CROPS AND PROFITS. 161 



look of age, and expend a great stock of vital energy 

 hi the contest. 



Fine Tilth makes Fine Crops. 



WITH a good situation, the secret of success 

 with garden crops, lies in the richness of 

 the soil, and in its deep and fine tilth ; the last being 

 far oftener wanting than the former. A farm crop 

 of potatoes or even of corn, will make a brave 

 struggle amid coarse nuggets of earth, if only fertil 

 izers are present ; but such fine feeders as belong to 

 the garden can lay no hold upon them ; they want 

 delicate diet. Farmers are often amazed by the 

 extraordinary vegetable results upon the sandy soil 

 of a city dooryard, which they would count com 

 paratively worthless ; not considering, that aside 

 from the shelter of brick walls, which make the sun 

 do double duty the productive capacity of such city 

 gardens, lies very much in the extreme and almost 

 perfect comminution of the soil. 



What is true of garden earth, is true also of its 

 fertilizers ; they must be triturated, fine, easily digest- 

 ible. Masses of unbroken farm-yard material are 

 no more suited to the delicate organization of gar 

 den-plants, than a roasted side of bacon is suited to 

 a child s diet. They may struggle with it indeed. 



