PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. 13 



drains in perfect order that had been in the ground for 

 twenty-five years. 



CHAPTER III. 

 PREPARATION OF THE GROUND. 



AFTER draining (if draining is necessary) comes the 

 preparation of the soil. Presuming that the ground 

 where the new garden is to be made is an open space, 

 clear of trees or other obstructions, there is no cultiva- 

 tion so cheap and yet so thorough as plowing and har- 

 rowing. To do this properly, the ordinary plow should 

 be followed by the subsoil plow, stirring the subsoil up 

 about fifteen inches deep, so that the water will pass 

 through to the drains, natural or artificial, freely. After 

 the plow and subsoiler, follows the harrow (the Acme is 

 the best ; see Implements), which should be weighted, so 

 that the teeth sink six inches into the soil, in order to 

 completely pulverize it. In Europe, it would be consid- 

 ered sacrilege to use a plow or harrow in the preparation 

 of a private garden, and most of old-country gardeners 

 among us will stand aghast at such advice ; but I have 

 been through all parts of the work, and am well satisfied, 

 from no limited practice, that plowing and harrowing 

 will not only do the work at one-fourth of the cost, but 

 in a better manner than the ordinary digging or trench- 

 ing with the spade. Let me here caution that great care 

 be taken never to plow, dig, harrow, rake, or hoe ground 

 when wet. If work must be done, pull out weeds, or set 

 plants, if you will, but never, under any circumstances, 

 stir the soil in preparation for a crop until it is dry 

 enough not to clog. If stirred while wet, the particles 

 stick together, and the crop is not only injured for the 

 season, but in some soils the bad effects show for years. 



