TILLAGE AND CULTIVATION 71 



use a roller to firm the earth around the seeds, so that 

 they can take up moisture. 



Some large seeds, like beans and pumpkins, are 

 lifted out of the ground at the start by their growth. 

 If the ground has had a hard crust formed on it by a 

 beating rain, such seeds often cannot get 1 through it 

 to the surface, but coil up underneath and finally die. 

 So it is well to protect the surface of a bean or pump- 

 kin hill with mulch or manure to prevent the crusting. 

 Some other large seeds, like the pea, maize, wheat, etc., 

 come up with the sharp point of the sprout, leaving the 

 seed behind, and do not mind the crust unless it is 

 too thick and hard. 



