l6o WHEN TO COMMENCE A GARDEN 



early to raise much that season, but in the long 

 autumn months he can work marvellous changes 

 Even if we have nothing more to contend with 

 than a stiff sod on the land, great advantages are 

 secured by breaking it up in autumn. If this is 

 done in August, it will rot sufficiently by Novem- 

 ber to permit deep cross ploughing. The de- 

 cay of the sod can be greatly hastened by giving 

 it a coating of stable manure before it is turned 

 under, and at the same time it will go far toward 

 giving the land the necessary degree of fertility. 

 For it must be remembered that no field, how- 

 ever good its condition for farm crops, is rich 

 enough for the exactions of garden, nor can one 

 year's culture, nor the highest degree of fertiliz- 

 ing bring it into a proper state. Under the best 

 management it requires time. But we gain al- 

 most a year if we commence in autumn. In the 

 first place the heavy coat of manure upon the 

 sod arsiits greatly in its decay. By the edge of 



