the land in a workable condition at least a week earlier.[1]
Putting manure on the ground in the fall, or during winter, is a practice I would not recommend, because some of its most valuable portions are sure to be washed into the drains by the melting snow and spring rains, leaving the plants rather a meagre supply of nourishment to draw from when they come to need it most. The proper way to do is to give the ground a liberal spreading of thoroughly decomposed barnyard manure in spring, as soon as the land is in a workable condition.[2]
This should immediately be plowed in, and be followed with a sharp, weighted harrow, to thoroughly pulverize and mix the soil. This is important, as the surface of the soil is not so liable to harden or bake afterwards, if the ground is well worked in the spring. The soil is also permeated to a greater depth by the sun and air, causing healthier and quicker growth, consequently better and earlier vegetables. The form of our one-acre patch should, by all means, be a rectangle, made longer than wide, with the rows running lengthwise, and all perfectly straight, and everything else so arranged that as much of the
- ↑ While, as stated, a well-drained soil is most desirable for the garden, and its value is not to be underrated, yet success in gardening can be had on almost any soil. The more unfavorable the circumstances, the greater credit is due the gardener, and many cannot afford expensive underdraining.—Ed.
- ↑ The suggestion as to applying manure in the spring is good, as far as the well-drained land is concerned; where the land is not well-drained, however, more of the good properties of the manure are retained by applying the coarse manure in the fall, as it then fills the soil with decomposing vegetable matter.—Ed.
