. The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade. Floriculture; Florists. 852 The American Florist. May 22 are no less Important than the pri- mary constituents themselves. The combination of the organic and the mineral substances creates a condition which makes it possible for the many low forms of animal and plant life to exist in this medium we call soil. These low forms are some of them helps and some of them hindrances to the plant grower. The introduction of this host of tenants complicates things and renders what was formerly thought to be simply a chemical prob- lem, a very intr
. The American florist : a weekly journal for the trade. Floriculture; Florists. 852 The American Florist. May 22 are no less Important than the pri- mary constituents themselves. The combination of the organic and the mineral substances creates a condition which makes it possible for the many low forms of animal and plant life to exist in this medium we call soil. These low forms are some of them helps and some of them hindrances to the plant grower. The introduction of this host of tenants complicates things and renders what was formerly thought to be simply a chemical prob- lem, a very intricate combined chemical and bacteriological puzzle. NITROGEN AND BACTERIA. Some aspects of this puzzle are yet so new and difficult that no prediction dare be made at this time regarding their importance to agriculture. Enough has been determined, however, to prove that an important lead has been struck. The value of nitrogen gathering bacteria is sufficient evi- dence of the richness of this new field. Knowledge of the way in which nitro- gen gathering bacteria work gives us a clue to the solution of one of the most difficult problems in the mamte- nauce of soil fertility. It explains the division of labor in nature and gives a reason for crop rotation. The same laws that govern the rotation of crops in field operations come into play to our advantage in the soil heap. The compost heap should consist of organic material in the form of soda and ma- nure so combined with mineral matter in the form of loam and clay as to enable decomposition and nitrification to take place rapidly. The florist's business is not merely to place available food in a natural soil but to combine the several constituents for fertile soil in such a manner as to secure that mechanical condition and food supply calculated to best meet the requirements of the particular crop under consideration. In this respect the florist has an advantage again over the gardener and the farmer. But can anyone describe the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectfloriculture, bookyea
