48 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 



advisable. This small machine does very 

 good work and Is a great labour saver. 



There are many other tools for cultiva- 

 tion, such as riding cultivators, walking 

 cultivators, many hoes, etc., but for the very 

 best work the ones previously mentioned, 

 from the practical side are superior, because 

 they (i) are easy working tools, of light draft; 

 (2) can be used very close to plants without 

 injury; (3) leave the soil level and in fine 

 particles, making the best dust blanket; (4) 

 are shallow cultivating tools. 



HOW OFTEN TO CULTIVATE.'^ 



Many rules or suggestions are given in 

 answer to the question. How often to culti- 

 vate.^ It would seem that the frequency of 

 cultivation would depend on the amount and 

 time of the rainfall. Good advice is: "as 

 soon as possible after every rain." 



But what if it does not rain for a long 

 period.^ It is best In this case to cultivate 

 every ten days or two weeks, as the mechan- 

 ical influence on the soil as well as the making 

 sure that the mulch is working properly 

 will help to offset the expense of cultivation. 

 Continue this cultivation from the earliest 



