The Care of Growing Crops 201 



supply of water from below is cut off. This dry surface 

 layer then covers the soil below like a heavy cloth 

 spread on the ground. 



Beneath a good surface mulch of dry soil the earth 

 is moist, even after long periods of dry weather ; and 

 when a soil in good physical condition (see page 58) is 

 kept moist in this way it remains loose so that the roots 

 can easily penetrate it. Thus the mulch not only saves 

 the water for the plants, but it keeps the soil in good 

 physical condition for the roots. 



When to cultivate. Rainfall and surface irrigation 

 destroy a surface mulch. Hence the garden should be 

 cultivated soon after each rain or irrigation. If one 

 waits several days, a dry crust will form and the surface 

 will become cracked and broken up into coarse lumps. 

 Much water is lost in this way ; also such a soil is in poor 

 condition for the roots. 



Shallow cultivation should begin as soon as the seed- 

 lings are above the ground, and if seeds are slow in 

 germinating, as are parsnips and carrots, the soil should 

 be stirred before the plants are up. Crops need more 

 careful and more frequent cultivation while they are 

 young than they do later, for the roots are nearer the 

 surface and the soil is less shaded ; hence the roots are 

 more exposed to the drying effects of the sun and air. 



In cultivating young crops, work the rake or tool 

 used in such a way that fine loose dirt is thrown about 

 the base of seedlings or even over seedlings that are not 

 yet above ground. Cultivate after each rain as soon as 

 the soil is dry enough not to stick to the tools. Do not 

 draw the cultivating tools so close to plants that the main 



