106 TALKS ABOUT THE SOIL. 



get rid of the old plants, stop the waste of more ele- 

 ments from the soil, and return those already taken 

 out, and make them ready for the next crop. It is 

 the same with all plants. When the mignonnette 

 ceases to bloom, dig it into the ground, and plant 

 more. When the tomatoes, the strawberries, the 

 beans, and other things are gathered, bury the plants 

 at once. When the frost cuts down the flowering 

 plants in the fall, pull every thing up at once, and 

 bury it in the soil. Gather all leaves, trimmings, and 

 waste parts of every green thing, and bury it. A 

 convenient way to do this is to make a compost-heap. 

 Throw the old plants in a heap, and cover them over 

 with fresh soil thrown on top. Let nothing green go 

 to waste, and slowly and surely your garden will bear 

 better crops and fairer and more abundant flowers 

 year by year. The soil will become darker and richer, 

 and lighter to move with the spade or hoe. In kitchen- 

 gardens, nothing should be taken from the garden, 

 except the things actually used on the table. If beets, 

 turnips, or carrots are pulled, bury the tops ; if cabbages 

 are gathered, save the larger leaves for fertilizers. Save 

 every thing, gather up every green thing, every weed 

 and waste leaf, and bury in a compost-heap or in the 

 ground. If, in the fall, rubbish and brush are left, 

 burn it all, and scatter the ashes on the ground, and 

 at once cover it over with soil. Pursue the other and 

 more common plan, waste every thing, take all you 

 can get out of the soil, and return nothing, and 

 year by year the soil will take a sharper revenge for 



