DEEP DIGGING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1941, Page 3

DEEP DIGGING

WHY IT IS NECESSARY. Some people find it difficult to understand why it is first insisted that all ground should be dug deeply, loosening the earth and breaking up all compressed lumps and then, when it comes to planting, it is urged that the soil should be pressed or trodden firmly about the roots. The most important point about digging is that it facilitates the free passage of water from the upper to' the lower part. Thus the top soil is less likely to become saturated and puddled during prolonged periods of rain. Moreover, the water that soaks down can rise again as vapour when the top is dried and heated by the sun. Thus the necessary moisture is provided for the plant roots when otherwise they would suffer thirst. The second benefit is that disturbing and loosening the soil admits air which has a sweetening effect on ground which for a period has been too close for air percolation. Ground dug in autumn will have settled down to a reasonably firm condition by winter rains, but any disturbance immediately prior to planting will intorduce more air than is favourable to root action. By pressing or treading the soil about the roots, air is driven out from between roots and soil, thus facilitating formation of new! toots which would perish quickly if they entered hollow places between rough lumps.