266 NATURE-STUDY 



few willing pupils. The work should be in charge of an 

 experienced teacher, and in large gardens a specially trained 

 director should be engaged. 



Ploughing and Fertilizing: If the garden is large it 

 should be ploughed: if small, spaded. Unless the spading is 

 done by some one else than pupils, the boys of the upper 

 grades should do it for the lower, these assisting in the finish- 

 ing and lighter work. If the soil has not been tilled and is 

 covered with sod, this should be turned down deeply. 

 Virgin soil will not need fertihzing for several 3'ears, but old 

 and worn out soils should be enriched. The character of 

 the soil must be taken into account. Very light and sandy 

 soil needs manuring especially, both for fertilizing and to 

 form a humus to hold the moisture better. Well-rotted 

 barn-yard manure is the best. In cities the sweepings from 

 the streets have been utilized. Manure from livery-stables 

 and streets should, however, not be applied too fresh, and 

 should be especially well mixed with the soil. Apply manure 

 before ploughing or spading and then turn under. Heavy and 

 clayey soils also need manure to make them more porous. 

 Frequent and deep tillage, however, renders soil more por- 

 ous. Application of lime keeps clayey soil from cracking. 

 Wood-ashes is a good fertilizer, and should be saved for that 

 purpose. A little mixed commercial fertilizer (consisting of 

 nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus compounds) may be 

 applied after ploughing or spading, and raked in. The rough 

 soil should be well harrowed or raked, all lumps broken and 

 stones, etc., removed. The ploughing or spading should be 

 done about the first of April. 



Planning the Garden: Begin early, in March or earlier, 

 to plan the garden. Decide upon the number of beds, 



