1398 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



even the use of hotbeds and outside gardens could possibly produce them. 

 Radishes, lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, and other vegetables may be 

 raised in the manner described and be available for the table at a season 

 when the winter supply of stored vegetables is exhausted.* 



PREPARATION OF THE GARDEN 



Location 

 If possible, choose for the garden a piece of land that has been under 

 cultivation for two or three years. If the land slopes slightly toward 

 the south and is of a loamy, not clayey, soil, it will answer the purpose 

 very well. If the land is near a hen-yard, it is well to fence the garden 

 or to see that the hens are kept out of it. 



Staking out 



With small pieces of wood stake out the garden according to your plan. 



If you wish to see clearly how large the garden will be, run a string from 



stake to stake. These stakes, which are only temporary, will serve to 



show where to spread manure, where to plow, harrow, and do other work. 



Manuring 

 If well-rotted stable manure is available, spread a plentiful coating 

 of it over the garden. Some of the best gardeners use as much as 3 or 

 4 inches of well-rotted manure, spread all over their land, and the results 

 are satisfactory. In fact, the majority of gardeners have come to the 

 conclusion that, in comparison with other fertilizers, nothing else will 

 produce plants in so fine a condition as plenty of manure well mixed with 

 the soil. 



Plowing 



The ground should be plowed six to eight inches deep after the manure 

 is spread. If a plow is not available, a spade or spading fork can be used. 

 The two last-named tools are the best for satisfactory results, as they 

 can be used to a greater depth than can a plow; and if these tools are 

 employed by a man who will use his head as well as his hands in the work, 

 the manure will be placed at such a depth and mixed with the soil in 

 such a way as will be of the greatest value. 



Smoothing 

 Harrowing can follow plowing, and fine smoothing can come afterward. 

 Where horse power is not used the hand rake will be the next tool to 

 utilize. The rake can be used for breaking lumps as well as for rendering 



* Lesson 30 of the Cornell Reading-Course for the Farm, Vegetable-Gardening Series No. 1. gives 

 necessary details as to hotbed construction and management. For this bulletin address the Cornell 

 Reading-Course for the Farm, New York State College of Agriculture, Ithaca, New York. 



