AGRONOMY 41 



Different trees require different amounts of 

 water. There appears to be a selective action of 

 the roots. Fruit trees require cultivation during 

 their early growing period — and even when fully 

 grown cultivation generally pays, by the produc- 

 tion of a sounder and fuller yield of fruit. 



One of the chief objects of digging (cultivation) 

 is to loosen the soil, so as to enable it to absorb 

 the rainfall more quickly and more freely than it 

 would in its undisturbed condition ; also to main- 

 tain more of the rainfall near the roots of trees. 

 With a large class of soils there is no implement 

 so effective for loosening and improving the soil 

 conditions as the spade. All cultivators are 

 familiar with the difference in the tilth of a 

 garden or orchard which, has been thoroughly dug 

 and of a field ploughed in the ordinary way. 



The object of cultivation is to destroy weeds, 

 and thus prevent the great drain which they make 

 upon the food-supply and moisture of the soil ; 

 and to loosen and pulverise the surface, leaving it 

 in a fine state of division, the object of which is 

 to prevent excessive loss of water by evaporation. 



The cultivator can do little during the time of 

 actual drought. Cultivation is of little benefit 

 during a prolonged dry season. Its most effective 

 and valuable work is before the dry weather sets 



