PLAN Lor GARDEN NOW 
Xx 
LOCATION 
Make a scale drawing of your garden plot and 
decide where you want to plant your vege- 
tables in order to gain full use of the plot all 
season long. In this way you can plan on both 
early and late vegetables. 
You'll want a spot for your garden that will 
be in the sunshine at least 5 to 6 hours a day. 
There should be no shady trees or ground 
penetrated by the tree roots. 
If it's convenient, place your garden near 
the house. Then, in their spare time, your fam- 
ily can help care for it. If possible, choose a fine 
sandy loam or a silt loam soil. Do not choose 
stony land or places that are low and wet. 
PREPARING THE GROUND 
Prepare your soil before 
you plant. A fine sur- 
face permits earlier and 
easier planting and bet- 
ter germination of small 
seeds. By getting the 
soil ready you'll be one step ahead when it 
comes to growing and cultivating. 
Be sure to remove all coarse plant remains, 
large stones and other debris from your plot if 
you plan to fit your ground in late winter or 
early spring. 
Now’s the time to start planning for next 
summer's garden. Make a list of the most 
popular fruits and vegetables in your fam- 
ily. Go through the seed catalog and de- 
cide what you'd like best in YOUR garden. 
Then consult the family and see what they 
think. You'll need to know how much seed 
—and what kind—to buy. And plan to try 
some new varieties this summer. 
Arrange to have the garden space plowed by 
someone with a tractor or horse, when the soil 
is not too wet. If your garden is in a yard or 
place that can’t be reached with large equip- 
ment, this job can be done by hand or with a 
spade or spading fork. 
PROPER SPADING 
IS IMPORTANT 
Spade to a depth of 6 to 8 
inches and avoid turning up 
more than an inch or so of the 
hard, unweathered subsoil. 
When spading, turn the 
spadeful of dirt over and 
break it into fine pieces. This will leave the 
surface loose and crumbly. A good raking 
should follow the spading so as to level the 
surface for planting small seeds and plants. 
Fall is the ideal time to plow or spade areas 
in sod, or areas that have not been cultivated 
for many years. At this time you can grow a 
cover crop, such as rye. Fall plowing improves 
heavy soils by subjecting them to the action 
of frost. It also hastens decomposition of weeds 
and helps control insects by exposing them to 
the weather. ; 
