THE SOIL -MULCH 11 



many old farmers do. You know that the soil is 

 moist in the spring when you plant the seeds. 

 Where does this moisture go? It dries up, goes 

 off into the air. If we could cover the soil 



Slovenly preparation of land. 



with something, we should prevent the moisture 

 from drying up. Let us cover it with a layer of 

 loose, dry earth! We will make this covering by 

 raking the bed every few days, once every week 

 anyway, and oftener than that if the top of the 



