SPADING AND PLOWING 9 I 



operation. A common fault of beginners is to put 

 the spade in the soil on a slant and only about half 

 the length of the blade, and then flop the soil over 

 in the hole from which it came, often covering the 

 edge of the unspaded soil. The good spader works 

 from side to side across his piece of ground, keep- 

 ing a narrow trench or furrow between the spaded 

 and unspaded soil, into which weeds and trash and 

 manure may be drawn and thoroughly covered, and 

 also to prevent covering the unspaded soil. If this 

 work has been well done with the ordinary spade 

 or fork and finished with a rake, the result will be 

 a bed of soil twelve to fifteen inches deep, fine and 

 mellow and well prepared for root penetration, for 

 good ventilation, for the absorbing and holding of 

 moisture and warmth. 



This method should always be employed for small 

 gardens and flower beds. 



PLOWING 



For preparing large areas of soil the plow is the 

 tool most generally used. 



WHY DO WE SPADE AND PLOW? 



To break and pulverize the soil and make it soft 

 and mellow, so the roots of plants may enter it in 

 search of food, and get a firm hold for the support 

 of the plant which is above ground. 



To make the soil open and porous, so that it can 

 more readily absorb rain as it falls on the surface. 



