The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-01-22
MAKING A GARDEN.
Some Timely Hints in the Way of Prepar
ton for Spring.

Some Timely Hints in the Way of Prepare
ton for Spring.
If garden is to be made the work
should be commenced early. One very
important item is to get the soil rich,
and it is very difficult to get a sufficient
quantity of manure incorporated with
the soil in one season.
In planning the garden it should be
oblong, so that the pillow and harrow can
be used in preparing the garden. A
loamy sandy soil is much the BEST saw
ing considerable work, both in the work
of preparation and also in cultivation.
1t is very necessary that the soil should
be prepared in a fine filth, and the kind
Of soil will make considerable differ
ence in doing this work. A stiff clay is
not suitable on this account. Ashes and
sand arc both good to make a stiff soil
more friable. Sifted coal ashes can
often be used to good advantage in
loosening up stiff soil.
The soil should be plowed deep and
thorough. There is little or no danger
in blowing too deep, and even an old
garden should always be plowed in the
fall and thorough drainage be provided,
so that the water can be carried away
rapidly. Flowing in the fall and thor
ough drainage will place the soil in a
condition to be worked earlier in the
spring.
Only well-rotted manure should be APP
piled in the garden. There are two
serious objections to using fresh ma
nure: one is that it nearly always con-
tains more or less weed seeds that in the
spring will be almost certain to germi-
nate, and in this way interfere with the
work of managing the garden; then
fresh manure is nearly always coarse
and can not be as thoroughly incor-
porated with the soil or admit of filming
the soil as much as is really necessary
to secure the best growth of the plants.
Garden vegetables, to be OF the best
quality, must be crisp and tender, and
to secure this they must make rapid
growth and in rich, warm soil.
Wire netting of the small meshes, not
over two by four inches, will make
good fence, or four foot palings, which,
ever can be secured most readily. The
fence should be sufficiently high and
tight to keep out the poultry, as consid-
cradle damage will often be done if they
are allowed the run of the garden.
After blowing apply good dressing
of manure and then work thoroughly
into the soil with a harrow Or cultiva-
tor. A second blowing can be given
with profit during the winter if the gar
den is new one, and after blowing, a
second application of manure can be
given and be cultivated into the surface
of the soil. In this way the fertilizer
can be worked into the soil much moro
thoroughly than by applying heavy
dressing and trying to work it in at
once.
Too much care can not be taken in
manuring, especially the first year, as
there will be more or less of the manure
that will not be soluble and consequent
ly not be available the first season.
And in order to secure full supply of
plant food to insure quick, vigorous
growth, care must be taken to supply
liberal amount of well-rotted manure
and then work thoroughly into the soil,
SO that the feeding roots of the plants
can readily secure what is necessary.
With thorough work in fertilizing during
the winter and care in preparing in a
good filth in the spring before planting
the seed good results may be secured
the first season.-St. Louis Republic.