Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1917 — Soil Tips to the Home Gardener. [ARTICLE]

Soil Tips to the Home Gardener.

Practically all truck crops do better on a sandy loam soil than on one that is ..sticky and heavy. Largersized crops, however, such as cabbage, tomatoes, beans and peas, will do well on heavy soil’ provided it contains the necessary vegetable matter. The soil in most backyard gardens is distinctly heavy. —It will help the soil greatly if the owner works into it a good amount of finely sifted coal ashes free fromall cinders;- Coal ashes are used largely for the physical effect in breaking up a compact, heavy soil. Such ashes do not take the place of fertilizer. Plentiful use of well-rotted manure is still more beneficial in breaking up heavy soil because this improves the texture and adds fertilizing material. Many garden soils are sour. To offset acidity and also to improve the physical properties ofHhe soil the gardeVi specialists recommend the use of lime. Burnt lime should be used at the rate of 1,000 pounds to the acre or slaked lime at the rate of about 1,500 pounds «per acre. A garden plot 50 by 100 feet is approximately one-ninth of an acre. To apply the lime, broadcast it and piix it freely with the surface soil by harrowing or raking. Lime should be applied before the crops are set out or planted and should not be applied at tlje same time that fertilizer or manure is put on. ' Manure will greatly improve land. If well-rotted manure is not available it may be advisable to use a complete chemical fertilizer. Apply at the rate of 800 to 1,000 pounds per here a mixture containing 2 to 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phosphoric acid, 1 to 2 per cent potash. The amateur gardener will find it easier to use obtained from any reliable dealer.