THE 32 
GARDEN YARD 
The fine, fertile layer of earth that is called 
soil does not go very deep. It covers another 
layer which is harder, coarser, colder than 
itself, and this second layer is known as the sub- 
soil, or that soil which is under the surface 
layer. In all temperate climes the difference 
is strongly marked, but in rainless, sun-dried 
regions there is often no difference to be noted. 
The intelligent farmer or gardener has the op- 
portunity to decide just how much of that 
subsoil he will convert into surface soil, and the 
means of doing this will be disclosed later under 
the head of “'Tillage.”’ The more of it he brings 
into use the greater his own profit, so that it 
pays to know how. In the early days of farm- 
ing no effort was made to bring the subsoil 
into use, and consequently the returns from 
agriculture were small. Now we know better 
than that, and we also know how to get more 
out of the soil, whether surface or subsoil. 
No soil, no garden; so the new gardener must 
get acquainted with the ground he intends to 
cultivate. It is not to be denied that soil 
which is in good tilth will be a great help to the 
beginner, but that is only to be had in well- 
cultivated gardens, which usually bring a good 
price when found in the market. Besides, 
with proper care and attention, any well sit- 
