86 THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



in all directions with a disk and smoothing harrow, until it 

 is of a dustlike fineness. 



In thorough cultivation before the crop is planted, lies 

 the secret of many a success, and in its neglect the cause 

 of many failures. Intelligent handling of crops is in a large 

 measure knowledge of the influence of wind and rain, sun- 

 shine and darkness, on the particular nature of the plant. 

 Delicate plants, for example, ought to be grown where 

 buildings or forests break the force of prevailing winds. 

 Sheltered valleys in irrigated sections have proved the best 

 for intensive cultivation. For thousands of years in China 

 and Japan the conditions of successful intensive cultivation 

 have been well understood, and to-day the most efficient 

 gardeners are the Chinese. In some parts of Mexico, for 

 the same reasons, intensive cultivation has reached a high 

 development. In our own West we are catching up on vege- 

 tables and fruits. 



