The word hydroponics means water gardening. This does not seem to make much sense, for every well informed person knows that gardens will not grow without water, Hydroponics, however, is special because it is a way to grow plants with water and without soil. It can give us fresh strawberries for Christmas and provide ,juicy fruit on sandy islands. It promises salads for astronauts on their long voyages into space,

The idea of growing plants without soil was born in the last century. In the first experiments, roots were placed in water which contained dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Later, scientists found that plants need other chemicals and one by one they too were added to the solutions. Most experts call this method hydroponics and a modern hydroponic solution calls for about 20 different chemicals.

We can call the method soilless gardening, chemiculture, tank farming or bathtub gardening, In any case, it is one of the most fascinating developments of modern times. In World War II, tiny, soil stripped Wake Island, a thousand miles from nowhere, was used to put the modern method of hyroponics to a severe test.

The sandy, shell strewn island suddenly became home to U, S. Armed Forces operating in the Pacific. Fruit and Vegetables either had to be shipped in from far away or grown there   and there was no soil to grow them. Tanks were set up and hydroponic experts arrived to show what the new method of growing plants without soil.    

The new method passed its test with flying colors. It proved that in an area equal to one hundredth part of an acre, hydroponics could produce 1,200 pounds of tomatoes or 250 pounds of potatoes or 100 celery plants. The tomato juice was redder and all the produce was richer in minerals than produce grown in good, old fashioned farm dirt.

There are many methods for growing plants without soil, but they all use the same general plan. Roots are placed in water solutions containing the twenty or more chemicals used by growing plants. A supply of air is mixed into the water solution and the plant stems are provided with artificial support to keep them upright.

One method of hydroponics uses shallow trays to hold the solution of chemicals. The plant roots dip into the solution and the plant stems poke up through a layer of wire mesh. A layer of perhaps sawdust is placed on top of the wire. Other methods set the plants in sand or cinders, much as they grow in the soil. The bedding is kept moist with a standard hydroponic solution of the required chemicals.