= 
| 


Basic Requirements of Plant Life 
N THIS SHORT GUIDE it is taken for granted that most trees and shrubs require normal food, air and water. 
Thus a plant needing more air than usual at its roots is marked “loose soil” or “drain”. Plants very easy to 
grow are referred to as “tolerant”, 
THE LEAVES NEED:— 
Air—"“wind”, “city air”. 
Carbon is absorbed from air. Ordinarily 
the gardener has no worries about the 
leaves getting air. Some plants, like 
Tsuga, burn in strong winds. Bad city 
air is harmful to some trees. 
Light—“sun”, “shade”. 
Light makes the chlorophyl factory turn 
its wheels. All plants need some. Those 
that get along best on little light are 
marked “shade” in this Guide. Those that 
need a great deal are marked “sun’.— 
Normal plants are not marked—they live 
in sun or part shade. 
THE ROOTS NEED:— 
Air—“loose”, “heavy”, “drain”. 
Roots get oxygen from air that filters 
into the earth. Some plants need more 
than others; these must have loose soil 
and will suffocate in heavy damp clays. 
Such plants are marked “drain” in this 
Guide. 
. Water—“damp”, “dry”. 
Roots can only use chemicals that are 
dissolved in water. Also, water is the 
means of transportation up the stem. Some 
plants need more than others and die in 
severe droughts. In the descriptions such 
are marked “damp”. A loose soil quickly 
dries, a heavy soil keeps damp. Thus 
water and air for the roots are both 
present in a mixed soil. Normal plants 
that thrive in this “ordinary garden soil” 
need no notation. 
Food—“humus”, “rich”, “barren”. 
a. Potassium—most soils have plenty. 
b. Phosphorus—needs to be added in most 
soils with fertilizer. 
c. Nitrogen—Fertilizer supplies it, but 
water quickly leaches it out, so the 
plant depends on bacteria in the soil. 
These bacteria depend on:— 
1. Acidity of soil (lime, etc.). 
2. Drainage of soil (air). 
3. Humus in the soil (food). 
d. Iron, Lime, etc., in small quantities 
usually present anywhere. 
BASIC SOIL STRUCTURE 
First, the backbone of the soil is broken 
rock. Clay is finely powdered, sand 
coarsely broken. Sand lets water run away 
at once, hence is full of air, but dry. Clay 
almost prohibits air, tho’ damp. A mix- 
ture (most soils) permits a balance be- 
tween air and water. In this balanced 
condition soil bacteria can thrive. 
Second, decayed organic matter, “hu- 
mus’, ‘“peat-moss’, “peat”, “leaf-mold”, 
etc., uses bacteria to rot it. From this 
water dissolves food (salts). Also each 
particle of humus acts as a little sponge, 
holding the water, yet permitting air 
.around it. Some humus is present in most 
soils; any soil can be improved by some 
increase in humus. Manure combines 
humus and fertilizer. 
Third, plants use nitrogen only after 
transformed by bacteria. “Top-soil' is a 
word which we give to soils filled with 
this life. Bacteria are fussy about soil 
acidity. Most need “lime” reaction. Rhodo- 
dendrons, etc., grow among bacteria which 
need acid soil. 
or may have no a whatsoever. 





HUMUS:—In some form, is useful to all 
plants. 
1. Lightens heavy soil. 
2. Adds water storage to light soils. 
3. Is nature’s own food. 
Warning:—Renew every two years. 
Peat Moss:—The best all around humus. 
Safe and clean. 
Leafmold, woods clearings, dead leaves, 
etc. Also good, tho’ apt to be un- 
slightly, unless finely shredded (see 
below). 
LIME:— 
1. “Sweetens” the soil—that is, reduces 
acidity. (For Lilacs, etc.). 
2. Promotes decay, so provides quick 
food from humus in soil. 
3. Flocculates clay soils:—Thus making 
clay into loam. 
Use Natural Fectilze 
“Mulchnur” — Our new introduction 
(Nitro. Phos. Potash) 
Shredded Cow Manure Ch — V4 — 4) 
Well rotted, can be applied as a direct 
mulch. Moisture 25 to 40%. Sold in 
100 lb. bags—$1.00 each. ($1. covers 
300 sq. feet.) Excellent soil conditioner. 
Pulverized Manure (l—Yn — 12) 
Bone-dry (under 5% moisture) and safe 
to use, as well as economical. Sold in 
50 lb. bags which are almost the equal 
of 100 lbs. of the above. Price, $1.00 per 
bag. You save on freight. ($1. covers 
300 sq. feet.) 
Pulverized Hen Peat (314 —3 —2) 
Bone-dry powder of poultry manure and 
peat moss. A superb all-round food 
supply. Must be used sparingly, and 
spread thin, for it is 3 times stronger 
than the above. The most fertilizer you 
can buy for your money. Price, 50 lb. 
bags for $1.00 each. ($1. covers 1000 
sq. feet.) 
Shredded Leaf Mold (Acid Soil Mulch) 
A thin layer from the top of an oak 
forest, shredded and bagged. Very loose 
yet firm, goes a long way. Maintains 
an acid soil, wonderful for Azalea, 
Rhododendron, Blueberries, Holly, Dog- 
wood, etc. (Approx. 100 lb. bag) $1.00. 

square feet. 
Sample Kit—Postpaid $2.00 (Co 
CLIMATE MAP 
The numbers I to VII in 
the map refer to Zone 
| numbers printed after each 
| plant name throughout this 
*!| Guide. It shows the north- 
| ern limit beyond which any 
| given plant cannot grow. 
| This is not a perfect rule. 
Two modifications might be 
mentioned. East of Indian- 
apolis, a damper climate 
makes all evergreens hard- 
| ier. West of Indianapolis 
| hot western summers make 
deciduous trees hardier. 















ACID:—To acidify soils the safest thing is ; 
Aluminum Sulphate. Spread I, .¢ 
dissolves in water. 12 lbs. postpaid 
__ § H»SO, (sulphuric acid) 
ALSOHHO= {RG (sand-like, inert 
FERTILIZER:—All plants in gardens b 
fit by having plenty of food. 
l. Strong growth — henc 
hardiness. 
2. More flowers. Better color. 
3. Healthy plants—hence freer 
ease and insect troubles. — 
38 main foods 
ous proportions are provided 
tilizers. See below. 
ure, and enough tobacco d 
etc. Fertilizing value is high: 
Phos. 1.5%, Pot. 1%. Comes cle 
shredded, ready to use. 
Beds, gardens, etc.: 
1. Aids in drought; conditiodam 
2. High fertilizer value—natural. 
3. Prevents insect oo ‘to roots. _ 


instructions). 
