Voul 7h^t Stepi 



to garden success 



In preparing the soil, drive the spade or spading 

 fork straight down full length with your foot. 



f 



* Preparing the soil 



A rich sandy loam is well adapted to gardening. 

 Other kinds of soil are suitable, but stiff clays need 

 plenty of fibrous material and must be thoroughly 

 broken up. Sandy soils generally need additional 

 fertilizing. 



For general use, where well-rotted stable manure 

 is not available, a commercial fertilizer containing 

 4 per cent nitrates, 12 per cent phosphate, and 4 to 6 

 per cent potash is usually best. Apply at the rate of 

 about 4 pounds to the square rod (16)^ ft. x 163^ ft.). 



Work the soil deeply and make the top 3 or 4 inches 

 as fine and loose as possible. Much weed killing can 

 be done by hoeing or raking just before planting. 

 Do not work clay soils when they are wet enough to 

 stick to rake or hoe. 



* Planting 



At time of planting seed in the open ground, the 

 soil should be moist but never wet, when avoidable. 

 To retain moisture after planting, cover seed imme- 

 diately with fine, freshly prepared earth and press it 

 down firmly and smoothly. This firming of the soil 

 brings the particles of earth into close contact with 

 seeds, prevents drying out, and facilitates growth. 



Plant at a time when the atmospheric and soil 

 temperatures are most favorable for germination of 

 the kind of seed to be sown. The best temperature 

 for each kind may be learned from study of our cul- 

 tural directions and zonal charts and by inquiring 

 of successful gardeners in your neighborhood. 



The proper depth for covering seed varies with the 

 different kinds of seeds and conditions of soil. This 

 can be learned best through practical experience. 



When planting seed, the soil must be loose and 

 soft so that the tender stems of seedlings can easily 

 push through, and the young roots quickly find plant 

 food. This is usually secured by careful preparation 

 of the soil and by not planting fine seeds when the 

 ground is wet. 



Use the hack of the rake to help break up clods; use 

 the tooth-side to make the soil fine and smooth. 



* Starting plants indoors 



Seedling plants may be grown successfully in spring 

 in shallow boxes of soil placed in south or east win- 

 dows. The preparation of the seed box is simple but 

 it needs care. Whether it is a cigar box or larger 

 "flat," holes should be bored in the bottom— about 

 six inches apart in larger boxes and about three 

 inches apart in one of cigar box size. Over the bot- 

 tom of the box spread pieces of broken flower pots or 

 crockery, or small pebbles, then coarser soil, and last 

 of all finely sifted garden soil, or a mixture of build- 

 ers' sand and fine soil. 



Firm the soil and sow the seed thinly in rows. The 

 general rule for depth of planting is about four times 

 the diameter of the seed. Thin sowing is economy. 

 The tiny plants crowd each other when planted too 

 thickly. 



