XI. TILLAGE 



TILLAGE includes the usual farm operations of plowing, culti- 

 vating, harrowing, rolling, or any other stirring of the soil for the 

 purpose of facilitating plant growth and improving the physical 

 condition of the soil. 



Kinds of Tillage. Tillage which covers the entire ground we 

 call open or general tillage, and when it covers only that part of the 

 ground which lies between the plants we call it close or intertillage. 

 Open tillage is used in preparing the ground for sowing seed; close 

 tillage or intertillage is used in fruit plantations and growing crops. 

 When the tillage extends more than six or seven inches into the 

 ground, we speak of it as deep tillage. When it extends only three 

 or four inches, we have what is known as shallow tillage. If the 

 depth of the cultivation is less than three inches, we have what is 

 called surface tillage. 



Benefits and Advantages of Tillage. 1. It destroys weeds. 

 These as a rule are much stronger and more vigorous than most 

 agricultural plants. If weeds are not destroyed while young, 

 they deprive crops of food, water, and sunlight. 



2. Tillage breaks and pulverizes the surface soil and makes it 

 more absorptive and porous. Clods check and impede the growth 

 of tender plants and afford such a narrow area from which to collect 

 food and water that the plant soon withers away. 



3. It preserves and regulates the soil moisture. Deep tillage 

 provides a reservoir or storehouse of moisture, while shallow tillage 

 checks evaporation and thereby preserves the soil water. 



4. Tillage aerates and warms the soil. Plants set in ground 

 that is not stirred and kept loose soon dwarf and present a sickly 

 appearance. The ground bakes, and the soil moisture due to capil- 

 lary action rapidly escapes and soon becomes exhausted. Tillage 

 brings the soil constituents to the surface and helps to unlock 

 unavailable plant food. 



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