TILLAGE AND TILLAGE TOOLS II 



compact all the way down as deep as plowed. No 

 clods should be left, and especially underneath the 

 surface. The presence of clods interferes with the 

 free development of the roots of plants, because the 

 roots do not penetrate clods, but simply find their 

 way between them. This leaves large areas in the 

 soil with large 

 quantities o f 

 plant food locked 

 up and practically 

 unavailable so far 

 as the plant is 

 concerned. In se- 



curing these soil ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ,^^^ ^^^^ 



conditions, the 



value of tillage implements cannot be overestimated, 

 and the value of thorough preparation of the soil, 

 especially for the vegetable crops, has been appre- 

 ciated for hundreds of years. For the small areas 

 in this country, and in many of the older countries, 

 the soil is turned and pulverized entirely by hand 

 and to great depths. It is worthy of note that in 

 those countries where these methods of hand tillage 

 still prevail the largest yields of vegetables are 

 secured. The implement commonly used first in 

 the preparation of the soil in this country is the 

 plow. The principle of the plow used today is the 

 same as that found in the plow used by the people 

 of earlier civilization, yet in detail the implement 

 has been perfected in many particulars until now 

 some type can be found peculiarly fitted to meet 

 almost every condition of soil and doing the work for 

 which it was intended in almost an ideal fashion. A 

 good plow lifts and turns the soil, at the same time 

 thoroughly breaking, pulverizing and incorporating 



