CHAPTER 11. 



Preparation of the Soil — Laying Out of Land 

 FOR the Different Crops — Rotation of Crops 

 — ^L\NURES — Their Application. 



A PROPER PREPARATION of the soil, prior 

 to sowing or planting, is one of the most im- 

 portant conditions involved in the process of 

 getting a crop. We shall not aim to discuss at length 

 the principles on which it depends, but confine our- 

 selves in the main to simple and practical directions 

 as to the work to be done. 



Ploughing, subsoiling, harrowing, raking, and Tat 

 some stage of the process) manuring, — these constitute 

 the main operations by which the land, after being 

 stripped of a crop, is put into condition to be planted 

 with another. 



For all market-garden crops we recommend that the 

 ground be ploughed once before an application of 

 manure is made. In the case of all leaf crops, like 

 celerv, cabbasfe, etc.. eiofht inches would be a sufilicient 

 depth for this first ploughing, before the manure is 

 applied. For the second ploughing, which is to turn 

 the manure under, a depth of six inches would be suf- 

 ficient, and preferable : so as to leave the manure as 

 near the surface as possible, and still have it covered. 



Then, if the land is lumpy or hard, a wheel harrow or 

 some implement for breaking up the lumps should be 



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