Benefits of Tillage. 139 



which is sought. For practical purposes, however, it 

 is unnecessary to keep this distinction in mind, and 

 we may classify the benefits of tillage under three 

 general heads, arranging them approximately in their 

 order of importance to the fruit-grower: 



1. Tillage improves the physical condition of the 

 land, 



() By fining the soil, and thereby presenting 

 greater feeding surface to the roots; 



(b) 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 the extremes of temperature 

 and moisture. 



2. Tillage may save moisture, 



(e) By increasing the water -holding capacity of 

 the soil; 



(/) By checking evaporation. 



3. Tillage may augment chemical activities, 



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



(h) By promoting nitrification; 



(i) By hastening the decomposition of organic 



matter; 

 0') By extending these agencies (g, h, i) to 



greater depths of the soil. 



The simple statements of these offices of tillage is 

 sufficient for the present occasion, except, perhaps, 

 in respect to the improving of the texture of the 



