Part III: Getting Down to Earth in VS .NET

Encoder EAN13 in VS .NET Part III: Getting Down to Earth

Charles Darwin called earthworms the intestines of the soil ; farmers call them Mother Nature s plows Earthworms feed on organic matter, depositing their castings, or excrement, as they burrow through the soil Scientists estimate that a 1-acre garden with organically rich soil contains about 1 million worms; their castings are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three nutrients plants most need The equation is simple: Lots of worms equal good soil In spring, dig a cubic foot of soil and count: Five worms is okay, but ten is excellent And if, in the digging, you happen to cut a worm in half, don t worry Earthworms grow new heads if no more than the first six or seven body rings are lost Do you have just a few worms in your soil Add organic matter, and they will come

Although technically you can call all plant and animal matter, living and dead, organic matter, most gardeners use the term to describe materials they add to their garden, including leaves, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, animal manures, and compost As soil organisms break down this organic matter, they release the nutrients it contains, converting it into a form plants can use Everything you add to your soil helps, from carrot tops to cow dung The faster the material decomposes, the faster the nutrients it contains are recycled Fresh matter decomposes more quickly than dry materials; chopped matter decomposes more quickly than materials that haven t been shredded Organic matter that you dig into the soil breaks down more quickly than matter you spread on the soil s surface Lastly, organic matter decomposes more quickly in warm soil than in cold Aim to add at least 1 inch of chopped or fine organic matter or 4 inches of bulky matter to your garden each year In almost all cases, more is better It s hard to imagine a garden with too much organic matter Organic matter improves different types of soil in different ways: Sandy soils: Sandy soil is the natural home of many herbs, but soil that s too sandy has few nutrients and drains too quickly for all but the most drought-tolerant species The solution is easy: Add organic matter Organic matter helps the soil retain moisture, provides a reservoir of nutrients, and nurtures soil life Clay soils: To lighten clay soil or open up soil that has become compacted, dig in rough organic matter, such as half-decomposed compost, shredded bark, or roughly chopped leaves Mixing in organic matter opens up pathways for air, water, and plant roots, and it helps wet soils drain better

If you have access to manure horse, cow, sheep, chicken, or rabbit count yourself lucky Animal manures are nitrogen gold mines that supply smaller amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, and other micronutrients Manure also adds organic matter to the soil But fresh manures carry risks Fresh manure can burn leaves and kill young plants You re better off if you add fresh manure to the compost pile where it can age, or spread it on the garden in late autumn when the growing season is over You can add well-rotted or composted manure anytime Avoid adding dog and cat manures to the garden because they may contain parasites and other unpleasant microbial surprises

Don t cultivate clay soil when it s wet, or you ll end up with rock-hard clumps when it dries And don t add sand: If you combine the right amount of clay and sand, you ll end up with something resembling concrete Whenever you have the chance, add organic matter For example, you can mix in some leaf mold at planting time, spread a thin layer of grass clippings every few weeks, and apply organic mulch like shredded bark Adding organic matter isn t a one-time proposition Think of it as feeding the soil You don t want your soil to go hungry, do you