244 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



This is the month for fall plowing of the garden. Heavy 

 clay soils should be plowed just before freezing. They may 

 be left unliarrowed. The action of winter weather will 

 greatly improve their texture. 



See that a good compost heap is started this month. Use 

 in this all the wastes from the garden, including vines and 

 stems of annuals of all kinds. Cow manure should be put 

 in layers a few inches thick, alternating with layers of 

 inverted sods. 



Eoot crops of several kinds may be buried for winter use. 

 Try beets, turnips, carrots and rutabagas. Parsnips and 

 salsify may be left in rows where they were growing. A little 

 mulch may be put over them. They will improve in flavor 

 by freezing. 



When the ground begins to freeze remove celery from the 

 garden to a pit or cellar. The long plants may be trans- 

 planted and set close together in deep boxes, with only a little 

 soil about the roots to hold the moisture. If the boxes are 

 loose and crate-like on the sides, so much the better. The 

 stems are less likely to discolor. Water the roots carefully 

 without wetting the tops. 



This is the best time of year for drainage work, particu- 

 larly if the season is not too wet. Install drains where they 

 are most needed. Land drains are of more value than many 

 would suspect. 



All the extra garden tools should be gathered up and put 

 in winter storage. All unpainted parts should be given an 

 application of wagon grease rubbed on with a cloth. This 

 will prevent rust and insure their coming out in good con- 

 dition in the spring. Handles and other wooden parts may be 

 painted or given a coat of linseed oil. 



Trees, Fruits and Lawns. — ^Cover the strawberry beds 

 with coarse strawy manure or other mulch for the winter. 

 Clean straw, leaves, light pine boughs, and corn stalks are 

 sometimes used for this purpose (Fig. l'3n). 



