94 AGRICULTURE 



how necessary air is to the roots of plants, and to the processes 

 that form plant food from the elements in the soil. Tillage extends 

 these processes to a greater depth and hastens the decay of organic 

 matter. 



Fourth: Tillage destroys weeds. Weeds are stronger and 

 more vigorous than most agricultural plants; they should be de- 

 stroyed while young to keep them from depriving the crops of food, 



water, and sun- 

 light. 



The Plow. - 

 The plow is the 

 first and the 

 most important 

 implement of the 

 farmer. It cuts, 



inverts, and 

 A GOOD PLOW 



roughly pulver- 

 izes the soil. It opens the land to frost, sunlight, air, and moisture 

 and prepares it for the crops. 



Time to Plow. The best time to break up land with the plow 

 depen.ds on soil, climate, and crops. As a rule, it is well to plow 

 clay soil in fall or winter, especially in cold climates where the 

 land freezes and does not wash. The texture is improved by it, 

 and there are destroyed many harmful insects which winter in the 

 soil. Fall plowing also lessens the burden and rush of spring 

 work. In warm climates and on light soils, fall-plowed land needs 

 to be protected against washing, leaching rains, by a cover crop 

 of grain or clover. 



Fall or winter plowed land should be cultivated as early as 

 possible in the spring. This prevents loss by evaporation of the 

 winter store of moisture, and enables the crop to get the benefit 



