SOIL MANAGEMENT. 19 



regretted, as it is an operation of much greater im- 

 portance than at first sight appears. Stirring the 

 soil frequently to the depth of about 3 inches is 

 excellent in every way and has many far-reaching 

 and beneficial effects. It breaks up the more or less 

 consolidated surface and admits air freely to the 

 ground, which is a distinct advantage. A free and 

 abundant supply of air is necessary to the healthy 

 development of the roots ; it is vital to the life and 

 healthy activity of the many useful organisms in the 

 soil ; assists in the breaking up of materials, and is 

 therefore an important factor in the production of 

 plant foods. 



It would be a mistake to assume that this ad- 

 mission of air makes the soil dry or less capable of 

 retaining moisture. On the contrary, the stirring of 

 the surface produces a thin layer of fine loose soil 

 however dry this layer may become it matters little 

 which acts like a mulch in dry weather, checks 

 evaporation, and conserves moisture underneath for 

 the benefit of the crops. In dry weather moisture is 

 continually rising towards the surface of the ground 

 by the capillary attraction of the soil, and if left un- 

 checked a considerable amount would escape into the 

 atmosphere by evaporation and be lost to the crops. 

 Frequent hoeing of the surface soil prevents this loss, 

 and by reducing evaporation heat is also better re- 

 tained, its further absorption promoted, and the 

 temperature of the ground maintained at a higher 

 and more uniform degree. Incidentally, regular sur- 

 face working ensures greater freedom from weeds. 



