CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 145 



and then there is a free and ready separation of all parti- 

 cles. In this condition the cultivator runs the easiest, 

 the mulch made the finest and lies up loose and light. 



The judgment of the farmer must be used with great 

 care at this time. He must bear in mind just what he 

 wants and try his best to get just such condition of his 

 soil. 



TIME FOR QUICK WORK. 



There is no time in the year's round of duties when 

 quick work even at the expense of many long days of 

 labor is so much needed as at the height of the growing 

 season, when advantage must he taken of every rainfall 

 that favors us. 



It must be borne in mind that every moment's delay 

 after the soil reaches the proper condition causes you to 

 lose water very fast. It is at the rate of a quart or over 

 per square foot per day, providing it is clear sunny weather, 

 and even more in case of heavy south winds. The more 

 intense the heat the more frequent it is necessary to cul- 

 tivate. A very good rule is to watch the condition of the 

 firm soil just beneath the loose mulch or cultivated por- 

 tion, and whenever the surface of this firm soil begins to 

 show dry ness it is high time to commence cultivating 

 again. 



We cannot impress this point more fully upon your 

 mind than by referring you to that chapter which tells 

 of the crusting of the orchard on the Pomeroy Model 

 farm during the extreme dry period of 1901, and its effect 

 upon the growth of the trees. 



We had a simlar experience, but more clearly illus- 

 trated, in the cultivation of corn in Cheyenne county, 

 northwest Kansas, in 1898. This demonstrates very 

 clearly the great importance of being exceedingly cautious, 



