SOIL 



briefly consider the most usual, and probably 

 the most necessary, method of improving the 

 soil ; that is, the method of cultivation. The 

 farmer has his plough, his roller and harrow, 

 the gardener has his spade, rake and hoe, with 

 which the ground is constantly stirred up and 

 kept in the best condition to help on the growth 

 of the plants. By ploughing and digging the 

 soil is broken up afresh each year ; new surfaces 

 are exposed to the action of the frost, rain, 

 sunshine and wind, and new supplies of food 

 are thus brought within reach of the plant-life. 

 The insects and grubs that harm the crops in 

 summer, and lie hidden in the ground in winter- 

 time, are turned up to be killed by the frost or 

 eaten by the birds. After the seed is sown, 

 the ground is rolled or pressed down, so that 

 the soil may settle closely about the tiny seeds, 

 keeping them well supplied with warmth and 

 moisture. Then, when the plants begin to 

 grow, comes the harrow or rake, to disturb the 

 soil again, breaking up the minute channels in 

 the surface of the ground through which the 

 water has found its way into the air, and thus 

 encouraging the moisture to flow up through 

 the roots into the plants, bringing its supply of 

 food for them with it. The weeds also have 

 to be constantly collected and destroyed, or else 

 they will take the food that the crops require, 

 and scatter their seeds over the land to grow 

 up afresh the following year. 



(101) 



