106 Progressive Agriculture 



CHAPTER XVI 



THE GARDEN 



A good farm garden is the admiration of every- 

 body, not only the beauty of a variety of rank, 

 healthy growing vegetables, but there is so much 

 palatable, healthy food to come from it that one's 

 mouth almost waters, as he thinks of the many 

 good dishes to be made from the crop of radishes, 

 lettuce and young onions, melons and tomatoes, 

 cauliflower and cabbage, beets, parsnips, carrots 

 and many other equally desirable roots. 



All these things are easy if you will have a little 

 system in doing the work. Begin early every 

 spring and spread a rather modest coating of well 

 rotted manure evenly, very evenly over the surface 

 and disk it in, cutting 3 to 4 inches. Then plow 

 about 7 inches, turning your furrow as evenly 

 as possible and completely bottom up. After 

 plowing begin harrowing and harrow it several 

 times before it has had time to dry on top and 

 become cloddy. Every time it rains watch it; 

 don't harrow too wet, but don't wait too long 

 after the rain. Harrow just to loosen the top 

 and keep up this plan. Don't let the weeds grow. 



With the exception of a few radishes, lettuce 

 and onions which may go in early for early use, 

 don't plant until the soil is warm. 



Early planting of the garden is an old rule that 

 has come down many generations, but if you want 

 nice, crisp, tender, sweet cucumbers, melons and 

 vegetables and plenty of them, try the early spring 



