92 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



fitting of the land — should be completed before the 

 crop is put in; thereafter, only the surface -mulch is 

 to be kept in repair. But many times the prepara- 

 tion-tillage is not completed in its season, and the 

 land must be fitted after the crop is sown by means 

 of deep and heavy cultivating; it is usually a loss of 

 effort and efficiency when preparation -tillage and main- 

 tenance-tillage must be done at the same time. 



The soil in the surface-mulch is relatively dry, and 

 it is moved so often that roots do not secure a foot- 

 hold in it. It is therefore out of use for the time 

 being as a source of plant-food; but it is more useful 

 as a conservator of moisture than as plant-food. But 

 its food comes into use when it is turned under the 

 following season, and it is also carried down by the 

 rains, particularly by those of spring and fall. The 

 gardener must bear in mind that his plants need a soil 

 of good physical texture, one which holds moisture, 

 and one which has much available plant-food. Deep 

 preparation enables the soil to hold moisture, and the 

 surface-mulch saves much of it from evaporating. 



The rainfall of the growing season is often insuffi- 

 cient for the crop. The plants draw on the moisture 

 which has been stored in the soil by the winter rains 

 and snows. Therefore, it is exceedingly important to 

 save this winter rainfall, and this is done by fitting 

 the soil and making the surface -mulch the moment 

 the land is dry enough to work in spring. Even if 

 the land is not to be used until June, it should^ be 

 fitted early, and lightly harrowed at frequent intervals 

 before the crop is planted. 



