The Soil 
Mrs. Edward Harding 
(Reprinted by request from January, 1916.) 
This paper is intended for persons who are laying out new gardens 
or enlarging old ones. 
A very thorough preparation of the soil gives a lasting advantage. 
As ideal soil is seldom found in the site selected, it is the upbuilding 
of ordinary types of soil that this article will cover. 
I. Securing Humus (Decaying Vegetable 
Matter) in the Soil 
Humus can be secured by ploughing under green crops. Buck- 
wheat and rye are excellent for this purpose, as both grow well on poor 
soil. One is well repaid by planting and ploughing in buckwheat once, 
and even twice in the summer, and following this by fall planted rye 
ploughed under in the spring. By using early Japanese buckwheat two 
crops are readily grown in one summer. Legumes may be better in 
some respects, especially in sandy soil, but buckwheat and rye do not 
require inoculation and are certain to give results. Buckwheat chokes 
weeds. 
Humus can also be obtained by broadcasting and ploughing in 
barnyard manure. Use this in addition to the green crops in order to 
obtain the very best results. In such case spread the manure on the 
rye in the autumn. Beside the added humus valuable bacterial action 
is obtained from the use of manure. 
Clay, sandy and "worn-out" soils are especially in need of humus. 
It makes clay soil friable, opening up the rich food stored in clay; and 
it renders sandy soil more compact and retentive of moisture. What 
such treatment can do for "worn-out" soil is shown in one of my farm 
fields, which, five years ago was known as the "worst field in the 
county," and today is growing five tons of alfalfa per acre. 
2. Elimination of Acidity 
An acid soil is not a fertile one for most plants. Most soil in the 
eastern United States is naturally acid. A deficiency of lime produces 
an acid soil; a sufficiency, an alkaline soil. An acid soil is easily 
recognized by the presence of sorrel or by the litmus paper test. 
After ploughing in the last green crop, apply ground limestone or 
ground oyster shell (two tons per acre) or basic slag (1200 pounds 
per acre). 
3. Drainage 
There are very few garden sites which do not demand under- 
draining, or which could not be greatly improved by underdraining. 
After the ploughing and grading are finished, and the walks, pools, 
etc., staked out, drains of agricultural round tile are easily laid in 
