The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-13
PREPARING THE GROUND, HALF 1HE'
 BATTLE IN GOOD GARDENING

The great incentive to make gar den during the past two years has been the means of adding many, many thousands to the ranks of our noble band of gardeners. The slogan "Food Will Win the War, Produce It." seems to have awakened all garden owners and allotment holders to the necessity of answering to the call, with the results that 1t is estimated that in 1918 these war gardens produced food 1uffs to the value of S525, 5,0O0,OOO. We must do as well or even better his year and the road to success will De made easier by making early pre- DaratiOns for the campaign. One Of the first steps in this direction is to plant the garden now, decide on what $ to be planted, and order the seed n good time that there may be no 1oldup when ground and weather con- iiuons are propitious.
 Although war gardens were in the aggregate so highly successful last -ear, yet some failures were to be noted, but in the majority of instances he lack of success could be traced 10 a failure to either thoroughly uu- derstand the first principles of garden ing, or, by starting rather late in he season.
 The great desideratum in success fu1 gardening is the thorough prepar- alton of the soil. This includes deep digging or blowing and the introduc- lion of humus making material, for lacking humus in some form or other the gardener Is handicapped at the start
 Humus may be supplied in the form of dead and decaying residue of roots and leaves of former crops, or dress ings of dung or other organic ma nures. It consolidates a light soil and improves heavy land by making it more porous, and absorbing water like 8 sponge, 1t assists in retaing moisture in the soil. Practically all soils, with the exception of peat and pure vegetable mould, are greatly benefited by the addition of stable or farmyard manure, also by turning under green crops grown for the pur- pose. By the addition of the above a light soil is assisted to retain moisture and so withstand drought. A heavy soil rendered lighter, more porous and easier to work. Carbontc acid is evolved, which helps to corrode phospates and liberate potash from the soil.
 In the small garden humus Is usally added to the soil in the form Of manure, and when it is applied in the spring, 1t should be we'll routed. Horse manure is rather richer than Cow manure but more liable to loss In keeping. Sheep manure Is very rich in nitrogen and pig manure in- termidiate between that of COW and horse. All are, however, of much value in improving the condition of he ground besides introducing valua- ble plant foods.
 Of quite much importance as man ure, the land must be properly pre- pared for the reception of the crops This preparation consists of turning it over deeply, at the same time work ing the manure. If the operation is carried out with the spade. 1t is a simple matter to break up all Jumps or clods of earth with the spade as digging proceeds, for what we have to aim for is a well pulverized soil thoroughly dis1ntegrated, and made as fine as possible. This fine condition of the soil ts also necessary for the seed bed in order that the early growth may be encouraged. Although