72 



THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN 



tillage, by discing the surface well, and by close attention to the 

 best methods of handling them at the proper time. (Fig. 49.) A 

 sandy soil, for example, can be plowed when rather wet or rather 

 dry without injury; a clay loam, on the contrary, must never be 

 plowed when too wet or too dry. 



Liming. — One of the best methods of improving a garden soil 

 is to thoroughly lime it. The application of 500 to 1000 pounds of 

 burned lime, or twice this amount of ground limestone will make 

 a marked difference in the physical character of the soil. Lime will 

 make sandy soil more tenacious by binding the particles together. 

 This tends to make it more retentive of moisture and plant food. 



Fig. 49. — When the soil for a new garden is first; plowed the prospect for a good garden 

 may be very discouraging. The clods may be crushed by a planker drag or an acme harrow. 

 This should be done immediately after plowing, before the clods become hard. 



Lime added to clay soils tends to make them more porous, lose 

 water more rapidly, unlock the plant food more readily, and they 

 are warmed more easily. Many of our garden crops are much im- 

 proved by the addition of lime. It is best, however, not to add 

 lime of a caustic nature to those portions of the garden which are 

 to be used that year for the growth of Irish potatoes and other 

 root crops. The liming for those portions of the garden should be 

 at least one year in advance of the growth of such crops. 



Adding Humus and Manure. — One of the best ways of adding 

 organic matter to soils is to grow green crops of rye, vetch, crimson 

 clover or other crops which will grow during the late fall, winter 



