FINDS PROFIT IN THOROUGHBRED PLANTS. 
TN sending the photograph as reproduced above of a part of his 1905 patch of Kellogg Thoroughbred plants 
J. A. Russell of Elkader, Iowa, writes as follows: "I am pleased to say that I have profited by studyim^ 
your plant system as well as from growing your Thoroughbred plants." Just what our other customers say" 
Treatment of Clay Soils 
CLAY soil should be prepared and culti- 
vated in a reverse manner from that of 
sandy soils, as it has a tendency to become 
so compact that it will exclude air and thus in- 
vite the presence of undesirable bacteria, bac- 
terra that will produce from the decaying or- 
ganic matter either actually poisonous, or at 
best, compounds useless to plants. Clay soils 
and clay loams should be kept constantly stirred 
and aired, so the process of decay will be normal. 
Cultivation should be somewhat deeper than on 
sandy soils; four inches is about right, providing 
the cultivator tooth next to the plant is one and 
one-half inches shorter than the other teeth; 
this will prevent it from cutting roots. 
If the soil is quite heavy, about every two 
weeks go through the middle with a five-tooth 
cultivator and dig down deep; this will open up 
the soil and you will note a great change in the 
growth of plants. V/e are confident that big 
results do not depend so much upon a certain 
texture of soil as they do on the grower's know- 
ing just how to handle the different kinds of soil. 
Do not roll clay soil or pack it any more than 
is necessary to break the clods; have cultivators 
arranged so the top surface will be left a little 
rough; this will prevent the soil grains from 
running together or puddling during a heavy 
rain. Never work it either before or after 
plants are set, until it will crumble easily. By 
observing these rules you will avoid the danger 
of heavy clay or gummy soil baking, and grow- 
ing berries in them will be entirely satisfactory. 
A loose black soil should be handled the 
same as a sandy soil, while a stiff black soil 
will respond to the same treatment as the or- 
dinary clay soil. 
How to Handle Sandy Soil. 
IN preparing sandy soils where the particles 
are large, compact it thoroughly by rolling 
before setting plants; this will firm it in such 
a manner as to close up the larger air spaces. 
Roots require air as well as water successfully 
to perform their functions, but nature has pro- 
vided for air supply by pulling the water up 
against the soil grains and holding it there by a 
force called adhesion. While this water is in 
contact with the soil grains it dissolves out of 
these particles a small amount of plant food 
which is held in solution ready for the roots of 
some plant to absorb and utilize. The water in 
a normal, fertile soil will not fill the vacant 
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