BOOK OF THE HOME GARDEN 



to explain this to you carefully. I will tell you the 

 reason : If you did not do it this way you would be 

 stepping on your freshly forked soil and that would 

 spoil the whole game. Do you see ? 



Go to the next bed and fork it the same way, and 

 so on for as many beds as you have. It is hard 

 work and requires strong muscles and good lungs ; 

 if you haven't got them take your work slowly, a 

 little at a time, and you will be surprised how it 

 will help you to grow strong. 



If your garden is to be a border by a fence or 

 house, stand facing it the long way. First take a 

 fork full of soil at the back of the bed, then one 

 just in front of it and so on until it is complete. 



Test your soil with blue litmus paper to see if it 

 is "sour" or "acid" as we talked about in our story 

 of soils. If it is sour sprinkle the surface with lime 

 or wood ashes until it is white all over for we want 

 to rake it in, not fork it down. Why? Because the 

 rains are going to dissolve it and carry it down 

 through the earth. 



You will next need the rake to smooth the surface 

 and break more lumps ; draw it backward and for- 

 ward in every direction until your arms ache ; when 

 rested do it again until the surface is fine and 

 smooth. I have often found that standing the 



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