THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 309 



touched — and too wet to be walked about on, 

 as a matter of fact. For nothing will work more 

 lasting damage for the season than such packing 

 of the garden soil into lumps in the spring. 



Clods formed in this way simply cannot 

 be eradicated all summer long, since they will 

 take on almost the hard baked character of 

 bricks. Actually the ground is not ready for 

 working until a handful of it, squeezed ener- 

 getically, crumbles apart when the hand is 

 opened. Never let the forehandedness of an- 

 other drive this from mind — for the garden that 

 is not worked until it is fully ready, nor planted 

 until the ground is warm and mellow, will grow 

 enough faster to catch up with, and often to 

 pass, the garden that is worked a little in ad- 

 vance of the safe season. 



Plowing or spading, whichever method is 

 used to break the ground up in the spring, 

 should be deep — eight inches at least, twelve if 

 possible. The latter is I know, even in agricul- 

 tural operations, a greater depth than is usually 

 considered possible; but if ground is worked 

 over by hand, it is quite possible — and though 

 it may be difficult, it is worth the effort, in al- 

 ternate years at any rate. For a deep seedbed 

 means plenty of deep moisture for the growing 

 plants; and moisture deep down is food, since 



