THK VEGETABLE GARDEN'. 



27 



acre over the surface. Then rib the land with either 

 a double mould-board, plow, or ribbers attached to 

 the frame of a cultivator. Run all necessary cross 

 furrows so that no water will lie on the surface. In 

 the spring, when the land is required for planting, 

 the ribs can be levelled down b}- harrowing and 

 cultivating. If the soil is clay it should be loosened 

 ten inches deep with a subsoil plow {III. g) or a stiff- 

 tooth subsoiler (///. /). The above system of 



9. SUBSOIL PLOW. 



cultivation is recommended for market gardening. 

 The ordinary method is to spread on the surface of 

 the soil a heavy coat of manure, and bury it about 

 a foot deep with an ordinary plow, turning the crude 

 subsoil on the top, which will take a summer's cul- 

 tivation to make it available for plant food. This 

 system is in direct opposition to the laws of nature, 

 which is to keep the vegetable matter on the surface, 

 where the bacteria can act on it, and make it avail- 

 able for plant food as required. Half the quantity 

 of manure will give better results when it is incor- 

 porated Avith the surface soil by cultivating and 



