VEGETABLE-GROWING 87 



sandy one and is, therefore, not so good for early vegetables. 

 It puddles (sticks together) when wet so that air does not 

 enter freely, and tends to bake and crack when drying. On 

 the other hand, clay soils hold moisture in times of drought 

 better than sandy soils. The addition of organic matter 

 greatly improves either a sandy or clay soil. Organic matter 

 may be added by plowing under green-crops, or by applying 

 manure. If well-rotted stable manure is worked thoroughly 

 into the ground in the fall, the soil will be in good condition 

 in the spring. Poultry and sheep manures are very rich in 

 nitrogen and must be used in small quantities only. Their 

 use gives a luxuriant growth of stem and foliage. If the soil 

 is acid in nature, the addition of lime will remedy the defect. 



139. Plowing. It is advisable to plow or spade deeply 

 for the growing of vegetables. Fall plowing is useful as it 

 leaves the ground loose and exposed to frost and weather 

 action, and brings insects to the surface to be destroyed by 

 the cold. Soil plowed in the fall absorbs rains readily. Fall 

 plowing eliminates the necessity of working the soil deeply 

 in the spring when weather conditions may render clays in 

 poor condition for working. 



140. Ordering and growing seed. Some gardeners prefer 

 to grow their own seed, but this requires considerable care 

 and attention. For the home-garden at least it is much 

 cheaper to buy seeds, although the growing of seeds is very 

 interesting. Many reliable firms grow seeds for sale. In 

 buying, the grower should make sure that the seeds were 

 produced by a reliable firm and that they are not old and 

 lacking in vitality. 1 



141. Planting. Before seeds are planted, the soil should 

 be pulverized thoroughly. For the home-garden the hand 

 rake is a most useful implement. Most seed should be 

 planted in parallel rows. The seed-beds may be raised, 

 depressed, or on a level with the surrounding land, depending 



* Tests for the viability of seeds are discussed in Chapter III. 



