THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



175 



favorable natural conditions that may be at hand. The best soil is 

 what is termed a * 'sandy loam," that is, a good clay soil in which there 

 is enough material of a sand-Hke character to keep it friable and w ork- 

 able at all times of the year, while moisture is retained by it for a long 

 time. If you have only a heavy clay soil, it can be improved by adding 

 sand, wood ashes, sifted coal ashes, lime and humus. If the soil is light 

 and sandy, heavy loam or muck added to it will improve it, and humus 

 will also be very beneficial. 



Small vegetable garden on suburban lot, with neat wire fence on left 



and wooden pathway 



Drainage is one of the most important factors. If your garden 

 spot is low and wet, by all means put in a drain tile at the first oppor- 

 tunity. Deep spading, and in extreme cases, loosening up the subsoil 

 with agricultural blasting powder, will tend to overcome this difficulty. 



If the garden can be located in a spot where it is protected from 

 prevailing Winter and Spring winds the earliness of the crops will be 

 advanced very noticeably. A good, thick hedge of Hemlock, Spruce, 

 or Privet to the north and west of the garden, if it is not naturally 

 sheltered, may be made to serve the double purpose of providing a 

 wind shield, and of screening it from other parts of the place. 



