SUCCESSFUL GARDENING 
{Continued from page 3) 
TILLAGE Remove all refuse of previous crops as early as possible 
^ in the fall. Spread the composted manure evenly. First 
disc in and then plough, taking a narrow furrow in or¬ 
der to thoroughly mix the manure with the soil. Fall ploughing 
enables the gardener to be forehanded with his work, renders the 
land earlier in the spring and improves the physical character of the 
soil. Feezing during the winter slacks the lumps, making it easy 
to have a finely pulverized, mellow, deep seed bed. In irrigated 
countries, fall and winter irrigation is desirable. 
PREPARATION Many growers seem to think that good gardening 
consists in killing weeds and bugs, but the best 
gardening is in not having them. The good gar¬ 
dener tills better and manages his land in such a manner as to pre¬ 
vent, rather than eradicate weeds. Disc the land thoroughly as 
early in the spring as it can be worked after which the entire sur¬ 
face should be made fine and level with a smoothing harrow; In the 
Rocky Ford district, the land is leveled by means of a long narrow 
float. These are constructed from planks. The two side members 
are long, usually 12 to 18 feet, turned on edge much like sled run¬ 
ners. Three cross members are attached even w'ith the bottom of 
the runners and are placed at a slight angle except the center one 
which is vertical. These floats thoroughly pulverize the small clods 
in addition to picking up the soil on the high places and depositing 
on the low places. The oftener the ground is w’orked over before 
sowing or planting the cleaner and better it will be. 
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER 
There is no infallible rule for de- 
terminin'g what fertilizer to apply. 
The grower must study his condi¬ 
tions and judge for himself. A littie experimenting will help or ad¬ 
vice may be given by the State College of Agriculture or local farm 
bureau agent. Usually a fertilizer containing 4% nitrate, 12% phos¬ 
phate and 6% potash is satisfactory. Apply this at the rate of about 
4 pounds to the square rod. When fertilizers are relied u])on, some 
foim of humus should be supplied. This can be done by turning 
under green crops or applying rotted leaves, peat moss, manure, etc. 
VINE SEED WASHER 
This type of Washer is used to separate the seed from the pulp after threshing. 
Will wash several thousand pounds a day of cantaloupe, cucumber, or other 
vine seed. Seed is then ready to bo spread on the drying trays. 
PLANTING Planting time is where the gardener arrives at the 
cross roads and considerable judgment must be exer¬ 
cised in selecting the seed to be planted and the meth¬ 
ods of planting. The soil should always be moist, not too wet and 
not too dry. Use a good drill seeing that the amount of seed 
dropped and depth of planting is correctly gaged, also that the 
presser wheel properly Arms the soil over the seed row. Always 
plant in good straight rows. Appearance is not only better but 
cultivating is easier. If hand planted, make certain that the soil is 
firm around the seed row by tamping down slightly with a garden 
rake, hoe or with the flat side of a board. Use as long rows as pos¬ 
sible and space wide enough apart to admit the free use of a wheel 
hoe or cultivator. 
{Continued on page 5) 
4 
D. V. Burrell Seed Growers Co., Rocky Ford, Colo. 
