The very first thing in garden making is the selection of a spot. Without a choice, it implies simply doing the best one can with conditions. With space limited it resolves itself into no garden, or a box garden.

certainly a box garden trumps nothing. But we shall now suspect it is really possible to truly select just the right site for the garden. What shall be chosen? The best significant component is the sun. If possible, select the ideal spot a southern exposure. When the garden is thus found the rows of vegetables and flowers should run north and south. Therefore placed, the plants receive the sun's beams all of the morning on the eastern side, and all of the afternoon on the western side. One ought not to have any lopsided plants with that kind of an arrangement. In this example the western sun is out of the problem. So as to get the very finest distribution of sunlight run the rows northwest and southeast. The concept is to get the maximum daylight as frequently distributed as possible for the longest time period.

From the lopsided expansion of window plants it is straightforward enough to see the effect on plants of poorly distributed light. So if you employ a little diagram recalling that you wish the sun to polish part of the day on one side of the plants and part on the other, you can juggle out any situation.

The southern exposure gives the perfect case as the sun gives half time just about to each side. The garden, if at all practicable should be planned out on paper. The plan is a great help when the real planting time comes. It saves time and nonessential purchasing of seed. New garden spots are possibly going to be found in two conditions : they're covered either with turf or with rubbish.

In large garden areas the ground is ploughed and the sod turned under ; but in small gardens take away the sod. Paths to take off the sod in the best demeanour is the subsequent question. The line gives a particular and straight course to follow. Cut the perimeters with the spade all along the line. If the area is a miniscule one, say 4 feet by eighteen or 20, this is a straightforward matter. Such a narrow strip could be marked off like a checkerboard, the sod cut thru with the spade, and simply removed. This might be done in two long strips cut lengthwise of the strip. When the turf is cut thru, roll it right up like a roll of carpet. Then divide this up into strips a foot wide and take off the sod as before.

What shall be done with the sod? Don't throw it away for it is chock full of richness, though not really in available form.

So pack the sod grass side down one square on another. Such a pile of rotting plant matter is known as a compost pile. All through the summer add any old green plant matter to this. Even if the garden is sufficiently giant to plough, I might pick out the biggest pieces of sod instead of have them turned under. Go over the ploughed space, pick out the pieces of sod, shake them well and pack them up in a compost pile. Mere spading of the ground is not satisfactory. Always as one spades one should split the massive mounds. But regardless of the ground is in no shape for planting.

Ground must be fine indeed to plant in, because seeds can get deeply close indeed to fine particles of soil. A seed is left stuck in a perfect waste when planted in bits of soil. A baby besieged with great pieces of beefsteak would starve. A seed among giant mounds of soil is in an identical situation. The spade never can do this work of pulverizing soil. The chief work of this implement is to rid the soil of weeds and stir up the top surface. It is employed in summer to form that mulch of dust so valuable in maintaining moisture in the soil.

I often see folks as if they were going to cut into atoms everything around. After mounds are damaged use the rake to make the bed fine and smooth.