98 Cultivation and tillage 



through too easily, as was shown on p. 26: but for this 

 very reason it is admirable for residential purposes. 



There are some exceptions to the rule that plants 

 need lime. Some plants will not tolerate it at all; 

 such are rhododendrons, azaleas, foxgloves, spurrey, and 

 broom; wherever you see these growing you may be 

 sure that lime is absent. 



Lime really differs from chalk, but changes into it so 

 quickly in the soil that the action of both is almost, 

 though not quite, the same. 



Summary- The various things we have learnt in 

 this Chapter are: — 



Autumn and winter cultivation are needed to loosen 

 the soil so that rain can soak in and not lie about in 

 pools, and also to facilitate working in spring. 



The soil has to be broken down very finely and 

 made rather dry for a seed bed. The seed has to be 

 rolled in and then left entirely alone. 



As soon as the little plants are up the soil must be 

 hoed, and the more often this is done the better. 

 Hoeing keeps the soil cool and moist in hot weather, 

 the loose layer acting like a mulch of straw. Anything 

 else that shields the soil from the sun or the wind has 

 the same action but is not so effective as the mulch. 

 Further, hoeing keeps down weeds, which successfully 

 compete against almost any cultivated plants. Humus 

 also prevents the loss of moisture from soils. 



Drainage may be necessary to remove excess of water. 



Liming or chalking the soil is beneficial, not only 

 because of the improvements mentioned in Chap, in., 

 but also because certain injurious substances are thereby 

 removed. There are, however, some plants that will not 

 tolerate lime. 



