1897] CURRENT LITERATURE 119 
strongly to intelligent farmers; but like all good books upon farm manage- 
ment, it must be read, as the writer has evidently intended it should be, with 
the understanding that while the statements are the fixed or tentative convic- 
tions of the author, they are not to be looked upon as axiomatic and received 
as unhesitatingly as the assertion that twice two make four. Asa single 
instance in point, among many, where the importance and great value of fre- 
quent tillage is being discussed, the writer says (page 222): 
During this year, as in the previous one, the vines remained fairly green until 
October 9, when they were killed by frost. There were no marked signs during the 
summer or fall of arrested growth and development due to lack of nitrogen or moist- 
The rainfall during the six months from April to October 1895 and 1896, was as 
follows: 
Average rainfal 
1895 1896 for ogee years 
prior to 1895 
Inches Inches Inches 
April Seales ae aL Oral erguh nies ees Ne tL chee A L.47 1.02 227 
ayo 3.60 2.64 4.23 
BMG imc wen dete onic, =") | cats fees 3-37 4.36 3-69 
oT Be ee ee ee ee BA fait oe 1.96 3.69 3-88 
MUGUSE hh. Coe a a a eat seth 4.12 2.43 3-30 
Seceuilas at eee ee eee ere ee 2.03 3-84 2.94 
16.55 17.98 20.31 
serving moisture, but those given will suffice to call attention to the means which may 
be successfully used to furnish nitrogen and other necessary plant-food and moisture, 
continuously to the growing plant. True, fre oN inter-tillage benefits potatoes 
more than most other plants, since the earth-mulch, dition to the beneficial effect 
already noted, serves to keep the soil cool,a og which is highly beneficial to 
the potato in most localities. This earth-mulch was kept up until late in the season, 
and seemed to be quite as beneficial in the late as in the early part of the season, 
although it was not so perfect, since the cultivators had to be narrowed up thal the 
partly grown tubers might not be disturbed. 
From these and other similar experiments we are irresistibly led to the conclu- 
sion that the meager crops so universally secured are usually not due so much to the 
lack of rainfall and potential nitrogen and other elements of plant growth in the soil 
as to lack of ability or knowledge to make them available. Here, again, we arrive at 
the point where a choice must be made between Ng the plant food and moisture 
already in the soil or securing the one by purchase and the other by expensive irriga- 
tion. 
