CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 56 (Supplement)

CULTIVATION OF CROPS.

Land that has been previously broken up for root crops or turnips, etc., should lie cultivated as often as circumstances permit. Every stroke of the cultivator that the land receives will materially increase the yield of the crop. Tliorougn cultivation is an ally to manure; therefore, the more cultivation one can give land the move use will be made of the manure applied, or of that which is already in the soil. It is not sufficient that, the land should receive a fair ploughing and afterwards a stroke of the discs, cultivator or harrows. This may suffice in sotne instances—on the lighter classes of land, for example— but on land of a stiff nature, or inclined to be sour, or foul with weeds, the more cultivation one can give the better will be the result. During the process of cultivation the soil is pulverised, and becomes thoroughly aerated. This sets free the elements of fertility, or «t least opens up the soil so that are available for the roots of the crop. s Any practical farmer kno/srs from

experience that even a good class of land will not grow good crops without proper cultivation, no matter how rich such soil may be in plant food; while an inferior soil will often grow fairly good crops, providing the tillage is all that it should be, and srmply because the plant food in a well-cultivated soil is rendered available for the crop instead of being locked up in the turf and clods. A turnip seed weighs about l-25th of a grain, and, taking a grown turnip at 01b, we find that in about five months the plant has increased to about one million times its own weight, showing the necessity of good tilth and manuring for this plant need.