76 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



to keep this distinction in mind, and we may classify the 

 benefits of tillage under four general heads, arranging 

 them approximately in their order of importance to the 

 fruit-grower: 



1. Tillage improves the physical condition or structure of the 



land, 



(a) By fining or comminuting the soil, and thereby pre- 

 senting greater feeding-surface to the roots; 



(6) By increasing the depth of the soil, and thereby giving 

 a greater foraging and root-hold area to the plant; 



(c) By warming and drying the soil in spring; 



(d) By reducing extremes of temperature and moisture; 



(e) By supplying air to the roots. 



2. Tillage may save moisture, 



(/) By increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil; 



(0) By checking evaporation. 



3. Tillage may augment chemical activities, 



(h) By aiding in setting free plant-food; 



(1) By promoting nitrification; 



(j) By hastening the decomposition of organic matter; 

 (&) By extending these agencies (h, i, j,) to greater depths 

 of the soil. 



4. Tillage indirectly protects the fruit-plantation, 



(I) By destroying weeds; 



(m) By destroying insects and breaking up their breed- 

 ing-places; 



(n) By tending to reduce plant diseases, in the removal 

 of host-plants, burying of affected leaves and 

 fruits, and the like; 



(o) By aiding in the keeping down of mice, rabbits and 

 other pests. 



The simple statements of these offices of tillage is 

 sufficient for the present occasion, except, perhaps, in 

 respect to the improving of the structure of the soil and the 

 conservation of the moisture, for if the cultivator is skilled 

 in these latter matters, all the other benefits will follow. 



