FERTILIZATION. CULTIVATION. IRRIGATION 5I 



There are various makes of good cultivators on the 

 market. I own three kinds, each adapted to one 

 horse : An iron- frame, 

 a d j u s t a b 1 e-v^heel, five- 

 tooth cultivator ; a twelve- 

 tooth machine ; and one 

 with five spring-teeth. All 

 have their uses and all 

 are adjustable to depth 

 and width. The first men- 

 tioned implement has sev- for large areas the two- 



pral attachments side horse cultivator is 



erai auacnmenis ^ ^ ^ sometimes best 



'"shovels," side ''sweeps,' 



rear "hoes," etc. — which are often helpful for special 

 needs ; the flat, wide, surface-skimming sweep attach- 

 ments are particularly good for killing such weeds 

 as thistles, which are apt to dodge and escape the 

 ordinary cultivator tooth. 



Thinning Plants. — This often necessary work 

 must be done by hand early, when the seedlings are 

 quite small. To get a sure "stand" of plants it is 

 usual to sow more seeds in the hill or to put them 

 closer together in the row than is advisable for the 

 plants' later good, and then to thin or pull or cut out 

 the surplus plants when the stand is assured. The 

 distance apart to thin depends upon the variety; for 

 hints on distances, consult the chapters on vegetables. 



Irrigation. — In regions of normal rainfall, arti- 

 ficial watering of gardens is seldom practised or 

 necessary. Cultivation, under normal conditions, con- 

 serves sufficient moisture for the average plant's 

 needs. In California and some other states, irrigation 

 is a necessity. Folks who need to practise this 

 method should write to the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C, and ask for free 



