Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-05-02

Soils In good filth and welfsgpiied
with plant food produce the keA gar
ldens. Successful gardens, however
can be grown on all kinds Of .soHSaH
light sands to mucks and hea
1t is often possible to. select tstH
with soil that win yield better resI
With Tess labor than nearby plats with
less Favorable soils. Good soil Is es-
sentia1 to Successful garden: If the
~s0fi iii tffte selected garden site is poor;
1t must be-put into good condition be-
fore satisfactory results cam be sex-
pected:" Even where the soil IS good
ITO =start with, twill besnecessafy to
spend. considerable time In improving
1T by: cultivation and fertilization be-
fol It is: In frstelass condition for
the production of+vegetables.
A, sandya.loam Is an excellent type
Of garden:soik SANDY soils, as 8 rule,
warm up:-fearlier than others in the
spring, and.>-enable the@gardener TO
plant his crops early.- Soils too sandy
dry out very rapidly and the crops
are liable to suffer from drought. 80
The lay Of the land has considerable
influence upons the time when the soil
can be worked,Fand a, gentle slope to-
ward the south, or southeast Is most
desirable for the production of early
crops. 1t is an advantage to have on
the north and northeast hill, q group
Of trees, some eyergreens, a hedge,
buildings, q tight board fence, or q
stone wall in order to break the force
Of the wind.
Drainage Is Important: =.
Good drainage of-~the garden area
Is Of prime Importance. II this does
not exist naturally, 1t may be sup
piled by tillage or by artificial drains.
The surface of the land should have
sufficient fall to drain of surplus wa
ter during heavy rains. but the fall
should not be SO great that the soil
will be washed. On hillsides wash.
ing can be overcome to considerable
extent by. comforting the rows o'as. to-
cause the rains to. run off slowly. The
garden should not eontadne depresstons
in which. water will accumulate or
stand. II surface .issdrregailar. b.
little soil. can be taken from high
places and the low ones filed. Waste
water from surrounding land should
not fow toward the garden, and the
fall below should be such that there
will be no danger of 1t backing up.
A garden site on the banks Of a creek
or stream that will be liable to over
Hnrx7 S11y.SY thu r{y1o Sh
not be selected If any other land can
be had. FL:
A good fence around the garden plat
Is almost indispensable. It should
protect the crops from all! farm am
mails, Including spoultry,t and E should
be tight enough to keep out5rabbits. !.
The question Of proximity to the
house Is of as great Importance In
. locating the garden as the character
and contour Of the ground. IRxeNery
case il should be as near as possible
so that the work Of caring for the
crops may be done at odd times and
the vegetables quickly secured blythe
housewife. 4 kitchen garden located
near the kitchen door Is convenience
in thousands Of homesteads;;;i It's Aet
sirable even where separate larger
garden is utilized for the ;prodn ION
Of the main portion OF the vegetable
supply. for the famify.Yt alSaEan;;
Importance OF Sunlight
In selecting: the 1ocation for s. 5he
garden: and In planning the arrange
ment of the cfopsftheegardeaer should
understand that no amount Of fertflfz-
err, watering and care will replace sun.
shine. Careful consideration should
be given to how many hours day any
part of the proposed garden space Is
shaded, AS a rule; if9liagei crops,
such as lettuce, kale and spinach, do
fairly we'll in partial shade,4but must,
have minimum OF :, three hours Of.
sunshine day. Plants which ripen,
fruits, such as the tomato and egg
plant, should have a minimum Of five
hours sunshine. each day. .aE si:;l