ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 97 



Now the principle is good. Our Dutch friend would not, 

 we suppose, plow a stiff clay in a wet condition, unless, pos 

 sibly, to strike a channel through the middle between rows. 

 But the gist of the story lies in this constant cultiv* 

 Stir, stir, STIR the ground. 



STIRRING THE SOIL. 



NEXT to deep plowing we should urge the advantage of 

 continually stirring the surface of the soil. 



IT PRODUCES CLEANLINESS. Weeds in a growing crop 

 are witnesses which no good farmer can afford to have testi 

 fying against him. When seed is sown broad-cast, weeding 

 cannot be performed. In Europe, where labor is cheap and 

 children plenty, acres of wheat and such-like crops are 

 weeded by hand. Our only chance is to clear out every 

 field, to be sown broad-cast, by a thorough previous culture. 

 In all crops which are drilled, or planted in rows, the hoe, or 

 plow, or cultivator, should be kept in lively use through 

 the season. This practice should begin early, that weeds 

 and grass may not get a start, for often, if they do, it is 

 nearly impossible to keep them down, especially if the 

 season is a wet one. 



But there are yet some important reasons for constantly 

 stirring the soil among growing crops. No matter how 

 thoroughly the earth was pulverized when the seed was 

 put in, one or two rains will, except in very sandy loam, 

 beat it down compactly. This crust is injurious in prevent 

 ing the ingress of moisture. But that which is the most 

 material of all is, that it excludes the air. It is well known 

 that the air affords much nourishment to vegetation ; but, 

 perhaps, it is not as well known, that it supplies it by the 

 root as well as by the leaf. If any one wishes to try the 

 5 



