GARDEN TILLAGE 55 



very important to remember, however, that the destruc- 

 tion of weeds is but a small part of the work of cultivation. 

 The most important part in many sections is to so fit the 

 soil that it may best withstand drought. This is accom- 

 plished by frequent shallow cultivation during the period 

 of drought. The first implements to use in the care of 

 such crops as are generally cultivated by hand are those 

 that work the soil to only a very slight depth close to the 

 plants. Such implements may be used just as the seed- 

 lings are breaking ground. 



As soon as the plants have gained some little strength, 

 implements should be used that will go deeper, until a 

 depth of two or three inches can be easily worked without 

 endangering the safety of the crop by covering the plants 

 with soil. It is doubtful if any of our garden crops should 

 ever be cultivated more than three inches deep, and it is 

 very certain that many crops are injured by cultivating 

 deeply very close to the plants, in which case the roots are 

 cut off near their upper ends and thus wholly destroyed. 



Fig. 11. A useful type of horse hoe. 



Cultivation in a period of drought results in forming a 

 mulch or blanket of dry earth on the surface of the land, 

 which prevents the moisture from passing into the atmos- 

 phere, and a rather shallow dust blanket, say three inches 

 deep, accomplishes this purpose. A compact subsoil 



