THE PROBLEM OF TILLAGE 



the soil, the dryness of the season, and 

 the prevalence of weeds. It is a local and 

 personal problem, but few farmers fully 

 realize the loss of moisture caused by the 

 growth of weeds. It is easy to tell when 

 it will pay to cultivate. You have only to 

 examine the surface soil. If it has a hard, 

 baked appearance, or even a thin crust, 

 cultivation should be done at once, for 

 soil water is passing off rapidly into the 

 air wherever the surface soil is hard. 

 There is no hard-and-fast rule for the 

 number of cultivations to be given in a 

 season. Cultivate often enough to make 

 the surface soil mellow, weedless and free 

 from a crust. This may take six culti- 

 vations or twelve. Note when the corn 

 leaves begin to curl in the heat of the day, 

 or the potatoes to shrivel. Then is the 

 time for prompt and energetic cultiva- 

 tion. Finally, all cultivation should be 

 directed to establishing a moisture-saving 

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