The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-26
Cultivating the Crops.

Mle Jl6 Cuiol OOJeCG VI CulblNdIlOn IL
70 prevent weeds and other spontaneous
growth from sharing the soil with our
specially sown crops, it is not the exclusive
object by any means.
On soils naturally very rich it is only
necessary, it is true, to keep down the weeds
to prevent their choking out the valuable
crop to secure a luxuriant crop. But on
soils of only medium fertility. and that dry
out their moisture rapidly, cultivation is
resorted to as a means Of preserving a
steady supply of moisture, of admitting the
necessary oxygen to the soil and keeping it
from becoming too hard for the young roots
to penetrate it rapidly.
Cultivation should begin with most plants
as soon as they are well up. A shallow
breaking Of the crust close TO the plants
just then keeps in check the wesds, hastens
the formation Of roots, and holds in reserve
the moisture about the plants that would
soon be dispelled if the soil were left undis-
tured.
Beets, carrots, onions and all such plants
that are very small when young if allowed
to get the least weedy Just after coming up
present very laberious job to the eultiva-
tor, ana the la or of cultivation is multi
piled ten times over what is necessary if the
weeds are never permitted to show them~
Selves
With regard to all such plants as are very
tender and delicate when they first come up,
the practice of destroying weeds and grass
before they come up must always hold as
the best-the most economical. First cult
Walton Of such plants as Irish potatoes, corn,
beans, squashes and such plants that are
first grown in seed beds and then trans
planted after attainging some size is muca
easier than it is with the first mentioned.
Still 1t is not desirable to allow the weeds
any foothold among these by leaving the
soil unndisturbed for even q week or two.
protracted rainy spell might occur and
favor the weeds getting too strong a hold
That would require much unnecessary labor
to break The old adage says the best time
to kill weeds is before they come up.
1t will always be found to pay to leave
the soil after sowing level and free from
trash and stones, so that the young plants
can be rapidly and easily cultivated with
the hoe as soon as the plants are I'D. and
without danger of covering them with
loose stones or soil For this reason lie Ia
well to run roller of some kind along the
seed rows after covering lightly with
rake. This leaves the soil perfectly level.
and renders rapid cultivation more easily
uone than when the soil is left rough and
cloddy.
The old-time scuffle hoe has not vet been
improved ON as the very best implement
Ior rapid y scarifving the soil close to the
Eouhg plants. merely running around them
Win 1t and leaving the pillow to clean the
miuales between the hoe burrows. A light
garden plow (hand) with little sweep on it
IS another good implement for the purpose,
~. Duv oI tne two, as RULE, we would prefer
Ine scuhle hoe. These Ore merely for the
IrsV and the most important cultivation.
All rWard heavier hand impleme Is and
.he morse plow cal be resorted to to carry
tne crop to completion. For garden crops a
neaVy drag rake with sharp teeth and
pronged hoes are implements to economize
wCrK also. Still. hoes of various widths for
cnopplng outn the different crops should be
Kept on hand.
>, "a rich soil the weeds and grass often
1ul9S spring up before the vegetables make
Vner appearance, and this renders the first
ealuVatlon tedious. Beets, carrots. satisfy,
aateLisnlpS, onion. parsley and some few
' USueTs when sown In January or February
usually require fifteen and sometimes even
lure than twenty days to terminate. and
ffoYefal weeds of a hardy character will
tlequently spring up and cover the soil be-
So;s vegetable plant appears. In such foul
sol u Is en- excellent plan to sow a few
. "a seed (which are prompt to germinate)
T rioNg IN the rows with the seed of plants
IN .iAe THESE above mentioned (which are
s @oWer In terminating. The radish plants
o ooo1 make show and locate the line of
Ecu; % and the rows can be easily cultivated
4 any weeds appear and with no danger of
Eiso st the other vegetables that are
yos. beginning to terminate. By having a
II r1ulSh plant every two or three inches the
pace OF the other seeds will be perfectly
marEed and allow of as good determination
u Ihe weeds as if all the plants were up.
Later the radishes can be drawn out after
" az pushing their helpful Office. Even in
o o-Iah SOIL this method can be observed to
~ Vantage, and all the radishes needed can
s suus oe grown without devoting a plot
specially TO them.
Ill. IN the growing Of Irish potatoes, and
rrI1peclally when planted late, it is a good
s sst TO ridge on the seed burrows, and
rtoeen or twenty days after planting bring
ny ne SOL TO level by a good narrowing.
- 'is WIZ effectually dispose Of the first crop
W. weeds, and give the potatoes a send off In
;s eittc clean soil. In small garden plots
'p5S caii done with the drag rake.
-, - AGhe, porous s1ils-those Astounding in
Linus, and especially in undecomposed
~ o1Siesaole matter-shallow cultivation is
ea.i Tor, for it is quite possible to have
tau to;l 70 loose for the good of crops. A GER
70 IN ~ compactness of the soil is as essential
n nj Sne prope growth Of the lateral roots of
F-''-'S Al dry weather on some soils as q