“BOILING THE SOIL”
EXPERIMENT BY DANISH NURSERYMEN COPENHAGEN, March 20. “Boiling” the soil to put new life into “tired” earth is an experiment now being tried with success by Danish nurserymen. The area to be treated is dug up to a depth of about 18 inches. Pipes are laid in the ground and connected with a high-pressure steam boiler. Then the whole area is covered with canvas, and steam is pumped in for about 20 minutes—or until the surface reaches boiling point. An expert said: “After continuous use, the soil gets worn out. The steam treatment destroys all pests in it and sterilises as thoroughly as s surgeon’s instruments. If we planted immediately after the process, nothing would grow; but if we wait three weeks or so, all the micro-organisms needed for the growth of plants are back again. The pests are not. The earth has improved in quality and gives a better yield than ever before. After treatment, the soil has to be watered thoroughly with water which has been delimed—in other words, artificial rain water.”—Reuter Correspondent.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 151, 12 April 1950, Page 8
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178“BOILING THE SOIL” Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 151, 12 April 1950, Page 8
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