16 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



the physical character of the soil, especially with 

 heavy loams or stiff clayey soils. Those that are 

 sandy are usually more unvariable in texture and 

 are open and ready to be worked at any season. 

 The compacted soils, however, need more care- 

 ful attention. The freezing and thawing of the 

 cold-weather months and the action of the snow 

 break up the lumps of clay and lighten the heavy 

 loam. The plowing should be done as soon as the 

 land begins to moisten through the early fall rains. 

 The depth of breaking up a garden for general 

 use depends on the kind of soil, largely. Hard 

 soils need deep plowing. Sandy soils, especially 

 those so full of gravel at the bottom that they 

 tend to leach, should be worked nearer the sur- 

 face, thus allowing the lower layer to become more 

 compact. Sod land should be turned over well 

 above the frost line for the sake of the action of 

 the freezing not only on the texture, but also in 

 disposing of all life that may prove a menace to 

 plant growth. The depth should vary with differ- 

 ent seasons, also, on the same kind of soil, making 

 a kind of rotation in plowing. This practice 

 improves the physical make-up, producing a more 

 even texture as regards depth ; and it also con- 

 serves plant-food; and, with most soils, improves 

 the drainage. The subsoil needs, occasionally, to 

 be broken up and brought nearer the surface, in 

 order that we may get the best possible value from 

 the land. For that purpose a subsoil plow may 



