Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1916-03-16

to the soil from which it will take
wears for it to recover To determine
when heavy soils are ready for ploW-
ing, a handful of earth should be col
lected from the surface and the fin
gers tightly closed on It. If the call
of compact earth is dry enough Tor
cultivation, it will fall apart when the
hand is opened.
A garden spot near the house is of
ten more desirable than plot which
is in better filth but located at an
inconvenient distance A garden
which is near the huse will receive
many spare hour of care from adults
and children which would otherwise
be wasted Where there is ample
room for the selection Of a garden site,
the slope of the land should be care
fully considered. A gentle slope to-
ward the south is most desirable for
growing early crops, while it is de-
cided advantage to have the plot pro
stected on the north and northwest by
either a hill, a group OF buildings, or
a board fence.
; Drainage of the garden is of great
Importance. The land should have
sufficient fall to drain off surplus water
! during heavy rains and yet not be so
steep that the soil will be washed or
quilted. The surface should be nearly
level SO the water will not stand in
hoIloWs. Where the natural slope of
the land does not rovide sufficient ma
tural drainage, bitches may be dug or
pa tile drain. put in. This will pre-
vent waste water from the adjoining
land from washing over 1t. Such water
may carry weed and grass seed into
the garden, which are later culled out
with difficulty.
How to FertiIize.
The sail in the average back yard
is not only lacking in plant food but
also has been packed until it is hard
and unyielding. To loosen up such
] soil and make it suitable for garden
/ produce requires that careful atten-
ton be given to its preparation. After
spading the Enclosure thoroughly, the
upper 3 inches should be made fine
with TIE use of hoe and rake. Stones
and rubbish should be removed and
clods of dirt broken. The surface
should be made even and as level as
! POSSIBLE. It may then be marked off
for planting in conformity with the
general plan of the garden. -
| aBarnyard or stable manure is the
| best fertilizer because it furnishes
both plant food and humus. An an
| pHcation at the rate of from 20 to 80
| tons to the acre of well-rotted manure
is very satisfactory. This should be
Eapplied after blowing or working with
/ a spade, and distributed evenly over
i the surface and later worked in with
II hoe and rake On many soils it is
advisable to apply commercial fertil,
| izer, especially phosphate, in addition
/ to the manure. An application of BOO
to 600 pounds of acid phosphate to the
acre is usually sufficient. II addition
al potash is needed, which is often the
case with sandy soils. this may be
economically supplied in the form Of
wood ashes If the wood ashes are
Eunleached they should be distributed
lover the garden, using 1000 pounds
to the acre. If they have been wet
Tor leached, 1000 mounds should be
fused. An application Of 100 pounds
i to tie scre of nitrate of soda may be
used in the spring to start the plant:
before the nitrogen in the manure has
Il become available. It should be borne
in mind that commercial fertilizer:
4 will not yield good results unless thu
II soil IS well supplied with humus. Sol
or other vegetation which has over
crown garden spot may be used t.
Z. advantage. It should re turned IN
der with pillow or spade and vii
aid in Tightening the soil and provld
/ ing huTlus;