IV. 



PLANTING THE GARDEN 



As has been said in another chapter, it is 

 unwise to begin work in the garden too early 

 in the season. The ground must be given 

 time to get rid of excessive moisture before 

 it is safe to do much with it. Vegetables for 

 the earlier crops must be started in the hot-bed 

 rather than in the open ground, therefore very 

 early work in the garden proper is not as neces- 

 sar\^ as some amateurs seem to think, in order 

 to raise early crops. The hot-bed starts them, 

 the garden matures them, and thus the need for 

 very early planting in beds is done away with. 



Plowing can generally be done to the best 

 advantage about the middle of April, at the 

 north. It will not be safe to plant tender 

 vegetables before the first of ^lay, because of 

 frosts which are almost sure to occur, and in 

 some localities the middle of the month is 

 quite early enough. Each person vnll have to 

 familiarize himself with local conditions, and 



44 



