CHAPTER XII 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



Preparation of the soil. — The farmer's vegetable garden 

 should be located near the kitchen and no matter what the soil 

 may be, clay, loam, sand or muck, certain vegetables may be 

 raised successfully. 



The soil should be well drained. — Vegetables cannot grow 

 where there is standing water, or where the soil is sour. Plow 

 under the sod or heavy application of manure in the spring. 

 The soil should ''scour" freely from the plowshare. Have the 

 soil very fine; free from stones or material that mil interfere 

 with cultivation. 



Soil that is ridged in the fall with a coating of well-decayed 

 stable manure, dished in early in the spring, and then the spring- 

 tooth and spike-tooth harrow worked over the surface, makes an 

 ideal seed bed. Plow deeply. 



Fertilizers. — Horse manure where the horses have been 

 bedded in straw, is considered the best for vegetable culture. 

 Never apply burned manure (gray colored straM^). 



Cow manure is cooler than horse manure, and especially fine 

 for cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. 



Pulverized sheep or chicken manure is especially fine for a 

 top dressing after the crop has started. Such crops as onions. 



The Plant Foods 

 Select one fertilizer from each group and work it well into the soil 



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