JUNE: SECOND WEEK 149 



aim in view. By the time the dry weather sets in the weeds 

 should be pretty well under control; from then on, cultiva- 

 tion to conserve soil moisture by creating a dust mulch 

 accompHshes the further work of destroying, practically 

 before they get a start, such additional weeds as may sprout, 

 and of keeping the earth loose and open so that the air can 

 penetrate readily — another condition essential to healthy 

 plant growth. The cultivator should leave the soil finely 

 pulverized and level. For most crops it should cut not more 

 than an inch or two deep. Therefore a flat blade, or a 

 gang of broad, flat teeth, should be used in preference to 

 the regular narrow cultivator teeth, which are valuable early 

 in the season, or which may be necessary if the ground has 

 been tramped down. Aim to keep the inch or two of soil 

 on the surface as fine and dry as dust. It is a good plan 

 to try to get over all the garden once every week. Use the 

 wheel hoe, working round the plants with the hand or a small 

 hoe as may be necessary. 



Mulch to Hold Moisture 



For some of the vegetable crops, some of the small fruits 

 and many of the flowers, mulching with other material 

 is effective. Light, strawy manure that will not work 

 into the soil satisfactorily may be used in this way. Such 

 plant food as it contains will be washed into the soil and 

 made use of by the hungry plant roots, and the bulky 

 part of it, forming a thick mat over the soil, will readily 

 admit rain or water from above and hold it. Under such a 

 cover the surface of the soil itself decomposes and crumbles, 

 releasing the locked-up plant food, and forming an ideal 

 condition for strong plant growth. 



A few vegetables that particularly require moisture and 

 are benefited by such mulching are eggplants, cauliflower, 

 celery, potatoes and tomatoes. Currants and goose- 

 berries appreciate summer mulching. Roses and sweet 

 peas are greatly benefited. Although Hght manure is 

 probably the best material, other things, such as grass 



