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Show WHY HOE YOUR GARDEN? j By M. . POETEE, War Garden Expert. j: THERE is no one element that contributes more to the success or failure ;ll of the war garden than the correct or incorrect method of handling the ' soil. It is possible to apply large amounts of water and get very poor results; it is equally possible to use but little water and yet obtain ex-cellent ex-cellent crops. A large part of the soil of Salt Lake City has a high per-oentage per-oentage of clay and will readily puddle when water is added and bake When the surface dries. The soil particles are so tiny as to prevent water from going down, but when once wet they retain moisture a long time. When exposed to the sua, the surface cracks, hard, brick-like clods are j formed, permitting air to enter between them. Seeds planted in such ij places dry out and do not germinate. !; Clay that has not been wet is unproductive, more frequently because Of lack of air than because of insufficient plant food or water, for plants ! cannot grow without air. The only way to prevent the formation of clods ! is to stir the soil. The only way to admit air to the roots of plants is to j hoe and cultivate. The best way to keep the moisture from escaping is to form, by hoeing, a mulch on the surface. v Gardeners who keep always at it. digging, hoeing, raking, are the ones who fulfill ail the above requirements and get cood returns from their ! labors. Careful questioning of tho?c who last year grew heavy crops in !' clay yards has established the fact that in every case they worked the r.oil incessantly. In so doing, they not only conserve the water supply, but, 1 what is more important, they keep their garden plats in excellent condi- ! I tioa for succeeding crops. ! |