MISCELLANEOUS 369 



crops. It always seems that in trampling down the soil which we have 

 brought into such a mellow condition, we partly undo the work which 

 we have done with spade and rake. Later, when the seeds have germi- 

 nated, and the plants need attention, again we feel reluctant to walk 

 between the rows for the purpose of thinning out, cultivating or 

 transplanting. We know that the soil, especially if moist, is compacted 

 by the pressure of our feet so that, in drying, it is left in hard lumps. 



We have learned in our many years of amateur gardening a simple 

 method whereby to avoid trampling down and compacting the garden 

 soil. We do not claim to have originated the device, it may have 

 been used, for aught we know, ever since Adam and Eve left Eden. 

 The point is that it works. Last season our garden plot was 36 feet 

 wide and 48 feet long. Through it, lengthwise, ran a path 3 feet 

 wide, which left on each side a plot in which the rows of vegetables 

 were 16 feet long. Some of these rows were 14 inches and some 16 

 inches apart. In view of these dimensions we obtained two pine 

 boards, planed both sides, each 1 inch thick, 10 inches wide and 8 

 feet long. 



Standing in the path we would place one of these boards end toward 

 the path and across the end of the plot which we were going to plant; then 

 walking along it we would place the near end of the second board 

 against the far end of the first board, so that it reached the rest of the 

 way across the plot. Walking on these boards we would set our 

 garden fine along one side, make a drill and plant seeds or set plants. 

 Next we would move the garden Hue over to the other side of the 

 boards, make a second drill, and plant a second row of seeds or plants. 

 Then we would lift to the other side of the line, first the board farthest 

 from the path, and second, the one nearest the path, and proceed to 

 plant a third row, and so on till the whole plot was planted. It should 

 be noted that at the first placing of the boards we planted two rows 

 before moving the boards, but after that we move the boards as we 

 plant each row. Where the rows in the garden plot are not more than 

 6 feet to 10 feet long a single board may, of course, be used. 



In thinning out and weeding rows we invariably use the boards in 

 this way. And often in gathering the vegetables, especially if the soil 

 is wet, we use our garden boards and thus avoid compacting the soil 

 at a time when moisture conservation helps to insure big crops. In 

 view of our past experience we would not want to be without our 

 garden boards, and do not intend to if we can help it. 



