1 66 THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



TIME TO CULTIVATE 



A seedling plant is easiest killed just as it has 

 started into growth. The best time to kill a plant 

 starting from an underground stem or a root is 

 just as soon as it appears above the surfacje in active 

 growth. 



The best time to cultivate, then, to kill weeds is as 

 soon as the weeds appear. At this time large num- 

 bers can be killed with the least of effort. Do not 

 let them get to be a week or two old before getting 

 after them. 



In planting some' crops the ground between the 

 rows becomes trampled and compact. This results 

 in active capillarity which brings water to the sur- 

 face and it is lost by evaporation. 



Every rainfall tends to beat the soil particles to- 

 gether and form a crust which enables the capillary 

 water to climb to the surface and escape into the 

 air. This loss by evaporation should be constantly 

 watched for and the soil should be stirred and a 

 mulch formed whenever it becomes compact or a 

 crust is formed. 



The proper time to cultivate, then, to save water 

 is as soon as weeds appear or as soon as the surface 

 of the soil becomes compact or crusted by tramp- 

 ling, by the beating of rain or from any other cause, 

 whether the crop is up or not: The cultivation 

 should start as soon after a rain as the soil is dry 

 enough to work safely. 



The surface soil should always be kept loose and 



