CHAPTER THIRTEEN 



THE CARE OF GROWING CROPS 



It is not enough merely to plough and hoe, and plant 

 and sow ; you must see that everything is done in proper 

 time and order. 



Old Farmer's Almanac 



IN caring for the growing crops, as in all garden opera- 

 tions, much depends on doing the right thing at the 

 right time. In general, the best time for giving at- 

 tention to a crop is before the need for doing a particular 

 thing becomes apparent. Crops should be cultivated, 

 weeded, and watered before they begin to suffer for the 

 lack of such care. 



Each crop grown requires a certain special treatment 

 because of its own peculiar habits of growth, but these 

 can best be treated in discussing the various crops. 

 Most crops also need protection from insect and fungous 

 pests, and the most important of these will be discussed 

 in special chapters. However, there are certain prin- 

 ciples which generally apply in caring for all crops, and 

 these will be treated in this chapter. The principal 

 divisions of the work of caring for vegetable crops are 

 (i) cultivation or stirring of the soil between the grow- 

 ing plants, (2) weeding, (3) thinning and replanting, 

 and (4) irrigation. 



Cultivation of the soil. Cultivating the soil destroys 

 weeds, which if left to grow soon cover the ground and 

 choke even the most vigorous of the vegetable crops. 

 It breaks up the crust which forms on the surface of the 

 soil and allows air to enter the soil and reach the roots, 

 and it keeps the water in the soil by making a dry, loose 

 surface mulch. Constant cultivation is so important in 



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