Basic Requirements of Plant Life 
I 
Parcines 
mow 
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. 
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”, 
a. Potassium—most soils have plenty. 
b. Phosphorus—needs to be added in most soils with 
fertilizer. 
Nitrogen—Fertilizer supplies it, but water quickly 
leaches it out, so permanent plants depend 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). 
Iron, lime, etc., in small quantities usually present 
anywhere. 
rh ANN 
“barren”. 
Cc. 
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 
Plants very easy to grow are referred to as “tolerant”, 
or may have no notes whatsoever. 





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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 northern limit beyond which any given plant 
cannot grow. This is not a perfect rule. Two modifications 
might be mentioned. East of Indianapolis, a damper cli- 
mate makes all evergreens hardier. West of Indianapolis 
hot western summers make deciduous trees hardier than 
rated in this Guide. 
SOIL TESTS 
Sudbury Kit tests for nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and 
acidity. No technical skill required. Results apparent im- 
mediately. 
Sample Kit—Postpaid $2.00 (Complete with instructions). 
Larger Kit—$4.75 postpaid. Enough to make 10 complete 
tests as above. 
Ways fto ilies ae Your Soil 
SOIL FACTS:— 
Barren—Clay has no air, 
sand no food. Even a 
mixture of clay and 
sand alone does not 
make soil fit for most 
plants. 
Loams— As soon as 
humus is added, the 
soil becomes a “normal” 
soil. Air, food and water 
all complete. In addition, 
soil bacteria start living 
on the humus and re- 
lease nitrogen thus mak- 
ing “top-soil”. 
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:—(See bottom next page.) 
Peat Moss:—The best all around humus. 
Leafmold, woods clearings, dead leaves, etc. 
apt to be unsightly, unless finely shredded. 
Mulchnur:—See below. 
LIME:— 
1. “Sweetens” 
TYPES of SOILS 
Garren 
HUMUS 
CLAY, SAND ee 
and HUMUS &% 
SAND aed. SL Z 
normal earth 
Also 


Safe and clean. 
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. 
ACID:—To acidify soils, aluminum sulphate is 
quickest, but there is danger of damage in 
heavy soil. Straight sulphur (in commercial 
form as powder) does the same job in about 
2 weeks and is harmless and easily obtained. 
An ounce to a square yard, sprinkled on the 
surface. 
FERTILIZER:—All plants in gardens benefit by 
having plenty of food. 
1. Strong growth—hence hardier. 
2. More flowers. Better color. 
3. Healthy plants—hence freer of disease. 
USE NATURAL FERTILIZERS 
“Mulchnur” — Our new introduction — all or- 
ganic—for spreading on lawns, gardens, etc. 
It contains peatmoss, manure, and tobacco 
dust. Fertilizing value: Nit. 2.8%, Phos. 1.5%, 
Pot. 1%. Comes clean, dry, shredded. 
1. High natural fertilizing value; feeds soil. 
2. Increases moisture-absorption; holds 
water through drought; conditions soil. 
Use 1 lb. to 10 sq. ft. for spreading on lawns. 
Use 1 lb. to 21/, sq. ft. in gardens. 50 lb. bag— 
$2.00. Can be shipped parcel post but best 
by express. No freight shipments, please. 
Manure Bricks—Cow manure, ground and 
pressed, readily dissolves, 1 lb. brick in 4 
gallons water. Price: 5 bricks (postpd. E. of 
Miss.) $1.50; (50 bricks, $11.00, not postpaid). 
good, though 
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