36 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



knives and shovels are made in great variety for most 

 wheel hoes. The knives as shown in Figure 3 are espe- 

 cially valuable for shallow tillage in sandy soils. They' 

 may be shortened in order to cultivate when the rows are 

 only 6 inches apart, although 10 to 14 inches are usually 

 allowed for wheel hoe cultivation. Figure 4 shows a 

 combination wheel hoe and seed drill that is highly val- 



FIG. 4. COMBINATION HAND SEED DRILL AND CULTIVATOR 



ued, but combination hoes and drills are not generally 

 popular. 



There is no rule to be followed in cultivating garden 

 crops. Hard crusts should certainly not be allowed to 

 remain unbroken for any great length of time. It is gen- 

 erally best to cultivate as soon as the ground is dry 

 enough after every rain. Frequent tillage destroys weeds 

 before they have made much of a start and it also main- 

 tains the best growing conditions in the soil. Crops are 

 never injured by too much cultivation of the proper kind, 



