ROOT CROPS. 177 



The first direct advantage is the exposure of the soil for three or four 

 months to the sweetening influences of sun, air, and frost, and the second 

 the increased capacity of the soil for the absorption and retention of any 

 rain that may fall. If this early ploughing is followed with cultivation by 

 means of the spring-tooth cultivator, the effects are to preserve a surface 

 mulch which conserves moisture, and at the same time to bring sorrel (which 

 infests most of our potato soils) to the surface, so that the roots are exposed 

 to the sun. 



The early ploughing should be at least S to 10 inches deep, in order to 

 ensure that when the seed is planted it will have a good depth of worked 

 soil beneath it. The practice of many farmers of ploughing only 4 inches 

 deep, and then putting the seed on the hard bottom, is the reason for many 

 of the yields that compare so unfavourably with those obtained where better 

 methods have been employed. Towards the end of the winter the land should 

 be cultivated with the spring-tooth cultivator, and this should be repeated 

 occasionally to conserve the moisture. If heavy rains have occurred during 

 the period of preparation, it will be necessary to plough the land again; but 

 in this case a shallow working will be sufficient. The effect is to open up 

 and aerate the soil which has been hardened down by the rain, to give it a 

 better physical condition, and to turn under any weeds that have grown. 

 The aim in all operations should be to loosen the soil, as any rain which 

 falls after the potatoes are planted will soon compact the seed-bed. 



As stated above, one of the greatest advantages of this early and deep 

 working is the absorption and retention of moisture. 



The result of this treatment is that the soil is in such good condition when 

 sowing time arrives that it is unnecessary to wait for rain to plant the seed 

 The farmer can start operations with the knowledge that he is sowing at the 

 right time, and that he can go through with the business to the finish without 

 delay. 



Again, the grower can plant cut seed; but it is well known that if cut seed 

 is planted in a dry seed-bed a poor germination and a patchy crop is the 

 result. If, however, preparations have been made in the way advised, there 

 is ample moisture in the soil, .and a large area can be sown with cut >eed v 

 and no delay for rain be necessary at any stage. 



The same reserve of moisture has an important influence on fertilisers, 

 if they have been used. Soil moisture is essential for best results from 

 fertilisers. If the soil is dry at the time of planting, the young plant derives 

 no advantage at the start. It is true that wet weather at a later stage will 

 have an effect upon the fertilisers, and the crop will benefit to some extent 

 then, but one of the greatest advantages of these manures is the vigorous 

 start they may give when first the seed puts forth leaf and root. This is 

 lost if the land is dry at seeding time. Ensure moisture by early working 

 if you want to use fertilisers with confidence as to the results. 



Besides the benefits which thus attach to early ploughing and working of 

 the soil, a large amount of plant-food is also released and made available 

 for the needs of the crop. Analysis has shown that the bulk of our soils 

 contain sufficient plant-food to produce potato crops for hundreds of years, 

 but the trouble is that this plant-food is not in an available form, and on 

 continuously cultivated soils it is only by a proper system of cultivation that 

 a sufficiency of plant-food is secured fox the crop. 



