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crop is not to be put in until quite late, as it is very essen- 

 tial to prevent needless exhaustion of water supplies 

 through useless evaporation. 



WEEDS. 



Weeds are pumps, that are continually at work deplet- 

 ing the quantity of water stored in the soil. Destroy 

 weeds, or better, never allow them to grow, and we gain 

 just so much moisture for the use of our cultivated crops. 

 While weeds are a dead loss, robbing the soil of fertility 

 as well as moisture, yet doubtless the loss of water is by 

 far the greater source of embarassment to the growing 

 crops. This same loss of moisture occurs just when the 

 crops most need it for their development. Weeds are 

 always an expensive luxury, but especially so in a dry 

 season. 



THINNING CROPS. 



A surplus plant sustains the same relation to the crop 

 proper, precisely as a weed. Hence surplus plants are to 

 be removed early, before they have grown much. Thin 

 early and do it thoroughly. Too heavy seeding is inju- 

 rious to best interests of the crop at any time, but espec- 

 ially is this the case in a season of small rainfall, when 

 every particle of water in the soil is required to be saved 

 to mature the crop. 



THE EAR.TH MULCH. 



The thin mulch of dry earth upon a well tilled field is 

 of inestimable value in saving soil moisture, since it breaks 

 off the capillary connection of earth and air, and thereby 

 prevents an enormous amount of evaporation. Continual, 

 shallow cultivation, with hoe and cultivator, throughout 

 the growing season, gives us this earth mulch, always 

 present. This is the primary object of thorough tillage. 



