IV 



PREPARATION OF THE OLD GARDEN 



FOR the garden already established, even more 

 attention is needed. The refuse must first be dis- 

 posed of. When possible, this should be done dur- 

 ing the season as each special crop is used. In 

 the fall, after the crops are entirely harvested, a 

 bonfire should be made of the refuse. Everything 

 should be burned that may be diseased or harbor 

 pests, and also all growth too heavy and coarse 

 to be plowed under for humus. This will destroy 

 garden pests and plagues and also save fertilizer, 

 for the burned refuse is especially rich in pot- 

 ash. The garden crops harvested and the ground 

 cleared, we are ready to plow; or nearly ready, 

 for, if the time and extra work can be spared, 

 a good measure of salt and lime spread over 

 the garden will be a great improvement, an 

 addition to our investment, both in the new gar- 

 den and in the one already established. The 

 older the garden, the more it needs the salt and 

 the lime. The lime will sweeten the old sour soil ; 

 it is especially good for clayey soils, breaking up, 

 slacking the hard clods ; the salt will enliven and 

 enrich all soils; and both will act also as fer- 



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