17 



was thrown into the first trench. Pursue tliis course 

 until you have gone through the bed, when you will 

 have left on the side where you commenced, the soil 

 and subsoil which you threw out of the first trench 

 and the good soil of the second. This you will be 

 obliged to convey by a wheelbarrow or otherwise, to 

 the last two trenches. In this w^ay, you will have 

 your poor soil loosened and enriched, and the same 

 soil on top that you had when you commenced. 



This thorough spading should be performed once in 

 four or five years. Besides this there will be an an- 

 nual spading. Commence at one side of your ground 

 and open a trench the width and depth of your spade, 

 and fill it by opening another. Continue this until 

 the ground is all gone over. The work will be facili- 

 tated by digging in a straight line and of a uniform 

 depth. All lumps should be broken as you proceed 

 and the ground be well pulverized. Avoid spading 

 immediately after a rain, as the ground has a tenden- 

 cy to bake if worked when wet. We are aware there 

 is labor and expense in preparing ground in this man- 

 ner, but every one should bear in mind he is do- 

 ing a work that is to last years, and -that he will be 

 richly repaid for his labor in the increased vigor and 

 beauty of his plants. 



Sowing and Propagation in general. — Propagation 

 of plants is effected in a variety of ways ; by seed, 

 suckers, offsets, layers and cuttings. Most garden 

 vegetables are propagated by seed; those that are 

 not, will be spoken of under the [^treatment of each 

 plant. 



Having prepared the ground by spading or plowing, 

 the next operation is to top dress it. This is done by 

 raking it smooth and pulverizing all the lumps of 

 earth, so that the soil shall have an even surface. — 

 Then with a chain or line, lay out your ground into 

 suitable plats for your vegetables. Betw^een the 

 plats make a walk eighteen inches or two feet wide, 

 by treading the soil or by throwing it evenly over the 



