CULTIVATION OF CROPS 



deeper and nearer to the plants than at a later stage, 

 when growth is not so rapid. At the later stage, such 

 active cultivation would have a tendency to ripen 

 off the crop rather than promote its growth. 



During a dry season, or a period of extended 

 drought, the more frequently the soil is stirred 

 around a growing crop the better; as the loosening 

 up of the surface soil will draw the moisture from 

 below upward, within reach of the feeding roots 

 of the plants, and thus enable them to absorb it. 



In the case of any crop planted in rows, it is a 

 good plan to stir the soil and cut down the weeds, 

 immediately after the plants come up, in the 

 following manner: Take an ordinary A-harrow 

 and remove the front tooth; then drive along each 

 row of plants, keeping it exactly between the 

 horses and central to the harrow. This harrow- 

 ing will not disturb them in the least, and just at 

 this stage will promote their growth surprisingly. 

 The weeds of course will not be exterminated 

 entirely, but their first early growth will be effect- 

 ually destroyed, and they will more easily be kept 

 under during the rest of the season. 



Parasitic insects and vegetable parasites (to 

 which latter class belong smut, blight, mildew, 



[81] 



