50 THE AMERICAN APPLE ORCHARD 



OBJECTS OF CULTIVATION 



The purposes served by the cultivation of the soil 

 are several. Sometimes one is more important than 

 another, but the kilhng of weeds — long regarded by 

 farmers as the only motive for cultivation — is cer- 

 tainly of the very least importance. The principal 

 objects are as follows: 



I. To improve the physical condition of the soil. 



IDEAL TILLAGE 



The soil is broken up, made finer, thus allowing the 

 roots to ramify farther and deeper through it, and also 

 making it hold moisture better. If cultivation is 

 deep, as in general it should be, it brings new layers 

 of soil into use, unlocking stores of plant food pre- 

 viously inaccessible and increasing the water storage 

 capacity of the soil. It is possible thus, by deeper 

 cultivation, for a man to double the amount of his 



