68 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS 



peas, and buckwheat are suitable. These crops should 

 remain on the land until August, when the whole yard 

 should be spaded again. Some vegetation may be re- 

 moved if the growth is very prolific, but a considerable 

 quantity of it should be spaded in ; it will make the soil 

 more retentive of moisture and better able to hold the 

 fertilizers applied to it. After spading, all low places 

 caused by unequal settling must be filled in. Make the 

 soil firm with a roller or with the back of a spade ; the 

 latter usually gives the best results. 



Varieties of seed. It will be advisable to find out the 

 varieties of seed best adapted to each particular locality. 

 Mixed seed is better than any one kind. This will pro- 

 vide for the differences in light, soil, and moisture found 

 in small areas. Mixtures for different purposes may be 

 obtained from dealers. The seed should be used at the 

 rate of one quart for each three hundred square feet. 

 For spring sowing one eighth of this should be white 

 clover. This is nearly double the quantity of seed ordi- 

 narily required for large areas. A smaller amount would 

 cover the ground, but it is better to let the weak plants 

 be eliminated as the stronger ones make their growth 

 than to give weeds an opportunity to gain a foothold, 

 as they will if some of the ground fails to be covered. 



Sowing the seed. If the ground cannot be watered, 

 the seed should be sown before a shower. A uniform 

 distribution of seed may be obtained by sowing in two 

 directions : half should be scattered in one direction 

 across the land and the other half at right angles to the 



