FOR YOUNG GARDENERS. 15 



be done. On sod or heavy land a disc, wheel or spading 

 harrow should be used to be followed with a smoothing 

 harrow. The harrow is the best thing to kill small weeds. 

 Some kinds can be used after the crops are planted and 

 until they are three or four inches high. It should gener- 

 ally follow the roller to break the capillary attraction and 

 save moisture. 



Hand and Horse Cultivators, act as harrows. 

 After the crops are three or four inches high, the cultiva- 

 tors should be used. These are made in many styles to 

 cultivate the crops between the rows. As with plows, we 

 have both walking and sulky cultivators. The latter 

 kind are best in the west and on large farms. The teeth 

 should not be too large, and the cultivator, for the best 

 results should not go deeper than three inches in summer. 

 This keeps a soil mulch over the surface at all times, sav- 

 ing the moisture, and allows the crop to send the roots 

 through the middle of the rows without the danger of being 

 broken off as would be the case with deeper tillage. 

 Cultivation atfirstmay be deep, but later should be shallow. 



The Planker, is used where a smooth surface is 

 wanted. It breaks up the lumps and leaves the surface 

 smooth without firming it much. 



The Roller, to do good work should not be smaller 

 than two feet in diameter, and should have a weight of one 

 hundred pounds to the foot in length. It should be used 

 when seed is sown broadcast for the same reason that we 

 press the soil over seed planted in the garden. It is also 

 useful where a green crop has been turned under, to re- 

 store capillary attraction with the soil below. It should 

 generally be followed with a light harrow, to prevent the 

 surface baking and loss of water. 



These are the commonest tools used in tillage aside 

 from the hoe, rake, line and weeder used in every garden. 

 Most of the tools are used to loosen the soil and to remove 

 weeds. 



In the small garden the hoe or rake, should be used 

 at least once a week to make a soil mulch between the 



