THE CULTIVATION OF CROPS 203 



three inches ; better for weed destruction and good enough 

 for mulch making. 



A most important point: level culture'. You will find 

 farmers who still ridge their crops : they "hill" the crop 

 that it may not be blown over by winds, nor pulled down 

 by storms and rain. But have you ever noticed that 

 near-by crops, although given level culture, are no more 

 troubled by storms and wind than the hilled and ridged 

 crops? Often not so much, is the true situation. 



Hilling and ridging the crop is advisable for just one 

 reason : to drain the land. With proper drainage and seed- 

 bed preparation, there is no occasion for either of these 

 expensive practices. 



Level culture, since it exposes a smaller area to sun 

 and wind than ridge culture, actually protects, with 

 greater efficiency, the water stores in the soil. Bedding 

 the land is often advisable with some soils (although it 

 increases the cost of planting), for the reason it secures 

 a small amount of drainage and a greater warmth to the 

 soil. 



When to cultivate. You must be in sympathy with 

 the spirit of cultivation if you would get the best results. 

 You must do it at the time when the soil is in the best con- 

 dition to profit by the work. Just after a rain, the word 

 goes out. But use your judgment here, else you may 

 cultivate too early after the rain and "puddle" your land. 

 When the next rain comes, the crust caused by the culti- 

 vation may be so hard and stiff the rain may slip away 

 before it can secure entrance through the stubborn top. 



Here is the better plan: just wait until the soil is 

 slightly dried ; enough so that when it is stirred it will not 

 settle and connect with the capillary tubes below thus 

 defeating the very object you set about to secure. In 

 times when you are depending upon cultivation for water 



