CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 203 



erable size, while shallower cultivation encourages the plant 

 to send out its roots laterally so that the value of late 

 rains may be realized most quickly. There is no better 

 tool in the early cultivation than the harrow or weeder, if 

 you will use it freely and with some judgment. The long 

 toothed weeder may be used from the time the crop is 

 planted until the tops are too large to draw between the 

 teeth, providing you catch the soil in just the proper con- 

 dition, especially in the average sand loam soils. Should 

 you get a very heavy rain that may result in packing the 

 surface to a considerable depth, then it will be necessary 

 to cultivate with some fine tooth cultivator, as in cultiva- 

 ting corn, but in such case it is well to follow the cultivator 

 closely by crossing the fows with the weeder. This more 

 completely fines the mulch as well as levels it, also loosens 

 the soil among the vines, and cleans the young weeds. 

 Watch closely the condition, however, and be sure to keep 

 the soil stirred deep enough, even if it is necessary to use 

 the cultivator; a mulch of fine, loose soil of fully two and 

 a-half inches in depth should be kept as soon as the potato 

 tops get to any size, and the soil should be stirred often 

 enough to keep the top of the firm soil beneath the mulch 

 in a moist condition. This condition can be kept if you 

 have moisture stored below, and do not plant too thick 

 and watch your time of cultivation. Upon the care and 

 attention given over to this part of the work depends the 

 quality and quantity of the crop. Don't stop cultivation 

 wheri they are in blossom, but don't destroy the roots. 



If you want to raise a prize crop put them on a piece 

 of summer tilled ground, plowing again in the spring fully 

 eight inches and handle as suggested. 



