154 AGRONOMY 



a horse, is usually employed ; in market gardens and smaller 

 plots the wheel hoe, operated by hand, may be used ; while in 

 the home garden the rake and hoe are most frequently seen. 

 Of the latter there are many styles, ranging from the shuffle 

 hoes and scarifiers of the expert gardener to the common im- 

 plement found in every garden. Planting in long rows adds 

 much to the economy in any kind of cultivation and is abso- 

 lutely necessary when the wheel hoe or cultivator is used. 



Anything that decreases the amount of pore space in the 

 soil makes it easier for the water to pass from one soil particle 

 to another, and thus promotes the loss of water through capil- 

 larity. Footprints in soft soil show for days, by their darker 

 color, where the moisture is evaporating most rapidly. In 

 planting seeds the escape of moisture is often promoted by 

 compacting the soil about them, the cultivator in this case 

 being willing to sacrifice some moisture in order that the 

 growing seeds may be properly supplied. Covering the soil 

 with a light mulch serves the same purpose. 



Work of earthworms and ants. Individually, earthworms 

 and ants are insignificant creatures, seemingly too small to 

 have any effect upon the soil, but when their work in the 

 aggregate is considered, they are seen to be of great assistance 

 in keeping the soil in good condition. The earthworms burrow 

 into the earth, swallowing bits of soil and decaying vegetable 

 matter as they go, and later bring this up to the surface, 

 forming the well-known castings seen about the entrance to 

 their burrows. It is estimated that in this way earthworms 

 bring up from lower levels ten tons of soil per acre annually, 

 nearly an inch in five years. In the course of a century the 

 entire soil as far down as cultivation ordinarily extends would 

 be turned over and very thoroughly pulverized. In addition, 

 the burrows made by these animals aid in keeping the soil 

 porous and well aerated. In dry soils ants take the place of 

 earthworms and turn over the soil nearly as rapidly. 



