1 68 THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING 



low rooted weeds but slip around the more firmly 

 rooted plants of the crop. These weeders must be 

 used frequently to be of much value, for after 

 a weed is well rooted the weeder cannot destroy it. 



There is a larger class of hand wheel hoes which 

 are very useful in working close planted garden and 

 truck crops. They either straddle the row, working 

 the soil on both sides at the same time, or, running 

 between the rows, work the soil to a width of from 

 six to eighteen inches. 



For best results with the weeder and hand wheel 

 hoes the soil should be thoroughly prepared before 

 planting by burying all trash with the plow and 

 breaking all clods with harrow and roller. 



The objection made to the deep- working imple- 

 ments, like the plow, is that they injure the crop 

 by cutting its feeding roots, and this has been found 

 by careful experiment and observation to diminish 

 the crop. 



Some farmers object to using a light harrow for 

 cultivation in the early stages of the crop because 

 they say the harrow will destroy the crop as well as 

 the weeds. This danger is not so great as it seems. 

 The seeds of the crop are deeper in the soil than 

 the seeds of the weeds which germinate and appear 

 so quickly. The soil has also been firmed about 

 them. Hence they have a firmer hold on the soil 

 and but few of them are destroyed if the work is 

 carefully done. 



In working crops not only should weeds be de- 

 stroyed but also surplus plants of the crop, as these 



