20 THE NEW ONION CULTURE 



surface, and thus mixing the compost with the soil in 

 a thorough manner. 



The rich, fine sandy loams, or soils which, like 

 sandy muck, contain a large amount of organic matter 

 or humus, will not usually need so much manipulation. 

 The free use of an ordinary "drag" or smoothing 

 harrow after plowing will be all that is required to 

 get the surface reasonably smooth and fine. Chemical 

 manures, if to be used, may now be applied broadcast 

 or with a drill. Nitrate of soda only is to be with- 

 held for a while and for application later on. 



To put the finishing touches on the land, I inva- 

 riably use the Meeker smoothing harrow (Fig i6). 

 In fact, I would hardly know how to get along without 

 it. This makes the surface about as even as could be 

 done by hand raking, and in one-tenth or one-twentieth 

 the work or time required for the latter operation. 

 The Meeker harrow costs twenty dollars or more, but 

 it is a great labor saver, and almost indispensable in 

 the market or farm garden. The ordinary steel rake, 

 however, is good enough for smaller patches. What- 

 ever tools you use, the surface should be as smooth as 

 a board, and the land is then ready for planting. 



