of land? I have heard tlieiii say tliat they use from Hfty lo scvcnly-five 

 wagon loads per acre. Do you \\'onder then that Uiey can raise large 

 crops? 



Now, before sowing or planting the seeds, the soil sliould be made 

 \ery fine so that the seeds may all be covered at a uniform depth, and 

 so that the young rootlets may find plenty of plant fnoil near at hand 

 as they begin to grow. Do you know how the root takes its food? If 

 you will place a few kernels of corn between some moist woolen cloth 

 and keep them in a warm room until they begin to grow you will see 

 a great many little white hairs growing out of the sides of the roots. 

 These little hairs alisorb or drink in the liquid food from the soil for 

 the use of the plant. 



HOW MUCH GROUND TO PLANT. 



In the list of varieties suggested there are none that will need any 

 hand weeding, except what can be done with the hoe, so I think that 

 about one square rod for each- kind will not be too much. This will 

 give six square rods. The shape of the plats will depend somewhat 

 upon the size and shape of the garden where they are hicated. but I 

 would suggest that they be somewhat longer than broad, say Id ft. 

 by ^Ti ft. This will allow a little room for a walk through the mid- 

 dle. A grass walk 18 inches wide extending entirely around the 

 plats and also through the center, if well kept, will add greatly to the 

 general appearance, but this is not necessary. 



WHAT TO PLANT. 



How many kinds of vegetables do you suppose are generally grown 

 by market gardeners? If yon will get a seedsmaa's catalogue and look 

 it over, I think vou will find fifty or more different kinds. Of course 

 you do not want to plant so many as that, because they would require 

 too much labor to properly care for them. It will be better to select 

 only a few kinds and give them the best of care. Nor will you all 

 want to plant the same things, so I will name a few kinds which may 

 be grown with very little trouble, and each one may select such kinds 

 as he may wish to raise. Here they are: Bush Beans, Table Beets, 

 Cabbages, Cauliflower, Sweet Corn, Musk Melons, Onions, Peas, Rad- 

 ishes, Salsify or A'egetable Oyster, and Tomatoes. Such things as 

 Potatoes, Squash and Pumpkins require too much room for our present 

 purpose, and may be grown in the field just as well. 



