38 TILLING THE SOIL 



Implements. - - The implements used to work the 

 soil are the spade, hoe, plow, harrow, roller, clod 

 crusher or planker, and leveler. Tilling requires more 

 work than other farm operations, and it is usually 

 done by hitching horses or mules, or engines, to the 

 tilling machinery. 



Wet soil. Some heavy soils of fine texture, like 

 clay, may be spoiled if they are tilled when too wet. 

 This puddles the soil so that air and water cannot pass 

 through it. A soil that is apt to puddle can be im- 

 proved by adding lime, sand, or humus. 



Cultivation. The tilling of soil around plants is 

 called cultivation. Some crops are sown so close 

 together that they are allowed to grow without cul- 

 tivation. Other crops are drilled in rows or planted 

 in hills so that the soil between the rows or around the 



hills can be cul- 

 tivated. 



Cultivators. 

 In earlier times 

 cultivation of the 

 soil was practi- 

 cally all done with 

 a hoe. The labor 



CULTIVATOR , 



was severe, and 



only a small patch of land could be hoed by one man. 

 Now crops are cultivated with machines, called cul- 

 tivators, which are drawn by horses. A cultivator 

 may stir the soil along a row or between several rows 



