ter and is not fertile, make it so. If the soil is inclined to be ti^ht and 

 soggy, it should be drained by placing drain tile. 



Drain tile are very essential. They serve three purposes, namely, to 

 remove superfluous water, admit air to the soil and increase the tem- 

 perature of the soil early in the spring. 



The gardener should use every device and means to make his garden 

 soil warm. Thorough tillage assists, and the application of well-rotted 

 barnyard manure is of great value in making the ground warm and, in 

 absorbing w^ater, and drain tile will make it several degrees warmer than 

 undrained gi'ound. 



The ground should be plowed and tilled deep and a subsoil plow used. 

 The object in plowing deep and using the subsoil plow is to make a deep 

 seed-bed and destroy a hard-pan or a compact plow sole. A deep seed- 

 bed gives room for the plant roots, furnishes more plant food and acts 

 as a surface reservoir to absorb a heavy rain and hold it until it perco- 

 lates into the deeper subsoils. It is practically useless to attempt to 

 have a profitable garden if a hard-pan exists or the upper subsoil layer 

 is very compact. 



If the soil is not of the right character, it can be improved by adding 

 such soils and substances as may be necessary. For instance, if the 

 ground is clay, well-rotted manure, peat, muck and leaf mould will 

 improve it. The muck and leaf mould will prevent baking and pud- 

 dling. If it is sandy, add loam, muck and manure. If the soil is appar- 

 ently too rich in organic matter, a condition which tends to stimulate an 

 abnormal growth of tops, then add clay or sand. Garden soil should 

 contain an abundance of lime. 



If the soil is deficient in plant food, and it is not convenient to obtain 

 sufficient quantities of well-rotted manure, it is advisable to add com- 

 mercial fertilizers, either in the form of a complete commercial fertilizer 

 or some of the amendments. The farmer should remember, however, 

 that commercial fertilizers are of little use unless the soil contains an 

 abundance of humus. A desirable commercial fertilizer should contain 

 about seven per cent of ammonia, ten per cent of phosphoric acid and 

 eight or ten per cent of potash. Wood ashes make a splendid fertilizer, 

 besides improving the physical condition of the soil. Poultry manure 

 excels all other manures for the garden. 



Rotation or changing location of the various products each year is 

 important. It is not profitable to plant the same vegetables on the 

 same plot year after year. 



In order to have fresh vegetables from early spring until winter, early 

 medium and late varieties should be planted. By using cold frames, 

 fresh vegetables can be grown nearly all winter. As soon as a piece of 

 ground is cleared of vegetables in the fall, it should be covered with 

 well-rotted manure. If it cannot be obtained, cover with coarse manure 

 or straw and disc in thoroughly before plowing in the spring. 



