138 SOIL MANAGEMENT 



so frequent shallow tillage keeps new weeds from starting 

 or from becoming firmly established. 



d. Tillage serves many other useful purposes. It en- 

 ables the farmer to mix fertilizers of different kinds uni- 

 formly in the soil. It makes it easier for him to plant his 

 seed and cover it. (Probably this was the only benefit 

 from tillage that early farmers knew.) It brings different 



SPREADING LIME. 



This spreader distributes the lime more evenly than if it is shoveled from a 



wagon. 



particles of soil at different times to the surface where 

 they can be cleansed and made more usable for the plant. 

 To sum up briefly : tillage helps the farmer get seed and 

 fertilizers into the ground. It kills countless enemies of 

 the growing plant before and after it starts, and brings 

 new food within its reach. It brings to the plant's root- 

 lets indispensable air which otherwise would be shut out, 

 and it keeps in for those rootlets much indispensable 

 water which would otherwise escape. 



