Anthony P. George, age 7, of San Diego, California, for his question:

How can we make soil?

Growing plants is just about the most wonderful hobby in the world. The trick is to choose as easy experiment and begin early in life. You can plant a few beans or marigold seeds in pots or in the garden. As you watch them grow, you notice that some do better than others. This gets you wondering about their soil and water supplies. You want to give them the very best, and you may add a little manure or other fertilizer. This helps, but it may make you want to create a pot of home made super soil. You would have to copy the recipe that Mother Nature uses to make the world's soil. And this takes time, time and more time.

The basic ingredient is a pile of different rocks, all bashed to powder and mixed together. The next ingredient is decaying material. This must come from departed plant plants and animals. You will need fallen leaves and chopped up plants, some dead bugs and maybe a few other bits of animal meat, some manure or other waste animal material. Stir the ingredients together, add a worm or two and leave the mixture outdoors for a year or so. It will be attacked by bitsy bacteria and busy little hugs. In time they will finish your recipe and blend your basic ingredients into a helping of rich, home made soil.