CHAPTER III 

 Tillage and Ullage Tools 



In so far as the management of the soil has to do 

 with the growth of crops, tillage is the most im- 

 portant operation in vegetable gardening. With the 

 class of crops under consideration especial attention 

 should be given to the thorough preparation of the 

 soil before planting is done. No amount of sub- 

 sequent cultivation can make up for the disadvan- 

 tages of a poorly prepared soil. The principal thing 

 to be remembered in the preparation of soil for veg- 

 etables is that a deep soil body is absolutely essen- 

 tial. Not less than lo to 15 inches of thoroughly 

 pulverized, well-prepared soil will give satisfactory 

 results with any vegetable crop. If less than this 

 amount of soil is available, steps should be taken to 

 immediately deepen the soil. As explained here- 

 tofore, this should not be done all at once, but from 

 one to two inches of subsoil turned up and incor- 

 porated with the surface soil each season until the 

 required depth is secured. The principal objects of 

 tillage operations are, first of all, to turn under and 

 cover up organic or humus-forming materials, such 

 as manure or green cover crops. This in turn regu- 

 lates the physical condition of the soil, controls and 

 holds the moisture supply, provides proper condi- 

 tions for the action of soil bacteria, and in connec- 

 tion with subsequent cultivation affords splendid 

 aeration. 



In the preparation of the soil special care should 

 be taken to have it thoroughly fine and mellow, yet 



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