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Edible Products. 



that they have done all that is necessary. During the dry season of the year 

 cultivation to kill weeds is one of the minor parts of the work. It is to prevent 

 the evaporation of the soil moisture by keeping the surface of the soil loose 

 and mellow. The smoother and finer the soil, the less surface there is exposed to 

 evaporation by the action of the sun and air, and the more soil moisture is 

 held in the soil for the use of the plants. 



By means of capillary attraction the soil moisture is constantly passing 

 up toward the surface and is given off into the air by evaporation. Now, by 

 means of frequent cultivation we prevent a good deal of this passage of water 

 off at the surface by evaporation. 



Plants that are set one day should have the soil around them stirred the 

 next with a hoe, and cultivation should begin as soon as possible. A careful 

 cultivation should by all means be given after each rain or irrigation, just as soon 

 as the soil can be worked, for, with every hour that the soil is left to dry 

 out and bake, just so much of the valuable soil moisture passes off in evapor- 

 ation. Our observation has been that the question of cultivation has been very 

 largely neglected in our vegetable districts. The growers have been depending upon 

 frequent irrigation and heavy fertilization to do the work that belongs to the culti- 

 vator. Tomatoes cannot be successfully grown by this method, for the result is a 

 soft watery fruit that will not ship or sell well. Tomatoes respond especially well to 

 frequent shallow cultivation, and it should be kept up from the time the plants are 

 set in the field until a horse can no longer get through the vines. 



The question of cultivation with modern tools is one to which the farmers of 

 this country must give more attention, for observation makes it very plain that 

 there is too little work done with horse cultivation and too much by the more expen- 

 sive method of hand hoeing. The fine tooth cultivator, having from twelve to four- 

 teen teeth is good for all kinds of small plants, which are in danger of being covered 

 by earth thrown from the blades. It is an especially fine tool for tomatoes when 

 they are first set out. There is a larger style of cultivator having from five to seven 

 teeth. It is a very useful tool for the cultivation of all classes of plants and has 

 many advantages, being fitted with different styles of teeth so as to throw the dirt 

 either to or away from the plants. 



IRRIGATION. 



Some form of irrigation is absolutely essential for successful winter vegetable 

 growing on most soils in Cuba. There are many more sections where streams could 

 be utilized. Other regions will have to depend upon wells for securing the water 

 necessary to take the crop over dry spells. The amount of water needed will vary 

 greatly with different years and in different parts of the Island. In some regions, 

 principally along the north coast, there is sometimes rain enough during the winter 

 months to produce a crop, while during other winters very little rain falls. There 

 are sections of the Island where there is scarcely any rain for several months. Most 

 of the soils require a large amount of water as they are open and porous and dry out 

 quickly. In irrigating one should give water enough to thoroughly wet the soil. As 

 soon as the ground is dry enough it should be given a smooth, shallow cultivation so 

 as to preserve as much of the moisture as possible. These cultivations should be kept 

 up every few days until another irrigation is needed. The number of irrigations will 

 vary greatly with the soil, climate and amount of rain during the winter months. 

 Water should not be applied of tener than is absolutely necessary to keep the plants 

 in vigorous growth. Too much water, at the expense of cultivation, produces strong 

 rank plants and soft watery fruit. The above is especially true where an excess of 

 nitrogenous fertilizer has been used. We cannot too strongly recommend keeping 



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