150 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



rows is beneficial, so long as the plants are young and their 

 roots not extended ; but when they begin to shade much 

 of the surface, and to occupy most of the soil with their 

 roots, merely loosening the immediate surface, at the same 

 time destroying all weeds, will be quite sufficient. 



All garden crops, then, should be frequently and deeply 

 hoed early in the season, and in the early stages of their 

 growth. Even to suppress the weeds which spring up freely 

 in the moist soil at that time requires frequent and thorough 

 hoeing. Of course hoeing, or moving the soil in any way, is 

 not to be undertaken while it is wet. When young seed- 

 ling plants first appear, the earth must be lightly stirred 

 about them, to break up any crust upon the surface that 

 may have formed. Take care not to injure the young 

 plants, though at this time the mutilation of a few roots, if 

 the most of them are unhurt, is easily repaired ; and the 

 plant is not so much injured by their loss as benefited by 

 that thorough pulverization of the soil, that permits the 

 free extension of the roots, and opens it to the air and 

 night dews. 



At this time all weeds should be removed, and the plants 

 thinned to an inch apart, so as not to interfere with each 

 other. When they have made a little more growth, and 

 there is less danger of insects and other disasters, they 

 should be thinned to the proper distance and hoed more 

 deeply, taking care not to cover or injure the young plants. 

 After this continue to keep the soil light and open, of course 

 destroying all weeds. 



In heavy loams, watering or dashing rains will frequently 

 puddle the surface, which bakes in the sun so effectually as 

 to exclude the atmosphere. The rains that follow flow off 

 without sinking into and moistening the soil. But a soil 

 which, soon after each rain, while not too wet, is freshly 

 hoed, will, at all times, present an open, porous, finely pul- 

 verized surface, ready for the absorption of plant food from 



