84 Cultivation cmd tillage 



to climb cliffs in the early spring because pieces of rock 

 that have been split off during the winter frosts by the 

 expanding water may easily give way. Frost plays 

 havoc with walls built of flints and with old bricks that 

 are beginning to wear. If there are several frosts, with 

 falls of rain or snow and thaws coming in between, the 

 soil is moved about a good deal by the freezing and 

 melting water. Bulbs and cuttings are sometimes forced 

 out of the ground, whilst grass and young wheat may be 

 so loosened that they have to be rolled in again as soon 

 as the weather permits. When the ground has been 

 dug in autumn and left in a very rough state all this 

 loosening work of the frost is very much helped, because 

 so much of the soil may become frozen. If in spring 

 you dig a piece of land that has already been dug in 

 autumn, and then try digging a piece that has not, you 

 will find the first much easier work than the second in 

 all but very sandy soils. 



A little before the seeds are sown, the soil has to be 

 dug or cultivated again so that it may become more 

 level and broken into smaller pieces. The farmer then 

 harrows and the gardener rakes it, and it becomes still 

 finer. Very great care is bestowed on the preparation 

 of the seed bed, and it will take you longer to learn this 

 than any other part of outdoor gardening. The soil has 

 to be made fine and dry, and no pains must be spared 

 in getting it so. 



When at last the soil is fine enough the seed is put 

 in. But it is not enough simply to let the seed tumble 

 into the ground. It has to be pressed in gently with a 

 spade or a roller, not too hard or the soil becomes too 

 sticky. Fig. 41 shows this operation being carried out 

 on the farm. Then the soil should be left alone. 



