72 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



evaporation from a hard-pan layer and thus to break the connection 

 between capillary action and the atmosphere. Such hoeing is harder 

 than light work with the blade nearly horizontal. It takes muscle 

 to give a strong vertical stroke which penetrates well, and one can- 

 not waltz along the rows whistling a lively tune, as is quite possible 

 while weed-cutting in moist soil in February. 



There is little grace, we admit, in the attitude of the Italian 

 market gardener, as he straddles the row, arches his back and grunts 

 as he sends his heavy mattock its full depth into the soil around the 

 plants. The American with his fine, new, full-width, bronze-shanked, 

 green-labeled, steel hoe, marching along the rows, touching the soil 

 with disdain as ill worth exertion on his part, is a much handsomer 

 picture. But the Italian's plants laugh at drought. When irrigated 

 the soil takes water like a sponge and it goes plump down to the 

 roots of the plant. Irrigate the shallow-hoed plat ; a pailful will run 

 a rod and the plant root gets but the gurgle of the water as it flows 

 along the surface of the hard-pan just beneath the dust. 



Evidently, if one begins early in the season with deep hoeing, 

 the midsummer tussle with hard-pan will be obviated. This is 

 really the lesson to be learned. 



A Straw Mulch. In some cases a mulch of rotten straw, old 

 leaves, etc., may be substituted for the earth mulch produced by 

 tillage. It covers the surface from direct contact with drying sun- 

 shine and air and retains moisture within reach of shallow roots. 

 Such material is usually put in place after the plants are up and high 

 enough to have their tops in the light while the litter shades the 

 ground and the lower parts of the stems. This saves hoeing and 

 conserves moisture and many growers strongly favor such a mulch 

 for tall growing plants. In the case of potatoes it is quite possible 

 to place the mulch right after planting, for the shoots readily find 

 their way through several inches of light coarse stuff, while many 

 weeds will be repressed by it. Water may be applied by sprinkling 

 on top of the mulch. 



CULTIVATION AND IRRIGATION. 



All that has been said about the relations of tillage to reception 

 and conservation of moisture from rainfall is of equal truth as 

 related to moisture derived from irrigation. Soils not readily ab- 

 sorptive must be opened by proper tillage to receive the waterflow. 

 Such is the service rendered by the furrow system in addition to its 

 furnishing channels for the flow. Soils naturally open will take 

 water as well, and sometimes better, by other methods, as has already 

 been explained. But by whatever means water is brought to the 

 soil the conservation of the water depends largely upon the pre- 

 vention of surface evaporation which not only releases moisture 

 but turns the upper soil into a pavement which is fatal to shallow- 

 rooting plants. Therefore let the plow follow the irrigation, if it is 

 fall or winter irrigation for the preparation of a seed bed, and let 



