46 CULINARY HERBS 



But supposing that a selection be possible, a light 

 sandy loam, underlaid by a porous subsoil so as to 

 be well drained, should be given the preference, 

 since it is warmed quickly, easily worked, and may 

 be stirred early in the season and after a rain. Clay 

 loams are less desirable upon every one of the points 

 mentioned, and very sandy soils also. But if Hob- 

 son has one of these, there will be an excellent op- 

 portunity to cultivate philosophy as well as herbs. 

 And the gardener may be agreeably surprised at the 

 results obtained. No harm in trying! Whatever- 

 the quality of the soil, it should not be very rich,, 

 because in such soils the growth is apt to be rank 

 and the quantity of oil small in proportion to the 

 leafage. 



The preparation of the soil should commence 

 as soon as the grass in the neighborhood is seen to 

 be sprouting. Well-decayed manure should be 

 spread at the rate of not less than a bushel nor more 

 than double that quantity to the square yard, and 

 as soon as the soil is dry enough to crumble readily 

 it should be dug or plowed as deeply as possible 

 without bringing up the subsoil. This operation of 

 turning over the soil should be thoroughly per- 

 formed, the earth being pulverized as much as possi- 

 ble. To accomplish this no hand tool surpasses the 

 spading fork. 



One other method is, however, superior especially 

 when practiced upon the heavier soils — fall plowing 

 or digging. In practicing this method care should 

 be taken to plow late when the soil, moistened by 

 autumn rains, will naturally come up in big lumps^ 



