The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-04-24


ent location every five or six years. A
gentle slope toward the south or south
east is most desirable for the produc.
ton 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
the fall should not be so great that the
soil will he washed The surface Of
the garden should not contain depres-
sions. Waste water from surround
ing land should not flow toward the
garden, and the fall below should be
such that there will be no danger Of
food water backing up. The garden
should not be located along the banks
of Il 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 he followed For hand cnl
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 to year
or located in some convenient place
outside Of the garden. If part of the
land is 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 blowing hard
or stiff clay soils. especially if in a
part Of the country where freezing
takes place. Sandy loans and soils
that contain d large amount of hulnus
may he 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 he accomplished by means Of
frequent civilizations. 1t is desirable
to plow the garden early.
Sandy soils will bear blowing mucl
earlier than heavy clay soils. In thu
garden greater depth of blowing should
be practiced than for ordinary farm
crops Subsoiling will be found advan
tagecus in most cases. Hand spadin:
should he resorted to only in very small
gardens or where it is desirable to pre-
pare Il small area very thoroughly.
After blowing the next importan
step is to smooth and pulverize tn
soil. The pulverizing process SHOULD
extend as deep as the blowing. Som
gardeners prefer to cut the land thor
oughly with disk harrow before pillow
ing, so that when it is turned by tn
pillow the bottom soil will be fine an
iuclIOW. A1tcI tHc ploN liie uloA Y
cutting harrow is again brought int
play and the pulverizing process con
pleted. If the soil is trifle too DIR
and contains Jumps it may be nece:
sary to use roller or clod crusher
For garden crops there is no fe1
tilizer that will compare with goot
well rotted barnyard manure. Chicl
Ell. pigeon and sheep manures ran
high as fertilizers. The manure frol
| fowls is especially adapted for drol
ping in the hills or rows of plant
J Market gardeners frequently app
$500 pounds of high grade fertilizl
, per acre each year.
Many Of the garden seeds lose the
vitality after one years time.
Throughout the northern states it
desirable to start plants of certai
crops before the danger of frost h;
passed. The simplest method of star