparative Chart n ISAAC HICKS & SON 
Elements 
Long Island 
Adjacent Mainland 
England 
Lime contained in 
limestone rock, 
burned lime, burn- 
ed shells and 
wood ashes. 
No limestone rock on Long 
Island, but enough in most 
soils for plant -food. Not 
enough, however, to correct 
acid condition in some sec- 
tions, which is indicated by the 
failure of clover and timothy, 
while sorrel appears. Removal 
of crops exhausts lime. 
Lime used to make 
other plant -food avail- 
able, and clay soil work 
easier. Not necessary on 
Long Island. 
Lime is used to correct 
acidity in cold wet soils, rich 
in humus. 
Humus, or decayed 
vegetable matter 
contained in wood 
and leaves decay- 
ing in the forest, 
in stable manure 
and straw, sod, 
clover plowed un- 
der, salt hay, sea- 
weed, etc. 
Small amount of humus be- 
cause of long cultivation and a 
warm areated soil, in which the 
humus soon decays. Leaf- 
mold is comparatively thin in 
the forests, rarely over 2 to 4 
inches. It is frequently de- 
stroyed by fire. 
Soil cultivated less and 
humus decays less rap- 
idly. Leaf-mold accumu- 
lates because covered by 
snow. In summer the 
subsoil holds up mois- 
ture, preventing oxidiza- 
tion and preserving the 
leaf-mold. Leaf-mold in 
the forests accumulates, 
becoming 6 to 12 inches 
thick. It holds moisture, 
prevents floods, droughts, 
and favors the growth of 
young evergreens. 
Damp, cool climate favors 
the formation of humus, as 
leaf-mold and peat. 
Summary of f e r - 
tility. 
Other chemical ele- 
ments are oxygen, sili- 
l_Ull, t_d.lUUJ.lj SU1U11 UJ. , 
hydrogen, chlorine, 
fluorine, boron, alumi- 
num, magnesium, so- 
dium, iron, manganese. 
Sufficient of these 
elements exist in Long 
Island and most other 
soils. 
Of the $40,000,000 annually 
spent in the United States for 
commercial fertilizers, Long 
Island uses as much or more 
than any portion, per acre, be- 
sides immense quantities of 
stable manure. It pays mar- 
ket-gardeners, because of the 
highly favorable conditions for 
quick growth of succulent 
vegetables and good transpor- 
tation to market. 
Not equally favorable 
to the growth of vege- 
tables, but grapes, fruits, 
berries, grass and dairy 
products, can be grown 
profitably. 
Soil temperature, 
winter. Depth of 
freezing. 
On average winters the soil 
is alternately frozen and 
thawed. _ On cold winters the 
ground is frozen deeply be- 
cause of absence of snow and 
leaf-mold. No sap can be sent 
up to replace that lost by the 
effect of the bright warm sun 
and dry winds, and the ever- 
green foliage is dried out and 
partly browned. 
Ground stays frozen. 
It is not frozen so deeply 
under the snow or leaves. 
Evergreen seedlings are 
protected. 
Ground does not freeze 
deeply. 
Early and late 
frosts. Length of 
season. 
Long growing season. Soil 
temperature of 45 0 required 
for growth, is quickly reached 
in April. Early growth not 
often killed by late frosts, as 
the air is warmed by the ocean 
and sound, and radiation on 
frosty nights is checked by 
moist air from the ocean. In 
autumn the frosts are late, 
from the same reason, permit- 
ting late growth of flowers. 
Shorter season. Fruit 
blossoms are often killed 
by frost. Watermelons 
and other southern vege- 
tables cannot be grown so 
well as on Long Island. 
Soil often wet, cold and 
late. Vegetables for mar- 
ket not generally grown. 
The change from summer 
to winter is so slight that 
some plants native to a 
wider range do not ripen 
clllU. tile Wllllcl KliicUL. 
Geological forma- 
tion. 
No bed rock except near 
Hell Gate, Long Island City. 
Formation entirely of loose 
material deposited in the 
ocean and washed up by the 
waves, or carried on the ice and 
left as it melted, or washed out 
from the glaciers. The finer 
particles and most soluble por- 
tions are washed away and 
settle on the ocean bottom. 
Bed - rock underlying 
most soils and slowly 
forming soil and adding 
fertility. Ledges of rocks 
interfere with digging 
large trees and render 
care necessary in select- 
ing trees to move. 
