The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-13
The Kitchen Garden.

e. r. Roe, in Harpers Magazine.
The garden should be open to the sky, and as
far as possible unshaded by adjacent trees from
the morning and afternoon sun. 1t is even more
essential that the trees be not near that their
voracious roots can make their way to the rich
loan of the garden.
Now for the SOIL We would naturally sup
pose that that of Eden was a deep sandy loam
with not too porous a subsoiL. AS we have
already seen again and again. such a soil appears
to be the laboratory in which we can assist nature
to develop her best products. But nature has
profound respect for skill, and when she re-
cognizes it, 'lends a hand" in securing excellent
crops from almost drifting sand or stubborn
clay. She has even assisted the Hollander in
wrestling from the ocean one of the gardens of
the world.
We must again dwell on the principles already
emphasized, that soils must be treated accord
ing to their nature. If too damp, they must be
drained if of the fortunate quality of q sandy
loan resting on q clay subsoil, they can be
abundantly deepened and enriched from the
start; if of heavy clay, inclined to be cold and
wet in spring, and to bake and crack in summer,
skill should aim to tighten it and remove it's in
ertia; finally. as we have shown, light, porous
soil should be treated like o spendthrift All
soils, except the last-named, are much the bet
ter for being enriched and deeply plowed or
forked in October or November This
exposes the mold to the sweetening and
mechanical action of the frost. and the fertilizers
incorporated with it are gradually transformed
into just that condition of plant food which the
rootlets take up with the greatest ease and ra-
pidity. A light SOIL on the contrary, should not
be worked in autumn but be left intact after the
crops are taken from it.
la one respect a light soil and stiff, heavy one
should DE treated in the same way, but for differ
ent reasons In the first instance fertilizers
should be applied in moderation to the surface,
and rains and the cultivation of the growing
crops depended upon 90 carry the richness
downward to the roots. The porous nature
of the earth must ever be borne in. mind;
fertilizers pass through it and disappear, and
therefore are applied to the surface to delay this
process and enable the roots to obtain as much
nutriment possible during the passage. Equal
and even greater advantages are secured by q
top-dressing of barn-yard manures and composts
to the heaviest of clay. The surface of such
Soils left to nature, becomes in hot, dry weather
like pottery, baking and cracking, shielding
from dew and shower, and preventing all clrcu-
latlon of air about the roots A top-dressing
prevents all this. keeps the surface open and
mellow, and supplies not only fertility, but the
mechanical conditions that are essential.
If we are now ready to begin, let as begin
right have not much sympathy with fnical,
gussy gardening. One of the chief destinations
of gardening is the endless field it affords for
skillful. sleight of hand, shortcuts, unconven-
tional methods and experiments The true gar
dener soon ceases TO be man OF rules, and be-
comes one of strategy, of expedents. He is
prompt to act at the right moment. Like the
artist he is ever seeking and acting upon hints
from nature. The man of rules says the lst of
July is the time to set out winter cabbage, and
out the plants go, though the sky be brazen and
the mercury in the nineties. The gardener has
his plants ready, and for a few days watches
the sky. At last he perceives that rain is COM
ing then he sets out his plants, and natures
watering starts them, unwilted, on their new
growth
At the same time l protest against careless,
slovenly gardening-eround imperfectly pre-
pared, crooked rows, seed half covered, or COW
cred SO deeply that the germs discouraged
long before they reach light. One of the best
aids to success is small compost heap com
posed equally of manure from the horse stable,
the constable, aud of leaves. This should be
allowed to stand so long, and be cut down and
turned often, that it becomes like fine
black powder, and is much the better for being
kept under shelter from sun and rain