LESSONS l-ROM THE WINNERS 253 



the cost of labor to be forty-nine dollars and sixty cents, 

 seed six dollars and eighty-eight cents and fertilizer 

 nine dollars and eighty-eight cents. The figures for 

 seed and fertilizer seem somewhat low, particularly for 

 the latter. This would buy but one-fourth ton of a 

 high-grade commercial fertilizer, while one thousand 

 tive hundred pounds would not be an excessive amount, 

 and many gardens use much more. 



Hoiv to Make the Garden Pay. — The first work to 

 be done to make the garden pay is to put the soil in 

 condition for planting. 



No matter what the character of the soil, it should 

 never be stirred when so wet that the particles will not 

 separate freely when the spade or the plow and the 

 harrow are used. It must always be made as fine as 

 it is possible to make it. If the plot is sma.l, the spad- 

 ing fork, if properly used, will leave the soil in fit 

 condition for planting; excepting for very fine seeds, 

 when it will be necessary to use a fine rake, as not a 

 particle of earth should be as large as the seed that is 

 to be put in it. 



The manure used should have been provided sev- 

 eral months ago, so that it can be pulverized as finely 

 as the soil. Then it should be so thoroughly and 

 evenly incorporated that the one could scarcely be dis- 

 tinguished from the other. When commercial fer- 

 tilizers are used, as they always should be, in equal pro- 

 portions, when the soil is continually worked, let ihem 

 be evenly distributed. 



No matter what the size of the plot may be, not 

 more than one-fourth — one-sixth would be better — 

 should be used in the first planting. For profit, as well 

 as for pleasure, plantings should be made at frequent 

 intervals, because there are but few vegetables that are 

 in the best condition for use longer than a few days. 

 As soon as the first planting is made, preparation for 



