Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-05-01

ent location every FIVE or six years. A
gentle slope toward the south or south
east is most desirable for the produc-
tlon of early crops 1t is an advantage
to have protection ON the north and
northwest.
Good natural drainage of the garden
area is Of prime Importance. The land
should have sufficient fall to drain Off
surplus water during heavy rains, but
tb4all should not be so great that the
soil will be washed. The surface of
the garden should not contain depres-
slons. Waste water from surround
ing land should not flow toward the
garden, aud the fall below should be
such that there will be no danger of
flood water backing up. The garden
should not be located along the banks
Of a stream that will be liable to over
flow during the growing season.
A good fence around the garden plot
is almost Indispensable.
Where the work is to be done mainly
by means of horse tools the arrange
ment should be such as to give the
longest possible rows, and straight out
lines should be followed. For hand cul-
tivation the arrangement can be quite
different. Horse cultivation is recon-
mended whenever possible.
The second matter for consideration
is the location of permanent crops and
small fruits. The area devoted to the
hotbed, cold frame and seed bed should
be decided upon, but these may be
shifted more or less from year 10 year
or located IN some convenient place
outside Of the garden. If part Of the
land sis low and moist, such crops as
celery, onions and late cucumbers
should be placed there. If part of the
soil is high, warm and dry, that is the
proper location for early crops and
those that need quick, warm soil. The
land may be occupied at all times.
There are very few soils that are not
improved by some form Of drainage.
Autumn is the time for plowing hard
or stiff clay soils, especially IL In a
part of the country where freezing
takes place. Sandy loans and soils
that contain large amount of humus
may be plowed in the spring, but the
work should be done early In order
that the soil may settle before plant
ing. In the southern states this proc
ess must be accomplished by means Of
frequent civilizations. II Is desirable
TO plow the garden early.
Sandy soils will bear plowlng much
earlier than heavy clay soils, In the
garden greater depth of plowlng should
be practlced than for ordinary farm
crops. Subsoillng will he found advan-
tageous IN most cases, Hand spading
should he resorted TO only in very small
gardens or where 1t is desirable to pre-
pare a small area very thoroughly.
After plowing the next important
step is TO smooth and pulverlze the
soil. Tie pulverizing process should
extend as deep as the plowing. Some
gardeners prefer to cut the land thor
oughly with disk harrow before plow-
ing, so that when II Is turned by the
plow the bottom soil will be fine and
mellow. After the plow the disk or
cutting harrow is again brought Into
play and the pulverlZlng process com
pleted II the soil Is trlHe too dry
and contains Jumps 1t may be neces
sary to use roller or clod crusher'
For garden crops there is no fer
tillzer that will compare with good
well rottcd barnyard manure. Chick
EN-, pigeon and sheep manures rank
high as fertilizers. The manure from
cewls is especially adapted for drop
ping IN the hills or rows of plants
Market gardeners frequently apply
$500 pounds of high grade fertilizer
per aero each year.
(, Many OF the garden seeds lose thcil
Vitality after one years time.
Throughout the northern states Il 4
desirable to start plants Of certain
crops before the danger of frost ha,
passed. The simplest method of start