50 THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF 



to maintain two. Its condition should be 

 clean, and it should be carefully examined 

 not only when the crops are ripe, but when 

 they are in their early stage of growth. The 

 soil will in this way show its hand; e.g. its 

 freedom from weeds or otherwise, and its 

 richness in plant food. The richest soils, 

 however, are easily played out, and Just as 

 easily enriched by skilful cultivation and 

 liberal manuring. 



Where land is drained, care should be taken 

 to ascertain if the drains are in working order, 

 or it may be found essential to put them in 

 repair. This would involve heavy expendi- 

 ture where the land is purchased, or an 

 increase in the rental if the owner undertakes 

 the work. Land which needs draining but 

 is undrained had better be avoided altogether, 

 although there are occasional instances in 

 which a skilled man may undertake the 

 work himself with good results, but let us 

 add that in no instance in which doubts 

 arise as to the policy of acquiring a given 

 field should a risk be taken unless a 

 man feels himself to be master of the 

 situation. 



The position of a holding is important. 

 If the altitude is too high, the crops may be 



