CHAPTER XIX 



THE HOME GARDEN 

 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



Factors in locating the home garden. There are several 

 important factors in locating the home garden. Convenience 

 to the house is one of them. A southern or southeastern slope 

 will give the best results with early vegetables. It should not 

 be too steep, however, for the crops may then suffer from 

 the drought and the heat of summer, and the land will be 

 likely to wash. It is desirable to have lower ground below 

 the garden in order to allow for air and water drainage. If 

 the ground is not well drained naturally, it should, of course, 

 be tile-drained. In a level country it would be well to pro- 

 vide some protection in the way of trees or buildings on the 

 northern side. These, however, should not be too close to 

 the garden. The kind of soil is important. With most vege- 

 tables sandy loam will give the best results. One should not 

 despair, however, if he does not have the ideal soil, for most 

 of the common vegetables adapt themselves to a wide range 

 of soils. "Where the slope of the site or the type of soil varies 

 appreciably, one should plant the crops accordingly. For 

 instance, sweet potatoes should be planted on the higher and 

 drier places, and they do best in clay loam; watermelons like 



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