GARDEJS^ING FOR PROFIT 39 



with a wheel hoe, to which 1 attach a pair of rakes so 

 as to straddle the row s, and the rakes will loosen the 

 earth. Next we take ott the rakes and attach the 

 sculler hoe, which we run between the rows twice, and 

 when the onions are four inches high we weed them. 

 This is done with a hand weeder, and this is the time 

 to thin them should they be too thick. We usually 

 weed them twice on hands and knees. Next we use 

 tl'ke one-horse, fine-tooth cultivator. We sow a small 

 patch of carrots and beets for early use and treat them 

 the same as onions. 



Next we planted early potatoes. I like a sandy 

 soil with clover turned under about September and 

 then in the spring apply a light coat of manure, and 

 disk, lapping one-half. This will cut nearly as deep 

 as if it were plowed. Drag and plank. Mark three 

 feet between rows ; furrow out ; drop seed twelve 

 inches apart, two to three eyes in a piece of potato, 

 then cover with a hoe lightly and when coming up 

 drag them. 1 use a lever drag, tipping the lever so 

 the teeth are quite slanting, dragging the same way 

 as planted. When three or four inches high we use 

 the fine-tootli cultivator. Next cultivating use the 

 large cultivator. We keep them cultivated as long as 

 the vines will permit, then we hill them. By planting 

 close we get a heavy growth of vines. They come 

 together and shade the roots and therefore keep mois- 

 ture in the land. We cultivate as long as we can before 

 hilling. We have good results from growing by this 

 method. 



Next we set out strawberries. I Hke a fall plow- 

 ing with a heavy coat of manure turned under. I top- 

 dress the bed with a fine and well-rotted manure. 

 Disk, drag and plank. Mark four feet between rows. 

 Every other row I set with a fertilizing berry. I 

 never mark over three rows at a time before I set. 



