Soil and Fertilization 115 



strained through a fairly thick cloth before using. 

 Half a teaspoonful to a pint of water is enough for 

 the average plant. 



When wood ashes are used in the garden, they 

 should be sifted in order to remove all the lumps 

 and cinders which will be detrimental to young, 

 tender roots. 



Manure tempers the soil and provides warmth 

 when used as a winter covering for plants. 



Old shavings or sawdust are not advised as bed- 

 ding as the tendency will be to produce sourness 

 in the soil and this will have a bad effect on the 

 vegetables. Clean soil is essential for good growth. 



Manure will help to hold the soil to the roots 

 of plants and half an inch in the bottom of flats 

 before filling them with soil will yield very satis- 

 factory results. 



After plowing the next important step is to 

 smooth and pulverize the soil. If it is well pre- 

 pared, the work of caring for vegetables will be 

 materially lessened. The pulverizing should ex- 

 tend to a depth of three or four inches . 



Sandy soils will bear plowing much earlier than 

 heavy clay soils. If the soil sticks together to 



