230 City Homes on Country Lanes 



leaves, properly composted with other vegetable waste 

 and earth, would be worth hundreds of dollars to the 

 gardens next spring. 



In planning a permanent garden a space should be 

 reserved near the hotbed, or seed bed, and in this space 

 should be piled, as soon as pulled, all plants which are 

 free from disease and insects. This applies to all vege- 

 tables, and especially to peas and beans, as these belong 

 to a group of plants which take nitrogen from the air 

 during growth, and store it in their roots. When these 

 plants are decayed they will return to the soil, not only 

 much of the plant-food taken from it during their 

 growth, but additional nitrogen as well. Nitrogen in 

 the soil is necessary for satisfactory leaf growth. The 

 material so composed should be allowed to decay 

 throughout the winter, and when needed should be used 

 according to the instructions given for using compost. 



Prepared sheep manure, when procurable at reason- 

 able price, is possibly the safest concentrated fertilizer. 

 It should be used in small quantities, rather than spread 

 broadcast. Scatter it along the row before seed is 

 sown ; or, apply by mixing it with water in a pail stir- 

 ring the mixture to the consistency of thin mush, and 

 pour it along the rows of the plants. 



Green manure is useful as a fertilizer. It consists 

 of green plants turned under by plowing or spading. 

 Rye is the most satisfactory for this purpose. If 

 planted in July or August, the crop may be turned un- 

 der in the spring. When not turned under until spring, 

 the growth will prevent the leaching of soluble plant 

 food, or the washing away of rich soil. 



In sowing rye for this purpose, use at the rate of one 



