186 A LITTLE GARDEN THE YEAR ROUND 



Depth and mellowness of soil are things he 

 must have for his garden. The reason is oh- 

 vious. Without depth the rootlets cannot find 

 their way to avoid the baked condition of the 

 upper soil during periods of drought, and with- 

 out mellowness it cannot be open to amelio- 

 rating atmospheric influences so necessary to 

 successful plant growth. By the first week 

 in April the garden maker should put a manu- 

 rial dressing on the plot that is to become the 

 vegetable garden. Asparagus and rhubarb 

 beds must also have fertilizers of this sort or 

 nitrate of soda. 



When all danger of frost is past and the 

 earth is therefore fit for digging, we shall be 

 ready for plowing and spading. An early 

 garden is always worth the eflFort but judg- 

 ment must be exercised in fitting its planting 

 to the exigencies of the season in the various 

 localities of America. At this time one may 

 thin out the various perennials by dividing 

 their roots. April spraying operations will 

 not be overlooked by the careful garden-maker 

 who will be remembering that Roses should be 

 sprayed with a solution of whale-oil soap and 

 that about the middle of the month and every 



