14 Home Vegetable Gardening 



is, unless you are at the top of a knoll or on a slope. 

 Chapter VII contains further suggestions in regard 

 to this problem. 



SOIL ANTECEDENTS 



There was a further reason for mentioning that 

 strip of onion ground. It is a very practical illus- 

 tration of what last year's handling of the soil means 

 to this year's garden. If you can pick out a spot, 

 even if it is not the most desirable in other ways, that 

 has been well enriched or cultivated for a year or 

 two previous, take that for this year's garden. And 

 in the meantime have the spot on which you intend 

 to make your permanent vegetable garden thor- 

 oughly "fitted," and grow there this year a crop of 

 potatoes or sweet corn, as suggested in Chapter IX. 

 Then next year you will have conditions just right 

 to give your vegetables a great start. 



OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 



There are other things of minor importance but 

 worth considering, such as the shape of your garden 

 plot, for instance. The more nearly rectangular, 

 the more convenient it will be to work and the more 

 easily kept clean and neat. Have it large enough, 

 or at least open on two ends, so that a horse can be 

 used in plowing and harrowing. And if by any 

 means you can have it within reach of an adequate 

 supply of water, that will be a tremendous help in 



