Evening journal., 1921-03-30
GROWING FOOD
IN THE GARDEN
Improve Garden Soil in Or
der to Increase Yield of
Crops
PINCH COVERING
PROTECTS CROPS

Nothing equals plenty Of stable OF
yard manure to make a garden plot
produce the best crops Garden
specialists OF the United States De-
partment OF Agriculture mean by
this not merely meagre scattering
over the surface but an application
about two inches thick. It should
be applied in the fall to form a pro-
tecting cover during the winter. II
this is done the manure should be
turned under as early in the spring
as possible, but any material too
rough to turn under should be piled
In a compost heap to rot Only
well rotted manure should be ap-
piled in the spring as a top dressing.
After the land has been plowed
scatter the rotted manure over the
surface and work It in with the
harrow. II the garden is spaded
the manure should be worked in
with spading fork or rake.
Large quantities OF manure should
be used. on tenth-acre garden.
that is, one measuring about 43 1-3
feet by 100 feet, apply from one to
two tons-two loads-in the fall. II
truck Is used for hauling, one load
generally will be sufficient. II a cor
responding amount is piled up in
the autumn with a little sod or soil
mixed with it, and worked over once
or twice during the winter it will
give a good supply Of compost for
use as a spring top dressing.
Where this amount OF manure is
Il lINaH 1fffIa 81 fnu fIfy4r
is needed. However, manure very
often does not have a sufficient guam
tity of nitrogen. phosphoric acid and
potash IN it, and IL may be desirable
to add commercial fertilizers con-
tanning ? or 3 per cent, nitrogen,
or 10 per cent. phosphoric acid, and
3 to 6 per cent. potash on a tenth
acre garden. This also can be
spread broadcast, and worked into
the soil when the land is being pull
verzed ready for planting.
Several crops require special fer
tilizers. For instance. lettuce, cab
bage, spinach. kale. and. in fact, all
Of the salad crops and those which
are grown for greens, need plenty
of nitrogen to make leaf growth
These crops might well be stimulated
during their growing period by q
little nitrate of soda, not exceeding
10 pounds to a tenth OF an acre al
any one application. The applca-
tions should be at least three weeks
apart. II should not be applied
within six inches of the plants or in
too large quantities. or burning will
follow and injure the plants. Fruits
and crops like beans. peas and corn
that are grown for their seeds need
plenty or phosphoric acid. Roo
crops. as potatoes, carrots and beets
require plenty of potash.
Many gardens are improved by
application Of lime. However, Il
may injure Irish potatoes, for lime
promotes scab, a disease TO which
they are susceptible. Except on
land to be planted in potatoes. lime
applied once every three years at the
rate OF 200 to 500 pounds to a tenth
acre garden will be decided adj
vantage. 1t helps to sweeten the
soil. thus making Il more suitable
to crop production. and 1t makes
heavy clay soils lighter and easy to
/ cultivate
Another way to improve garden
soil is the use OF green manure
crops, such as clovers, rye, alfalfa
barley. and. in fact, almost any
thing which will grow upon land
during the fall and winter The
lclovers and the other closely related
plants known as legumes, which
have the power of gathering lhe free
nitrogen from the air and storing II
up in the soil are the most desl-.
able. Green-manure crops should
he turned under in early spring.