SAND FOR GARDENS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 147, 9 July 1937, Page 8

SAND FOR GARDENS

Sand is essential in the garden for lightening and draining soils. In pots or boxes sand keeps the soil in a eompaet state (a point of great importance "where cuttings are coneerned) ; and yet rendors it porous enough for drainage. Anotlier thing that sand doos is to prevont Iho contact of cuttings or the roots of tendor plants witlt i'erxnenLing material or strong manurcs in tho soil, Sand always makes a heavy loain lighter and brings it into a l>cttor state for praclically all kinds of plants. For pot-work silver or white sand is generally favoured, and this should be used in a coarse a condition as possible. Very fine sand is useful as a surface

for cutting pots, but It is not good for mixing with the soil, as it tends to cheek free drainage. Clean road grit is a coarse quality of sand, and this is extremely useful for working into land that is on the heavy side. Kiver and coast sand may also be used, though the latter should first of all be washed and exposed to the weather to get rid of the salt. Ked sand contains too much iron to make it suitable for potting purposes, but by repeated washing it may be freed of the exeess. .When most of the red colouring hfts gflgjjg, the ,sand wiH prove as useful as any '-"other kind.