. . Jh^ soi^with a spading fork as deep 



<:s i i Will go. Th'e;, object is to get the ground well 

 pulverized, Vo'Wat "trie thousands of little fiberous 

 roots can work through, getting the plant food 

 necessary for the plants growth and development. 



Where the soil is good no fertilizer should be 

 used until the plants are beginning to make good 

 growth. 



By not having the soil too rich or fertilized, keeps 

 them from growing all to stalk and foliage. Many 

 visitors to my gardens marvel at how I keep my 

 dahlias from growing so tall. 



There is no special kind of fertilizer that is re- 

 quired to get the best results. Fresh chicken manure 

 worked into the soil, not thrown up against the 

 base of the plants, but scattered evenly over the 

 ground for at least eighte-en inches in the soil sur- 

 rounding the plant and worked in. How often have 

 I seen inexperienced persons pile fertilizer on the 

 very tops of small plants, thinking they had fertil- 

 ized them. It does them just as much good as a 

 good dinner would me, just to have the privilege 

 of looking at it. Plant life gets only that part which 

 is soluble and is carried down into the ground to 

 the roots by either the rains or irrigation. Fresh 

 barnyard or stable manure spread on the ground 

 to the depth of a couple of inches, allowing the rains 

 or overhead sprinkling to leach it, carrying the 

 liquid into the ground after which it can be worked 

 into the soil, care being used not to have the manure 

 come into contact with the tubers as it is liable to 

 cause them to have scab. The liquid from fresh 

 chicken, sheep or goat manure is extra good, but 

 must be well diluted with water. To prepare the 



