121 Vegetable Growing in Southern Arizona. 



October: — Asparagus, beets, cabbage seed and plants, ear- 

 rots, cauliflower plants, celery plants, cucumbers, lettuce, onion 

 seed, parsley, parsnips, radishes, spinach, turnips. 



November : — Asparagus, beets, cabbage plants, peas, rad- 

 ishes, spinach. 



December : — Peas, radishes. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



A very important step in gardening is the proper preparation 

 of the soil. Much time may be saved and many failures avoided 

 by giving due attention to this part of the work. 



Most vegetables grow best in a sandy loam, but with proper 

 care they may be successfully produced in quite a variety of soils. 

 When a choice is practicable, a soil fairly retentive of moisture, 

 but not inclined to bake and crack when dry should be selected 

 for the garden spot. The majority of the soils of southern Ariz- 

 ona contain a good supply of all the elements required by plants, 

 except nitrogen; but many of them do not possess the physical 

 properties that are desirable in a garden soil. Some are too san- 

 dy or gravelly, and hence so porous that they do not retain water 

 properly; while others consist of a fine adobe that is very adhesive 

 when wet and very hard when dry. The sandy soil may be im- 

 proved by the addition of well rotted manure and other fine mater- 

 ial that will cause the soil to be more retentive of water, and more 

 fertile as well. Adobe soil may be improved by applying strawy 

 manure or other coarse material that will make the soil less adhe- 

 sive when wet and less inclined to bake and crack when dry. The 

 growth of alfalfa upon any soil improves its physical condition 

 and adds the desired nitrogen as well. When possible, it is best 

 to select for a garden a piece in which alfalfa has been grown. If 

 more than one grade of soil is available, the lighter one should be 

 used for winter vegetables. One that is heavier and more reten- 

 tive of moisture will be better adapted to the growth of vegetables 

 during summer. Having selected a garden spot and applied ma- 

 nure, if it is needed, the next step is to plow it deeply and harrow 

 it thoroughly. 



