TILLAGE AND TILLAGE TOOLS 1 7 



row or drag is run across the last disk marks. Under 

 some conditions the spring-tooth harrow will 

 be preferred at this time. Disk again if nec- 

 essary, following with the smoothing harrow 

 and the drag until the surface is even and smooth. 

 It should be especially emphasized that nothing is 

 ever lost by the thorough preparation of the soil. 

 A few hours or even days more than that required 

 to give just ordinary preparation will more than 

 repay the grower, by the better crops and the less- 

 ened cost of cultivation. 



There are two general classes of cultivators in 

 common use, the horse and the hand cultivators. 

 Various types of both classes are to be found on the 

 market, each suited to some particular condition of 

 the soil or crop. Their value depends directly upon 

 the tool itself, the nature of the soil, the timeliness 

 of its use and the skill of the operator. Both the 

 horse and the hand types of cultivators are pro- 

 vided with various shovel, tooth and rake attach- 

 ments which serve the very important purpose of 

 adapting the same tools to various conditions of 

 soils and various kinds of crops at various stages of 

 development. In working the larger garden crops such 

 as potatoes, cabbage and sweet corn, the riding or 

 sulky cultivators are generally employed, especially 

 when grown in large areas, but the walking cultiva- 

 tors are in universal use over the smaller areas, yet 

 large enough for the advantageous use of horse 

 power. The small teeth and shovels are always to 

 be preferred. They stir and break only the surface 

 layers of the soil, do not interfere with the roots of 

 the plants and in the best possible manner conserve 

 and hold the moisture supply. They are not so 

 effective in the destruction of larger weeds, but the 



