nage. The soil should be a mixture of
one-half good sandy loam, one-fourth leaf mould or muck that has been
left out all winter. Mix these thoroughly together before filling the
beds, sprinkle wood ashes over the beds and rake them in before
planting. This is to sweeten the soil. Lime may be used for the same
purpose, but in either case get advice as to the amount needed for the
soil in question.

_Manure._ Next in order will come the enriching of this plot of ground
by spreading upon it a good coating of well rotted cow manure. In case
barnyard manure is not available, a good mixture of commercial
fertilizer consists of four parts ground bone to one of muriate of
potash applied at the rate of four pounds to the square rod. This done,
proceed to fork the whole piece over, thrusting the spading fork into
the ground its full length each time, and turning the forkful of earth
so that the manure will be covered and not lie on top of the ground.

When the spading has been done, then use your rake and spare it not.
Rake until the earth in the beds is finely pulverized and until the
whole bed is as level as you can make it.

Now construct your central or dividing path, throwing the soil moved on
the beds on either side. To do this you will need a shovel.

Next define or limit your beds, making the sides and ends as straight as
possible. You ought now to have two rectangular beds, each three feet by
twelve feet, with a narrow path separating them all ready to put in the
seeds. It would be a good thing to have your beds raised a little, two
or three inches above the general level of the surrounding earth. This
will make them more distinct and will obviate the settling of water on
your beds; in other words, will drain them.

Seeds

The principal counsel to be given here is to use great care in the
selection of seeds because it is a bitter disappointment and a
discouraging experience to find that after all your labor your seeds are
worthless. It would be well to test a sample of your seeds to determine
their germinating power. If you have a reliable friend from whom you can
secure your seeds, you are fortunate, but if you must purchase at the
dealer by all means patronize one of established reputation.

For the first garden I should plant lettuce, radishes, beets and beans
in one of the beds. The other bed may be devoted to flowers.

Planting

Your beds are now supposed to be all ready for the seeds. That is to
say,