26 .MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



germination. Dry seeds put into dry soil and kept dry will never 

 germinate. 



Freshly plowed soil has usually a dampness about it which is 

 sufficient if properly firmed about the seed to promote capillarity 

 of water toward the surface and germinate the seed. 



When sowing beans in a very dry time, it is advisable to open only 

 about four rows at a time. Sow and cover those before opening 

 any more. I have seen some sad failures of bean planting in a dry 

 time because the furrows were allowed to dry a few hours before 

 covered in. 



Cultivation should begin as soon as possible after the crop is up 

 or after a rain to preserve the soil moisture. The less the depth 

 of cultivation the more frequent it should be. One-half to three- 

 quarters of an inch is good for lettuce, spinach, radishes, and celery. 

 Two inches is good cultivation for corn, peas, beans, and tomatoes. 

 I like to get over all the farm with shove hoes or cultivator once in 

 five days. It is just as necessary to cultivate in wet as in dry 

 weather. 



Neglecting to cultivate in wet weather will allow the roots to 

 develop very near the surface. Then a sudden change to dry 

 weather and intensive cultivation will cut off so many roots that the 

 crop will be liable to suffer from blight or other disease. 



Everv plant requires a certain amount of water to produce a 

 healthy growth and if by root pruning we cut down the possibility 

 of the plant getting that amount of water we are liable to get a 

 diseased plant. 



The cultivation and hoeing lets air into the soil, kills weeds, 

 preserves soil moisture, prevents blight and disease, and makes the 

 plant grow. 



All the food of plants is taken by them in solution. The water 

 which holds and carries this food is thought to be the hygroscopic- 

 water, that which is clinging to the soil particles. 



There is a great difference in soils in ability to hold water due to 

 the size of the soil particle and the amount of humus in the soil. 

 The smaller the soil particle the greater its capacity to hold water. 

 A large amount of humus in the soil makes it more retentive of 

 moisture. A clay soil has very small particles; a sand soil has large 

 soil particles. 



