Soil For Potting

Good, fresh, rich soil, is an element that is indispensable to the

growth of healthy, vigorous plants. A plant cannot be thrifty if grown

in soil that has become musty and stale with long continued use; it must

have fresh soil, at least once a year.



Perhaps the best soil for general potting purposes, and the kind most

extensively used by florists, is a mixture of equal parts of decayed

sods, and well-rotted stable manure, and occasionally, especially if the

sod is clayey, a little sand is added. The sods for this purpose may be

obtained from along the road-side, almost anywhere, while good stable

manure is always readily obtainable. Select some out-of-the-way place in

the lot, or garden, and gather the sods in quantity proportioned to the

amount of potting to be done. Lay down a course of the sods, and on top

of this, an equal course of well-rotted manure, and so on, alternately,

until the heap is finished; the last layer being sod. This heap should

be turned over carefully, two or three times a year, breaking up the

sods finely with a spade, or fork. The whole mass will become thoroughly

mixed, rotted, and fit for use in a year from the time the heap was

made. For those who have a large number of plants, we think it will pay

to adopt this method of preparing soil for them, instead of purchasing

it of the florist at twenty-five cents or more per bushel. Some florists

sport a great variety of different soils, which are used in the growing

of plants of different natures, requiring, as they claim, particular

kinds of soil.



Whatever of truth, if any, there is in this view, it has never been

demonstrated to our mind. All kinds of plants have a common requirement

in respect to soil, and the differences in growth of various species is

attributable to climate and other causes than that of soil. At least

that has been our experience.