TILLAGE AND TILLAGE TOOLS I 5 



The condition of the soil at the time of their use 

 very largely determines the efficiency of various 

 harrows. If the soil is too dry the clods will be 

 imperfectly pulverized. This is especially true of 

 the smoothing harrow type. Good-sized clods will 

 readily pass between the teeth with little or no 

 effect so far as crushing is concerned. The prin- 

 cipal value of the spiked-tooth harrow is as a cul- 

 tivating tool for the destruction of weeds and the 

 maintenance of a surface mulch for the conserva- 

 tion of soil moisture. 



The drag or planker, as it is commonly known, is 

 deserving of a special place in connection with the 

 preparation of the soil for vegetables. In the plant- 

 ing and transplanting of most vegetable seeds and 

 plants it is quite important that the soil not only be 

 thoroughly and deeply prepared, but that the sur- 

 face be left perfectly smooth in order that small 

 seeds may not be covered too deeply and that all 

 kinds may be covered uniformly. In transplanting 

 it is equally as important that the roots of the young 

 plantlet be set at the right depth. The planker 

 crushes and pulverizes the smaller clods and at the 

 same time smooths and levels the surface, leaving 

 it in the best possible condition for the seeder or 

 transplanter to follow. 



These are all tools that should be found upon any 

 well-stocked farm. In the preparation and the plant- 

 ing of the home garden no special tools are called 

 for up to this point. They are, or should be, avail- 

 able for this purpose without additional cost. In the 

 small gardens of the city dweller these tools will 

 often be out of the question. Here the first work 

 in the preparation of the soil must be done with 



