West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-03-23
Area Will Be Occupied ali the Time
1t Two or Three Crops Are Suc-
eessivelY Grown-Very Small
Space Will Produce Enoush Veg
etables for Ordinary Family

Il ANA @AaAlAsiAl
Even the smallest back yard ma,
be made TO yield supply OF fresl
vegetables for tho family table at bu
slight expense ic two Jr three cron
are suocessivcw grown to keep IN,
area occupied all the time, accordin,
to the gardeh sp, cialists OF tho u. $
department OF agriculture. Peopl
who would discharge clerk II nc di,
not work ths year round will Otter
cultivate a. gar'lon at no little troubl,
and expense and then alolw tho soil I,
lie idle from the timo tho frat crot
natures until the end OF tho season
Who're two or three crop system 4,
used I'm connection with vegetable,
adapted TO small areas. space nc
larger than 20 by 20 feet will produce
enough fresh vegetables for n small
family. Corn, melons. cucumbers and
potatoes and other crops which re-
| quiro large area should not be
grown in garden OF this size. Half
an acre properly cultivated with a
careful crop rotation may easily pro-
duce 100 worth OF various garden
crops in n year.
III the garden was not broken in the
fall, 1t should be plowod In the spring
as soon as the frost is out OF the
ground. Small areas may be work
cd with spade. pushing the blade In
to its full depth and turning tho soil
to break up the clods. Heavy soils
should never be worked when wet.
Over-zealous gardeners, ready to seize
the first warm spell as favorable
| opportunity 60 go out and work the
heavy clay soil before 1t is dry. are not
only wasting their energy but are do
Ing damage to the soil from which Il
Will take years TO recover. To deter
mine when heavy soils are ready for
plowing, handful OF earth should be
collected from the surface and the I'm
gers tightly closed on Il. If the ball
OF compacted earth is dry enough for
cultivation, IL will fall apart when the
hand is opened
garden spot near the house ia of
ten more desirable than n plot which
Is in better tilth but located at an in
convenient distance. garden which
Is near the house will receive many n
spare hour Of care from adults and
children which would otherwise be
wasted Where there is ample room
for the selection OF n garden site, the
slope Of the land should be carefully
considered. A gentle slope toward
the South is most desirable for grow
ing early crops, while Il IS a decided
advantage TO have the plot protected
on the north and northwest by either
hill. group OF buildings. or board
fence.
Drainage OF the garden is OF great
Importance. The land should have
sufficient fall to drain Oft the surplus
water during heavy rains and yet not
be so steep that the soil will be wash
ed or quilted. The surface should be
nearly level so the water will not
stand in hollows Where the natural
slope o. the land does not provide
sufficient natural drainage, ditches
may be dug or a tile drain put in. This
will prevent waste water from the
adjoining land from washing over e..
Such water may carry weed and grass
seed into the garden, which are later
culled out with difficulty.
The soil in the average back yard
is not only lacking In plant food but
also has been packed until II rs hard
and unyieldlng. TO loosen up such
soil and make IL suitable for garden
produce requires that careful atten-
zion be given 10 its preparation. AZ
ter spadlng the Enclosure thoroughly.
the upper inches should be made
fine with the use Of hoe and rake.
stones and rubbish should be remov-
ed and clods OF dirt broken. The sur
face should be made even and as level
as possible. II may then be marked
on for planting I'm conformity with the
general plan Of the garden
Barnyard or stable manure is the
best fertilizer because Il furnishes
both plant food and humus. An ap-
plication at the rate OF from 20 10 30
tons TO the acre Of well-rotted ma
nure is very satisfactory This should
bo applied after plowlng or working
with a spade. and distributed evonly
over tho surface and later worked I'm
with hoe and rake. on many soils
it is advisable 20 apply commercial
fertilizer. especially phosphate. in ad-
dftion 20 the manure. An application
oi 300 % COO pounds Of acid phosphate
10 the acre IS usually sufficient. If
additional potash S. needed. which is
often tho case with sandy soils. this
may be economically supplied I'm the
form Of wood ashes II the wood
ashes are unlcached. they should
be distributed over the garden. using
1000 pounds 20 tho acre III they have
been wet or leached. 1000 pounds
should De used. An application Of 100
pounds TO the acre of nitrate OF soda
may bo used in the spring 20 start
the plants before tho nitrogen fin the
manure has become available. It
should be borne IN mind that CONNER
cial fertilizers will not yield good re-
suits unless the soil IS we'll supplied
with humus. Sod or other vegetation