Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-21
II KEEP THE GARDEN BUSY
twenty-five by Seventy Foot Plot
viii Produce Enough Vegetables
for . Small Family

Even the smallest back yard may
be made TO yield supply Of fresh
vegetables for the family table at but
slight expense il two or three crops
are successfully grown to keep the
area occupied all the time, according
TO the garden specialists of the de-
partment. People who would discharge
a clerk If he I'D not work the year
round will often cultivate n kardfn d.
no little trouble and expense and thea
ALLOW the soil to lie idle from the tine
the first crop natures until the end
Of the season. Where a two or three
crop system is used in connection With
vegetables. adapted to small areas, d
space no larger than 20 by 70 feet will
produce enough fresh vegetables for
= small family. Corn, melons, cucum-
beers. and potatoes and other crops
which require a large area should
not be grown in garden Of his size.
Half an acre properly cultivated with
b careful crop rotation may easily prts
duce 800 worth OF various garden
crops in a year
II the garden was not broken in the
fall, It should be plowed in the spring
40 soon as the frost is OUT OF the
ground. Small areas may. be worked
with splde. pushing the blade in to
its full depth and turning the soil to
break up the clods Heavy soils should
never be worked when wet OyerzeaI.
Gus gardeners, ready to seize the first
warm sped as favorable opportunity
to 80 out and work the heavy clay
soil before 1t Is dry. are not only
wasting their energy but are doing
damage TO the soil from which it will
take years'Ssrsit to recover. To deter
mine when heaty soils are ready for
blowing. a. handful of earth should be
collected ffom tae surface and the
fingers tisltly closed on it. II Inc
hall of the con. paeted eartl is cry
enough for cultivation, it win fail
apart when. the hand is. opened.
I A garden spot near the house is Of
ten more desirable than plot which
1s in better filth but located at an in.
convenient distance A garden which
IL near the house will receive many d
spare hour of care from adults AMI
children which would otherwise be
wasted Where there is. ample room
for the selection of garden site, the
slope of the land should be carefully
considered. A gentle slope toward the
south il most desirable for growing
early CROPS, while it is a decided adj
vantage to have the plot protected on
the north and west by either hill, a
Rroup of buildings, or a board fence
Drainage OF the garden is OF great
Importance The land should have
sufficient fall to drain Off surplus wa
ter during heavy rains and yet not b.
so steep that the soil will be wasne
or quilted The surface should be
nearly level so the water will not
stand in hollows. Where the natural
slope Of The land does not provide sui
ficient natural drainage bitches may
he dug or a tile drain put in This
will prevent waste water from the al
joining land from washing over II
Such water may carry weed and grasi
seed into the garden, which are later
culled out with difficulty.
The soil in the average back yart
Is not only lacking in plant food bu
also has been packed until il is har'
and unyielding TO loosen up sucl
soil and make it suitable for garden
produce requires that careful attento,
0e given to its preparation Ate
epading the enclosure thoroughly tn.
upper 3 inches should be made fin,
with the use OF hoe and rake. Stone
ina rubbish should be removed an,
clods OF dirt broken. The suffac,
should be made even and as level a
possible. 1t may then be marked Of
FOR planting in conformity with tn
general plan of the garden.
Barnyard or stable manure IL tn
hest fertilizer because 1t furnishe
both plant food and humus. An appl
cation at the rate OF from 20 to 3
tens to the acre OF well rotted manur
IL very satisfactory. This should b
applied after blowing or working wit
spade, and distributed evenly owe
the surface and later worked In wit
q hoe and rake On many soils 1t |
advisable to apply commercial fertilii
or, especially phosphate, in addition {
.hs manure. An application OF 300 t
600 pounds Of acid phosphate to th
acre is usually sufficient, II addition
nj potash is needed, which Is ofte
the case with sandy soils, THIS may b
economically supplied in the form q
wood ashes. II the wood ashes al
wnleached they should be distribute
over the garden, using 1000 pound
to the acre. n they have been we
ar leached, 1000 pounds should be Vi
I'd. An application Of nitrate of sod
may be used In the spring to stal
the planta before. tue. nitrogen IN I'll