34 GARDEN PROJECT 
the land in the fall. This practice will aid in rotting 
the manure and any other organic matter that has been 
turned under. It always helps to destroy injurious in- 
sects, injurious bacteria, and weeds. Furthermore, it 
improves the physical texture of the soil. If the land 
is naturally loose, it need not be plowed again in the 
spring, especially for the early short-season crops. In 
such case, disking or deep cultivation will be suffi- 
cient. If the land is ‘‘tight,’’ or even in the case of 
‘‘loose’’ textured soil which has become much packed 
during the winter, it is better to plow again in the 
spring. 
The seed bed. The best way to prepare a seed bed 
is as follows: first, disk and harrow; then plow, disk, 
‘and harrow, in order, until the ground is thoroughly 
pulverized and properly compacted. A drag should 
be used if necessary to convert the surface to a finely 
pulverized condition. In this connection the compact- 
ing of the soil should be emphasized. Many people fail 
to work the soil sufficiently because they fear it will. 
pack the soil too much. This is a mistake, as most 
plants need a somewhat compact soil in order to be 
able to gain a foothold. The above method will insure 
a fine pulverization of the soil to the full depth of the 
plowing and a sufficiently compact soil as well. 
Some vegetables cannot be planted until May or June. 
In the case of land to be devoted to such crops a shallow 
mulch should be maintained until planting time. This 
will save the moisture and make the preparation of the 
soil much easier. This fact is very important. 
Fertilizing the garden. For the vegetable garden 
manure is the best general fertilizer. It should be 
applied in the fall and turned under. If, however, it is 
applied in the spring, it is well to have rotted manure. 
