Lime weights for no man

[melbee]

I agree with what you are saying Iann .The main problem I was trying to overcome was soil compaction in alkaline soils .Peat is the softest  material but it isn't alkaline .I like peat its great stuff .I use peat in everything. If someone wrote a book called one hundred things to do with peat, I would definitely read it   . .Confusion resulted from an in-depth study of the problem .I think for simplicities sake my starting point will be Ian Christies suggested formula and see how the mix performs.

Just as an afterthought does anyone know what happens to the soil chemistry when you have a fire on top of it?

[Giles]

 

[melbee]

Thanks for that Giles .
How old is the book ,It is obviously a fountain of knowledge 

[iann]

Is burning the earth the important thing, or just incorporating ashes?  Ashes have an obvious use in soil but are not a panacea and certainly not a good option for pots.

[Maggi Young]

Is burning the earth the important thing, or just incorporating ashes?  Ashes have an obvious use in soil but are not a panacea and certainly not a good option for pots.

From Giles' old reference, I took the meaning to be that it was the actual burning of the surface earth and so, by extension, to the burning of clay.

[Giles]

..yup, it's the burning (but I don't know why).
I gather it was a common practice in market gardens in France.
I've always gardened on clay, and have found the practice works.
The book was from between the wars - it belonged to my grandfather.
About 400 pages, 200 of which are devoted to soil preparation.

[iann]

Now where was that thread on using calcined clay granules for drainage?