Rural School Leaflet 



769 



MAKING A GARDEN 

 C. E. HUNN 



I . Preparation of the land. — If the land for 



the garden can be secured in the fall, much of 



the preliminary work can be done before 



freezing weather, having all leveling done, rough 



material removed, and the ground ploughed 



or spaded. Fall plowing is recommended 



since the winter freezing has a beneficial 



effect on the soil, causing it to cnmible 



and separate into fine particles. It is 



' also possible to work fall-plowed land 



earlier in the spring than flat-lying land. 



If spring plowing must be done, it is 



best to start as early as the ground is fit 



to work. A good coating of barnyard 



manure spread e/enly over the ground before plowing 



is always beneficial. Plow to the depth of four to six 



inches and harrow the soil fine with a spring-tooth 



harrow. The small stones and the rubbish should then 



be raked off with the hand rake, and the ground 



leveled for sowing seeds. 



Sowing the seeds. — It is much better to sow the seed 



in rows than to sow it broadcast. The seedling can 



thus be more easily identified, thinning and weeding can 



be quickly done, and the soil between the rows can be hoed 



without injury to the seedling plants. 



In planting a garden it is best, if possible, to have the rows extend 



north and south. Each row will thus get its share of sunlight. If the 



rows are east and west, and one or more rows contain tall plants, there 



is danger of shading the rows in the rear. 



3. Watering the garden. — If it is necessary to water the growing plants, 

 it should be done, if possible, late in the afternoon. If the plants are 

 watered in the morning, the sun causes very rapid evaporation, leaving 

 the soil dry, and in heavy soils causing it to bake. Thorough cultivation 

 of the soil or a miilch of either grass or straw will hold the moisture in the 

 soil and lessen the need of water. 



4. Soils. — It is not often that a heavy clay soil will be found. If no 

 other soil is obtainable, drainage, sand, muck, grass, or coal ashes will 

 be beneficial. Clay soil should never be worked when wet. Gravelly 



