MARCH: FIRST WEEK 



61 



overcrowded with plants will be trying the soil with his 

 spade or digging fork. How soon should the ground be 

 worked? The answer cannot be given by the calendar. It 

 depends entirely upon the season and the character of the 

 soil to be used. 



Some soils can be dug safely and planted before the frost 

 is all out; others must wait till long afterward. After thaw- 

 ing, the ground must undergo a drying-out process to some 

 extent before it should be handled. If one attempts to plow 

 it before it is in the proper condition injury that will last for 



If your garden is small, make the end fence movable to facilitate 

 plowing and harrowing. 



a number of years may be done. The safest rule is "when 

 the soil is dry enough to crumble." 



Light, sandy soils, especially when located on a slope 

 where heavy rains have a chance to drain off, may be planted 

 to such hardy things as peas or sweet peas as soon as it is 

 possible to get a few inches of the surface into condition. 

 Heavy soils, or soils lying level with hard subsoils, should 

 not be touched until they are dry enough to crumble away 

 from the plow. 



When it is possible deep plowing is almost always more 

 satisfactory than working the soil by hand. Often in a small 

 garden the fence at the ends can be made removable so a 

 horse can get about. Heavy galvanized wire may be used 

 for this fence, with either square or round posts and square 

 wooden boxes or drain tiles as post holes. 



