CHAPTER IV 
TILLAGE AND TILLAGE TOOLS 
65. The object of tillage. — So far as soil management 
is concerned, tillage is the most important operation in 
vegetable gardening. Both yield and quality are largel) 
determined by the character of the tillage operations. The 
objects of tillage are as follows: (1) To modify the phys- 
ical conditions; (2) to regulate the soil moisture con- 
tent; (3) to modify soil temperatures; (4) to aerate the 
soil; (5) to provide proper conditions for the action of 
friendly bacteria; (6) to destroy weeds; (7) to prevent 
surface erosion; (8) to cover humus-producing materials, 
as manure and green crops. 
The value or efficiency of tillage depends upon charac- 
ter, thoroughness, and timeliness. Both the character and 
the thoroughness of tillage count for much in vegetable 
gardening, for in growing crops of high cash value gar- 
deners should be certain that tillage operations should 
be of the right kind and be fully completed before work is 
discontinued. Timeliness is of primary importance, for to 
plow, harrow, cultivate, hoe and weed at just the right 
time may make the difference between profit and loss. 
Conditions may be satisfactory for plowing today, while 
rain tomorrow may fill the soil with too much moisture 
for the most effectual plowing, and so much rain may 
fall that plowing, harrowing and planting may be delayed 
a week or more. Such delays often result in reaching 
the market too late for the best prices. The failure to cul- 
tivate a field at the right time frequently results in the 
weeds taking possession, a situation causing unnecessary 
expense in hoeing and hand weeding, and in addition pro- 
ducing later maturing crops and reduced yields. There 
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