52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



Board of Agriculture in 1881. The land should then be 

 thoroughly harrowed, for the purpose not only of levelling 

 and smoothing, but also in order to consolidate the surface 

 soil and bring the particles of earth into closer contact (as the 

 florists does in his pots by pressure), fill up the cracks and 

 prepare for the next implement, which is the roller. This 

 should be used thoroughly, in order by its pressure to restore 

 the capillary contacts with the undisturbed soil below,* so 

 as to secure the access of capillary water. These operations 

 to be performed while the land is in a sufficiently dry con- 

 dition not to puddle or cake. 



Now plant your seed (under average conditions the earlier 

 planted crop yields the best) , the distances and quantities as 

 enjoined by local experience, but in covering the seed be sure 

 to either step on or otherwise compress the soil about the 

 seed in order to secure close contact of the seed and soil. 

 This not only aids to secure moisture for germination, but 

 obliterates cavities in which mould can grow, to the destruc- 

 tion of the seed, and in early planted seed which is long in 

 germinating, mould is usually very destructive. I will not 

 speak here of seed selection and variety, or of the import- 

 ance of good seed, as this matter has been sufficiently treated 

 of by me elsewhere, and offers sufficient material for extended 

 remarks. 



At the season of planting there is always sufficient moist- 

 ure, so the field can now be safely left, but in a condition, it 

 is true, for great evaporative loss of water. As soon, how- 

 ever, as the plant attains the proper size, and the earlier the 

 better, put in the cultivator and thoroughly stir the soil so 

 as to break the capillary connections with the surface and 

 prevent by the mulch of loose soil the access of water to the 

 surface to be evaporated, and thus economize the water in 

 the lower soil for future needs. Remember, a proper culti- 

 vation is irrigation 1 The succeeding cultivations can properly 

 follow no definite intervals. The object is to conserve 

 moisture, and hence whenever through rain or otherwise the 

 surface hardens and establishes surface connections to the cap- 

 illary pores, put in the cultivator and re-establish the mulch. 



♦ A heavj' rain after harrowing and before planting, or just after planting, Is often 

 of great service, doiiij; the wnvk of the roller, but more etflcicutly. 



