168 CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 



promote the most rapid movement of moisture by capil- 

 lary attraction from the sub-soil up into this finely pul- 

 verized portion. Also a condition most favorable to 

 the development of roots and root hairs or feeders. Care- 

 ful investigation of fields thus prepared after the stalks 

 of corn have reached a height of three or four feet will 

 show almost a perfect network of these little roots and 

 feeders throughout the entire field. Scarcely a spot half 

 an inch square can be found that is not permeated by 

 many of these little hair roots seeking the moisture and 

 plant food therefrom. 



With our moisture in ample quantities below, as 

 stated, and this perfect condition of soil and develop- 

 ment of roots, the growth and development of a magnif- 

 icent crop of corn now depends entirely upon the time, 

 manner, and kind of cultivation. It is not absolutely 

 necessary that the farmer should have a specially fine 

 toothed cultivator. The eagle claw cultivator, that 

 carries four shovels on each side of the row, is probably 

 the best in general use. Again we must repeat the im- 

 portance of watching closely the condition of the soil, 

 that as much of the work as possible may be done at the 

 time, immediately after a rain when the soil is simply 

 moist and the soil grains seem to most readily separate 

 one from the other, as in this condition the most perfect 

 and uniformly fine mulch may be produced. 



In connection with the preparation of the soil the 

 farmer should never overlook the great value of summer 

 tilling of the soil with a view to bettering, not for one 

 season alone, but for many seasons, the general condition 

 of his soil. The marvelous results reported from fields 

 summer tilled in preparation for a crop of wheat may 

 be expected in proportion from corn crops, and it is 



