Read the following text and do the tasks.

Soil is your garden’s natural growing medium so it’s vital for the health and successful growth of your plants and crops that you keep it well maintained. Soil is basically rock that's been ground down by the effects of the weather over a long period of time and made fertile by decayed organic matter (derived from dead insects and leaves). There are hundreds of different soil types, but they can broadly be classified as sandy, loamy, clay, referring to their basic texture. It is the texture that affects the drainage aeration and nutrient content of the soil, and you may have to take steps to improve this in certain types of soil. Take a handful of soil and run a small amount between your forefingers and thumb. Although all soil contains varying proportions of sand, silt and clay, your reading will be able to tell the difference between the main types.

Sandy soil feels gritty when dry and even its wet particles will not stick together. Loans on the other hand can be modified in the hand when moist but aren’t at all sticky and gritty and are fairly loose when dry. Clay soil is sticky and smooth when wet but becomes polished when rubbed and baked hard when dry. A loamy soil is a well-balanced amalgamation of sand, silt and clay which combines excellent drainage with sufficient moisture retention to assure good growing conditions for most plants. It’s fairly easy to look after although loamy soils do benefit from regular applications of well-rotted organic matter to prevent getting tightly packed. The particle consistency of sandy soil doesn’t hold water well with the result that plant foods are often taken away by rain before they can do any good. Again, well-rotted organic matter can be added to bind the soil particles together. Clay soil is most difficult to work with, usually becoming waterlogged, so it is virtually impossible to dig. Artificial drainage will probably be the first step in improving the texture of the soil and various additives will break down the structure to make. Use of its excellent food stocks. There are various methods of improving your soils texture. Essentially this requires regular applications of a well-rotted organic substance called humans which is obtained from decayed plant and animal matter (manure, compact, and seaweed each provides ample sources).

The presence of chalk in soil can also affect the growth of plants. Some prefer slightly acid (chalk-free) soils, while others grow more successfully in alkaline, chalky soils. Most fruits and vegetables, however, grow better in neutral soil. Although benefiting the soil in some ways, compost, manure and fertilizers can actually add to its acidity as organisms break then down. Over-acid soils can be treated with applications of line either hydrated (slaked) line or ground limestone is your best choice.

To apply line, sprinkle it on the broken to soil and mix it lightly but doesn't dig in, leave to wash down by rain. Apply line every other year if needed be.