I ■ 



^ r . . . 



a suitable shade may be constructed from a lattice-woiTc-of b'atotKwvand 

 if kept dry when not in use, these bamboo shades will last for several 

 years. 



After the plants have developed three or four leaves, and are almost 

 large enough to transplant, the covering used as a shade should be 

 removed about 5 p. m, and replaced about 9 a. m. After following this 

 practice for several days, the shade may be entirely removed, in order 

 that the plants may become accustomed to the sunlight and l)e in better 

 condition to stand the exposure when transplanted to the field. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL,. 



With the native plow that is universally used by the Filipino planter^ 

 in the preparation of their soil, it is impossible to satisfactorily turn 

 under the weeds, grass, and trash. All vegetable matter is, therefore, 

 either piled and burned, or, if too green to burn, is carried to the 

 edge of the field. A large amount of valuable material is thus wasted, 

 Avhich, if properly turned under and allowed to decay, would add greatly 

 to the fertility and water-holding capacity of the soil. A gi-eat im- 

 provement could be made by using modern plows which would not 

 only turn under the vegetable matter, but also make it possible to 

 prepare the field more rapidly than with the native plow. With the 

 native plow it is necessary to plow and cross-plow the field several times 

 before the soil is in suitable condition for planting. 



Land that is not subject to inundation should be plowed six or eight 

 weeks before the time for planting, in order that the clods may be broken 

 up by the rains. Just before planting, another plowing should be given 

 the field. As a general rule where the field is plowed early and alloAved 

 to lie for some time the clods are dried out by the sun and cracks are 

 foi-med in them. A slight rain will fill these cracks with water and 

 as this moisture is evaporated by the sun, the clods will crumble into a 

 finely pulverized state. If the second plowing is given just before plant- 

 ing, and a harrow run over the surface of the field, the soil will be 

 finely pulverized and the cultivation of the crop made much easier. 



In districts where the land is subject to overflow, like the lower flood 

 plains of the Cagayan Valley, it is impracticable to prepare the soil any 

 length of time before planting, because if the soil is loosened it is 

 liable to be carried away by the floods. 



No general rule can be given as to the proper time i'ur })lowing the 

 land, and each planter must be governed largely l)y the nature of his 

 soil and the condition of the weather. 



No land should be plowed while it is too wet; clayey soil plowed while 

 too wet bakes into hard clods which interfere with the cultivation of 



