Location and Soil 



a dry soil drinks in water, and the good work 

 goes on during the night, lightening, disinte- 

 grating, and vivifying. Sunshine is a tonic to 

 any garden, and we cannot have too much of it. 



The third benefit derived is in its quickening 

 effect. A moderately rich soil, fully exposed to 

 sunshine, will grow earlier vegetables than a 

 very rich soil not fully supplied with sunshine. 

 One of the secrets of successful vegetable grow- 

 ing is in bringing the plants ahead as rapidly 

 as possible after they get a start. Vegetables 

 that grow slowly are always inferior in quality. 

 They lack tenderness and flavor. In order to 

 secure these qualities, one must have a quick, 

 rich soil, and sunshine enough to give it some- 

 thing of the nature of the hot-bed. 



The best soil, all things considered, for the 

 successful production of vegetables, is one that 

 is rather light and sandy perhaps what the 

 farmer would call a sandy loam. It falls apart 

 readily when turned up by the plow, and speed- 

 ily becomes mellow under the application of the 

 hoe or cultivator. A heavier soil may have 

 more strength in it, but it is not as desirable 

 for vegetable-growing, because it cannot be 

 worked as early in the season, and cannot so 



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