CULTURAL METHODS 



43 



Horse cultivation should now begin and continue 

 almost constantly for the first two or three weeks, 

 especially if the season is dry, so as to conserve 

 the moisture and keep the plants growing. After 

 every rain, the cultivator should be started as soon 

 as possible in order to prevent any crust from form- 

 ing and a consequent loss of moisture. Keep this 

 up as long as the horse and cultivator can get 



Fig. 9. Hauling the plants to the field for transplanting. 



through without injuring the vines. Some growers 

 prefer to plow deep while the plants are small in 

 order to prepare the soil for the young feeding roots 

 which will soon make their appearance, following 

 this with shallow cultivation until the vines cover 

 the ground. With such treatment but little hand 

 hoeing is needed. But different conditions call for 

 different treatment, and so the resourceful grower 



