HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 
SOIL AND PREPARATION 
S INCE results from every garden depend largely on 
the soil, a few minutes of thought on the subject will 
well repay the home gardener in the end. In the first 
place, remember that nearly every soil supports plants of 
some kind. Where the soil is in the rough stage, these 
plants are mostly weeds. But any soil that supports a 
crop of weeds will also nourish cultivated crops. 
Start with what soil you have. If it is a heavy clay, 
add plenty of ashes, cinders, and coarse manure, working 
all well into the soil with spade and rake. (See details 
on page 4.) If, on the other hand, the soil is of a light, 
sandy nature, use plenty of lime and coarse manure. 
To prepare the home garden to yield big crops of 
vegetables, a wheelbarrow load of manure to every two 
square yards of ground is not too much. The use of 
artificial (chemical) fertilizers requires special study of 
the effects of chemicals on plant life. 
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