Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-04-16
The Home Garden in the South
PREPARING THE SOIL

The soil that is to be used TOT vegetables should be thoroughly pre- pared betore planting. A aeep seed bed is desirable, and when an area has never been plowed more than inches deep must be used it should be deepened by gradually increasing the depth of blowing for period or three or four years until the desired depth is attained.
 Clay soil should be plowed in the fall if there is no danger of wash ing, so as to get it in a goou lne- clpanical condition before planting time. In the cooler regions of tne South freezing will pulverize the soil, while in regions where freezes do not occur the pulverizing must be done by narrowing and cultivation Sandy leans or soils that contain large amount of humus should be plowed far enough in advance to al low the soil to settle before planting.
 Through preparation by blowing, narrowing, rolling, or dragging will Jesse nthe work of cultivation. It IS not sufficient to smooth and level the surface; the pulverizing should ex- tend down several inches.
 Manures and Fertilizers. The soil for vegetable growing should be ricn and we'll supplied with hunts. Barnyard or stable manure is the best fertilizer, because it furnishes both plant food and humus. An application of 20 to 3o tons of monure to the acre is very satisfactory, and on som3 soils thls application will need but llttle reln- forcing with commercial fertilizers. The manure should be applied lar enough in advance of planting time to allow it to decay. Where coarse manure is used, 1t should be applied in the fall and turned under, put well-rotted manure should be applied after blowing and should be well mixed with the soil by narrowing. On many soils it is advisable to apply commercial fertilizer, especially phosphates, in addition to the ma nure. An application of 300 to 6oo pounds of acld phosphate to the aero will be sufficient. Sandy soils often need little additional potash, which can be applied economically Tn the form of muriate or sulphate or potash at the rate Of 2OO 10 4oV pounds to the acre. An application of 100 pounds of nitrate of soda will give the plants start Ill the sprlns before the nitrogen in the manure has become available.
 Where manure is not available. some ieguminous crop, such as cow peas, soy beans, vetcn, or crimson clover, should be turned under to supply humus and a part of the nitro gen, Additional fertilizing elements can be applied in the form of com mercial fertilizers. No definite rule can be given for the kind or quantity of fertilizer to be applied, as tnls varies with the crop and soil. i'll most cases it is safe to apply 1,O0O to 1000 pounds of high-grade ferti- lizer to the acre. One analyzlng to 4 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phos- phoric acid, and to s per cent pot ash should give good results it the soil is we'll supplied with humus. This fertilizer may be secured al- ready prepared or may be mixed al home. The following combination will make 9 satisfactory tertillzel for a home garden and may he ap- piled at the rate of 1000 to 2,0O0 pounds to the acre.
 15O pounds nitrate of soda.
 $50 pounds cottonseed meal.
 1000 pounds acid phosphate, l6 per cent.
 200 pounds muriate or sulphate of potash.
 It should be borne in mind that commercial fertilizers will not pro- duce satisfactory results unless the soil is we'll supplied with humus. In