Location and Soil 



sand is added several seasons in succession, a 

 soil of heavy clay may be made over into what 

 might almost be considered loam. Old mortar, 

 leaves, litter from the barn-yard, almost any 

 kind of refuse that will decay, or assist in the 

 process of disintegration, can be made use of 

 for lightening purposes. 



If the spot chosen for the garden is not 

 naturally well drained, it ought to be made so 

 artificially. This is a matter of great impor- 

 tance. A soil that cannot be made to part 

 readily with excess moisture is not one in which 

 vegetables can be grown well. If the ground 

 slopes in any direction, water will run away 

 from force of gravity, but if it is nearly level 

 water will settle into it and remain there until 

 the soil becomes sour that is if it is a soil that 

 is naturally heavy and therefore retentive of 

 moisture. A garden in such a location ought 

 to be underdrained. Tiling it will accomplish 

 the purpose very satisfactorily. If this can- 

 not be done for any reason, surface-draining 

 can be resorted to, by making ditches at 

 each side with laterals to conduct the water 

 to them from the centre of the garden. This 

 is probably the system most amateur gar- 



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