The greater portion of the work with frames is conducted on light
or sandy loam soils which are naturally well drained and adapted
to intensive trucking. The original soil is usually employed, but
when necessary rich soil is hauled and placed in the beds. The first
essential is good drainage, and if the land is not naturally well
drained it should be tiled or provided with numerous open ditches to
carry off the water. The surface of the soil should be graded and all
depressions filled in and leveled. For best results the land should be
subjected to two or three years of preparation by manuring and planting
to leguminous crops.
The presence of plenty of organic matter in the soil is very important,
especially where large quantities of commercial fertilizers are to be
used. This organic matter may be added in the form of stable manure,
but more satisfactory results will be obtained where leguminous crops
are included in the preparatory treatment. For green manure nothing is
better than cowpeas as a summer crop and crimson clover as a winter
crop. The crimson clover should be turned under about the time it comes
into full bloom in the spring, the land planted to cowpeas, and the
resulting crop plowed under or mowed for hay during the month of August
in ample time to prepare the land for frame work during the autumn.
When heavy crops of green manure are turned under it is essential that
lime be used to improve the mechanical condition and to sweeten the
soil; a dressing of 1,000 pounds to the acre should be sufficient.
Large quantities of stable manure are used in growing crops in frames,
sometimes as much as 30 to 60 cartloads to the acre. The manure is
generally spread in a broad, flat pile to compost before it is applied
to the soil on which frames are to be located. Where manure is employed
for heating the beds it may afterwards be mixed with the soil for the
growing of subsequent crops. Poultry and sheep manure is excellent
fertilizer for frame work, but the quantity obtainable is very small.
In the application of natural manures of all kinds it is essential that
the manure should be fine; that it be what is termed "short" manure.