CHAPTER IV 

 TILLAGE AND TILLAGE TOOLS 



65. The object of tillage. — So far as soil management 

 is concerned, tillage is the most important operation in 

 vegetable gardening. Both yield and quality are largely 

 determined by the character of the tillage operations. Th< 

 objects of tillage are as follows : (i) To modify the phys- 

 ical conditions; (2) to regulate the soil moisture con- 

 tent; (3) to modify soil temperatures; (4) to aerate the 

 soil; (s) to provide proper conditions for the action of 

 friendly bacteria; (6) to destroy weeds; (7) to prevent 

 surface erosion ; (8) to cover humus-producing materials, 

 as manure and green crops. 



The value or efficiency of tillage depends upon charac- 

 ter, thoroughness, and timeliness. Both the character and 

 the thoroughness of tillage count for much in vegetable 

 gardening, for in growing crops of high cash value gar- 

 deners should be certain that tillage operations should 

 be of the right kind and be fully completed before work is 

 discontinued. Timeliness is of primary importance, for to 

 plow, harrow, cultivate, hoe and weed at just the right 

 time may make the difference between profit and loss. 

 Conditions may be satisfactory for plowing today, while 

 rain tomorrow may fill the soil with too much moisture 

 for the most effectual plowing, and so much rain may 

 fall that plowing, harrowing and planting may be delayed 

 a week or more. Such delays often result in reaching 

 the market too late for the best prices. The failure to cul- 

 tivate a field at the right time frequently results in the 

 weeds taking possession, a situation causing unnecessary 

 expense in hoeing and hand weeding, and in addition pro- 

 ducing later maturing crops and reduced yields. There 



