CHAPTER VI. 



CULTIVATION. FERTILIZATION. THINNING. 



If a man isn't willing to curry and feed his orchard, he 

 needn't expect thoroughbred results. Tim. 



The offices of tillage are several. Among the more 

 important ones are : 



1. The setting free of plant food by increasing the 

 chemical activities in the soil. 



2. The soil is made finer and hence presents greater 

 surfaces to the roots, thus increasing the area from 

 which the roots can absorb nutriment. 



3. The surface of the soil is kept in such condition 

 that it immediately absorbs all the rain that falls 

 during the summer, when it is apt to be dry. Little 

 is lost by surface drainage. 



4. Moisture is conserved thereby. Where the sur- 

 face remains undisturbed for weeks the soil becomes 

 packed, so that the moisture from below readily passes 

 to the surface and is evaporated, thus being lost to 

 the growing crop. If the surface is kept light and 

 loose by tillage, so that the capillarity is broken, but 

 little of the soil moisture comes to the surface and 

 evaporation is not so great. In this way nearly all 

 the moisture remains in the soil, where it can be used 

 by the roots. 



5. Thorough tillage has a tendency to cause deeper 

 rooting of the roots. The surface of the soil is made 

 drier by tillage during the early part of the season 

 than it would otherwise be ; hence the roots go where 

 the soil is moist. The advantage of deep rooting 

 during drought is obvious. 



6. Weeds and grass are kept out 



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