CARE OF THE GARDEN 53 



tilizer, but also for the general care of the plants. 

 If there is hilling to be done, hoe in the fertilizer 

 at the same time. Stir lightly for surface-feeding 

 roots ; work in deeply for longer root systems. In- 

 crease the depth, of course, as the roots reach 

 down. By this plan of tilling when extra plant- 

 food is furnished will the most be made of these 

 special fertilizers in adding to the resources of the 

 garden. 



The natural soil-moisture may be supplemented 

 by watering the garden. A dry season presents 

 difficulties not readily overcome. The principles 

 of dry-farming can often be put into practice with 

 surprising and joyous success. Frequent and 

 careful cultivation saves the store of moisture 

 and makes the best use of the food supply. Care 

 in preventing too much unnecessary growth and 

 too big an effort at fruitage also does much to help 

 in making the very most of the garden's limited 

 moisture resources. The result proves in a satis- 

 fying way that dry gardening pays. A drought, 

 however, is a serious handicap in growing prize- 

 takers. Much may be done to offset the difficulties 

 of a drought, if an extra water supply can be 

 furnished during the driest part of the season. 



Better than dry-farming alone is watering. 

 There is a right way and a wrong way, however, to 

 water a garden. The wrong method is worse than 

 useless; it is actually injurious. Cold water 

 turned on the plants forcibly through the hose, in 



