CULTIVATING CROPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 228, 28 September 1935, Page 14

CULTIVATING CROPS

The cultivation of the soil among all growing crops is of far greater importance than many seem to imagine, hence the reason why the writer so fre-

quently draws attention to it. But, although this is necessary with growing • crops at all seasons of the year to obtain the best results, it is especially essential during the spring and summer months. To keep the soil well moved is to give the plants a better chance to make good root action, and this is most easily done by the free use of the hoe. Frequently stirring the soil, apart from being a means of keeping down weeds, creates a fine loose surface that acts as a mulch and assists to supply the roots with moisture during dry weather by capillary attraction. Weeds, on the other hand, if allowed to grow, not only quickly impoverish the soil, but it is surprising the amount and depth of moisture they take from the ground. When the hoe is used freely the surface soil becomes broken up* into fine particles, which lie close together and act as a mulch, and although the soil may be quite dry as far as the hoe penetrates, yet below that poins the soil will be found to be warm and moist, and will keep so through a long spell of dry weather. Hoeing, however, to be effective, does not mean simply scratching over the surface with a Dutch hoe, but by breaking up the soil to the full depth of tne draw hoe. By breaking up the ground as deeply as the hoe will go, air is admitted to sweeten the soil, and warm rains get a chance to penetrau to the roots, instead of running off rhe ground, as is often the case wJere a hard puddled surface n.as been formed. In working the land "the operator must naturally be guided by the nalur? of the soil. On light sandy or gritty soil that has free drainage the soil can be worked at almost .an / time, as it is generally in good order, even shortly after rain has fallen. Un heavy land some judgment must na*ur? ally be exercised, and the ground worked when possible, not when i*: is most desirable. On such laud, after heavy rains, time must be allowed fcr the soil to dry sufficiently to gee on it as it cannot be worked when in a sticky state, but should be hoed over and well boken upassoon as fuvouiable conditions prevail. Once the soil has been well broken up the Dutch h.ne may be used to keep weeds an-u-r. but must often be superseded by deeper working hoes.