AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



with those of another. You see at a glance how many of 

 these roots would be destroyed by deep cultivation. Stir- 

 ring the upper inch of soil when the plants are well grown 



K*P^PPPfPP^ 



FIG. 20. 



CORN ROOTS REACH FROM 

 Row TO Row 



answers the ends of tillage and 

 does no injury to the roots. 



A deep soil is much better than 

 a shallow soil, as its depth makes 

 it just so much easier for the roots 

 to seek deep food. Fig. 21 illus- 

 trates well how far down into the 

 soil the alfalfa roots go. 



EXERCISE 



Dig up the roots of several cultivated plants and weeds and com- 

 pare them. Do you find some that are fine or fibrous ? some fleshy 

 like the carrot ? The dandelion is a good example of a tap root. 

 Tap roots are deep feeders. Examine very carefully the roots of a 

 medium-sized corn plant. Sift the dirt away very gently so as to 



