CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 187 



field must be harrowed. While you may destroy some 

 plants, the loosening up of the surface brings back that 

 ideal condition for the development of plant elements that 

 means so much to the growing plant, and it would be 

 better in many instances to destroy one half of the grain 

 and give the other half a good chance, than to starve out 

 all the plants. 



That soil condition most favorable for the perfect root 

 system is most favorable for harrowing. Never harrow 

 after .the surface has become dry and hard, but always 

 when moist. This is almost invariably possible at some 

 opportune time. 



THE WEEDER 



There is no place where the weeder that is properly 

 constructed plays its little part so completely as upon 

 a field of wheat or other small grain which has been put 

 into a field that has that ideal condition and the proper 

 quantity of seed has been sown. The surface can be so 

 nicely loosened and yet so little grain is destroyed, be- 

 cause of the flexibleness of the teeth, but if you have no 

 weeder use the common lever harrow. But if your soil 

 has been left so light and loose that you have no root bed, 

 then be careful, for it is better that you summer till the 

 field and get two or three crops next year, than to chance 

 a failure of a crop on a piece of soil so unscientifically fitted 

 that it will not permit of harrowing. 



TIME OF HARROWING 



Care must be taken to catch the soil moist if possible. 

 The best time to harrow is when the grain is beginning to 

 stool, or when three to four inches high. 



If, however, the field should unfortunately pass through 

 the spring without rain enough to settle the mulch it is 

 not necessary to harrow. Then again should you get a 



