SPADING 



Spading is a man's job, 

 and you will have to get 

 somebody to do it for you. 

 Yet it is so important a 

 part of the work that you 

 ought to know how it is 

 done. Watch while it is 

 being done, and when you 

 are older you will be able 

 to do it yourself. 



The trench system of 

 spading is best. Place the 

 soil removed the first time 

 you spade across the garden 

 in a ridge along the end of 

 your garden. This leaves 

 an open ditch into which is placed the soil turned in 

 the next time across. 



Hold the spade upright, place your foot on the shoulder 

 of the spade, and throw the weight of your body on it. Let 

 your weight drive the spade into the ground. 



When the spade is in the soil, move it forward and back- 

 ward until the earth is loosened; then lift and turn the 

 spadeful of soil. It is important to turn the earth to the 

 .full depth of the spade, so that the roots of the vegetables 

 will be able to strike deep into the soil. Manure turned 

 under must be well covered and not left on the surface 

 to dry. 



After spading, rake your entire plot, smoothing the sur- 

 face. Do this before the soil dries. 



[12] 



