CULTIVATING 



finally the soil will begin to crack, and these cracks 

 will grow larger and larger, allowing more and 

 more moisture to escape into the air. 



I want you to try this experiment this summer 

 and prove to yourself that this is all true: When 

 a hot, dry spell comes I want you to dig carefully 

 in a well cultivated spot (and I do hope it will be 

 your own garden) until you find the soil moist; then 

 measure how far down it is. Now go to a spot that 

 has not been cultivated at all or else but very little 

 and measure again. 



I proved it to myself one summer and found 

 the moisture down one inch in the cultivated spot; 

 but had to dig two feet in the uncultivated spot be- 

 fore I found one particle of moisture. 



We can cultivate with any tool which will stir 

 the surface of the earth; a stick, a hoe, a rake, a 

 claw, or our fingers. Do not go too deep or you 

 will break the fine feeder rootlets; just stir the sur- 

 face and keep it always fine and powdery. 



Now I am sure you see another reason why we 

 should use humus in our gardens. We know it holds 

 water like a sponge, therefore if it is down in the 

 soil where our plant roots are it will hold the "sub- 

 soil" moisture as it comes up. The soil moisture 

 helps to decay the humus, which in turn forms gases 



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