114 



FIG CULTURE 



dirt only partly toward the top of the furrow 

 ridge, thus gradually mixing the new with old 

 ground without exposure to the surface until later. 

 Careful subsoiling will increase the depth of fertile 

 ground; if done while the trees are young enough 

 not to be injured by the mutilation of their roots 

 it is very beneficial, literally doubling the size of 

 the orchard when most needed. Five acres of land 

 with a ten-inch soil will afford as much plant food 

 as ten acres five inches deep. 



HARROWS. 



The simple process of time worn harrowing 

 should need no comment, and yet such is the force 

 of traditions and habits of thought that this work 

 is usually done by boys, seldom receiving more than 

 casual attention. The object is to fine the surface 

 so that little particles of dirt fill the interstices. 

 The surface of fresh plowed ground is very uneven, 

 that exposed to evaporation measuring many times 

 the area of the field. As one of the chief objects of 

 tillage is to conserve moisture, unless promptly 

 fined it will soon dry beyond the point at which 

 plants will grow. The chief function of harrowing 

 is to work clods and coarse ground into crumbly 

 beds. Do not use a heavy, straight toothed beam 

 harrow, but invest more money in an iron frame 

 sectional one with adjustable teeth. The difference 



