CHAPTER VI. 



CULTIVATION. 



Cultivation, or the incfluinical liaiidling of soil for the 

 benefit of crops, inchidcs a hirge part of the hihor of 

 farming. 



An nndcrstanding of the reasons for the different pro- 

 cesses embraced in the tillage of the soil, and of the 

 benefits to be derived from tliera, is essential to success 

 in agriculture. 



Purposes. — The purposes of cultivation may l)e classi- 

 fied as follows : — 



1. To break up the soil, or make it " meUou^'' so that 

 the roots of plants may easily penetrate it. 



The roots of a few varieties of plants are very hard 

 and firm. 



Some are provided witli a sharj) ])oint at the tip, so 

 that they are able to penetrate hard substances. Quitch- 

 grass roots will sometimes grow entirely through a 

 potato. But the roots of most agricultural ])lants are 

 more delicate, and make their way with difficulty through 

 hard soil. 



In poorly cultivated soil, filled with hard lumjjs, roots 

 are found to occupy the mellow ])ortions, avoiding tlie 

 luuips. To l(\ave the soil iu a lum))y coudition is thci'c- 

 forc to reduce the extent of the feeding ground of the 

 plant. 



(100) 



