Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-23
0heDACKYARD
FARMERs
= PROF DOLTE
1Cnnvright N,fast,,.. N-.,...-. -.
PREPARING THE Sell.
copyright Western NEWSPAPER Umon.l

/ If your garden failed to do we'll last
year, and you are not quite sure as TO
the cause of its failure, the chances
are that most of the trouble was in
the preparation of the soil, prior to
planting the seed Here lies the Sc
cret of success in growing garden
things. and the general lack of infur-
nation regarding soil preparation is
remarkable.
The soil has been well termed a
bank containing natures resources
These resources or plant foods are
freely loaned to us, but they must be
returned in full! by us when we are
through with them, or the bank will
fail. Furthermore, unless the borrow
err knows and follows natures bank
Ing laws IL is difficult to borrow what
Is needed to grow maximum crops.
Thorough stirring of the soil to a
proper degree of tlneness is more i'm
portant than any other feature in Sc
curing big garden crops. The heavy
cold soil should be plowed or spaded
in the fall, turning under a liberal top
dressing OF manure or green clover at
this time. II a very stiff clay, it will
be well to plow shallow again in the
spring, but with ordinary soils, it will
only require a deep stirring of the
surface with harrow, hand cultivator
or hoe.
The main object Of blowing is to
permit air to permeatc the lower soil.
so that the bacteria can increase and
dccomposc the soil into soluble plant
foods, and to permit freer action of
frost, water. and air in breaking down
the soil particles for the same ulti.
mate purpose, The object of surface
cultivation is, first, to make a fine
smooth, warm seed bed where the
tiny seeds may lie close to the soil
grains, and sprout quickly and strong.
ard second, to kill the weeds and
prevent undue loss Of soil water after
the garden plants are up
Flowing in the fall let's the frost
work on the locked up plant food all
winter. 1t is especially valuable
where manure ID TO be turned under
as the greater decomposition of the
manure makes it more valuable to the
next crop, and it becomes more close
" united with the sell. Manure turned
2ndeg in The fpring does not decay
rapidly enough to be of much value
TO the garden that summer, and il is
frequently harmful because 1t forms
dry spots in the surface soil, cutting
on the rise Of the deep soil moisture
/ 10 the plant roots. II manure is to
be applied in the spring, it should be
wet and as well rotted as possible.
besides being very free from straw
The soil must net be too wet when
1t is spaded or plowcd It shoull
break up into the smallest possible
particles, or air spaces and clcds VIII
result. Never spade or plow II the
soil sticks to the we'll polished blade.
A small loss Of time waiting for prop.
err soil conditions rieans n biz cain
later.
The surface cf the soil must be
made as fine and smooth as possible
You cannot possibly get 1t too fine for
garden purposes, ard every time you
60 over il will add at least 10 per
cent to your crop Early in the spying
Is the pleasantest time to work in the
garden and an extra cultivation then
is worth three in July DO rot plant
the seeds too deep and cultivate be.
tween the rows whenever you see a
weed, and after every rain, and YOU
will have better garden this year