The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-05
The Objects of Cultivation.


While the chief object Of cultivation is to
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 1t Ia only
necessary 1t 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
FesOrted to as means of preserving
steady supply of moisture, of ad-
hitting the necessary oxygen TO the soil and
keeping it from becoming too hard for the
young roots to penetrate it rapidly. Guilt
vati0n should begin with most plants as
soon as they are we'll up. A shallow break
gof the crust Close to the plants just then
keeps in check the weeds, hastens the for
nation Of roots, and holds in reserve the
moisture about the plants that would soon
be dispelled if the soil were left undisturbed
Beets carrots, onions and all such plants
that are very small when young il allowed
70 git the least weedy just after coming I'D
present q very laDorIous job to the Guilt
vator, and the labor 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
gross before they come up must always
hold as the best-the most economical. First
cultivation OF such plants as Irish potatoes,
corn, beans, sQuaShes aad such plants that
are first grown in seed Deeds and then trans
planted after attaining some size is much
easier than 1t Is with the first mentioned,
Still it is not desirable to allow the weeds
Fha1d -
soil undisturbed for even a week or two. A
protracted rainy spell might occur and
favor the weeds getting too strong hold
that would require much unnecessary labor
"a 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 up and
without danger Of covering them with loose
stones or soil
For this reason it is we'll to run a roller
Of some kind along the seed row after
covering lightly with a rake. This leaves
the soil perfectly level, and renders rapid
cultivation more easily than when the soil
Is left rough and cl9ddy.
The old time scuftle hoe has not yet been
Improved upon as the very best implement
Tor rapidly scarifying the soil close to the
young plants, merely running around them
with 1t and leaving the pillow to clean the
mlddes between the hoe burrows
A light garden plow (hand) With a little
weep is another good implement for this
purpose. but OF the two as rule we would
prefer the scuff1e hoe.
These are merely for the first and the
most Important cultivation, afterward
heavier hand implements and the horse
pow eau be resorted to to carry the crop
70 completion. For garden crops heavy
urag rake with sharp teeth and pronged hoe
are implements TO economic work also,
sui noes OF various widths for ''chopplug
out' the different crops should Re kept on
hand.
In rich soil the weeds and grass often
unes spring up before the vegetables make
tuelr appearance, and this renders the first
CuluVatlon tedious.
beetS, carrots. parsnips, satisfy, onions,
parsley and some few others when sown in
January and February usually require
..L1een, and sometimes even more than
sMeIty, days to terminate, and several
Weeds OF hardy character will frequently
sspting up and cover the soil before a vege-
saole print appears. In such foul soil is an
e1ceHent plan to SOW a few radish seed
winch are prompt to germinate) along the
tv"S with the seed of plants like
s lo ABOVE mentioned, which are
s so to germinate. The radish plants
Ioon make a show and locate the
uue OF seed and the rows can
os easily cultivated, If any weeds appear,
Sau win no danger Of destroying the other
ese9aeies that are just beginning to germi-
nN.e' by having radish plant overy two
VI LII Tnree inches the place of the other seed
r ~n % perfectly marked and allow of US as
r. determination Of the weeds az IL all
'ue pla nts were up.
later naCer the radishes can be draw out, after
o oGossolnpi'hing their helpful Office. Even in
ceau soil this method can be bse-ved TO
tL sntage, aud all the radishes needed can
r nus Us grown without devotiug a plat es-
PeGlally for them.
ca .n ne growing Of Irish potatoes, espe-
~ o ~; when planted late, il 10 good plan
,IIlge on the seed burrows and fifteen or
n days attsr planting bring the coil
sfFoa. eVei by good narrowing. This will
snSS''uaily dispose of the first crop OF weeds
60, give the potatoes "send Off in per-
ca cay clean soil. In small garden plats this
a. oe aone with the drag rake.
br W Hsht, porous soils, those Astounding in
vs.aus and especially In undecomposed
osiio eIao.e matter. shallow cultivation is
All LOT, Tor it Is quite posi- Die to have
Jul coL TOO loose FOR the good Of the crops. A
til 'e a. compactness Of the soil is as essen
IN ~ 70 the proper growth of the lateral roots
car paauIs IN dry weather, on some soils, as a
o. s4!t Iooseness OF the same is important,
to 9tu soils that have tendency to run
Sso.uer. Clayey soils of the latter char
r. 'r mat contain but little vegetable mat
ma, me-, ADMIT OF ADD require deeper culture
ma HdLuy than those light soils that contain
va vegetable matter.
n "a t'er The crop has made a good start of
Nos wise TO disturb the lateral roots by