i68 



Gardening 



is about the tempera- 

 ture most favorable 

 for vigorous growth of 

 the plant. 



Preparing the ground 

 for planting. Before 

 planting, the ground 

 (which has already been 

 well spaded or plowed 

 and perhaps raked) 

 should be raked to 

 break up or remove 

 lumps and to secure a 

 surface layer of fine 

 soil. It is usually best 

 to plant a well-drained 

 and well-tilled garden 

 soon after spading, be- 

 fore the top layer be- 

 comes dried out. But 

 if a garden soil is poorly 

 drained and cold, it 



may be spaded and left without raking, both in au- 

 tumn and in spring. For a time this will make the 

 soil cold because of the evaporation of water from 

 it ; but after the free water is gone, it will quickly be- 

 come warm. Before planting, however, the surface 

 should be well raked. The lumps will break up more 

 easily and a better supply of moisture will be held in 

 the ground if this is done as soon after a rain as the 

 soil will work properly. The surface mulch will check 



!FiG. 92. Making ready for planting. 

 The surface of the soil should be raked 

 fine before marking out the rows. 



