The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-21
HOW cultivation Helps Crops.

The original purpose of cultivation was
undoubtedly the subjugation of weeds that
needed to be subdued else they would de-
stroy the crop, says the American Guilt
vator. While this gives new significance
to the primal sentence on the earth,
"Thorns and thistles, it shall bring forth
for mans sake" it does not follow that
were the growth of weeds to be forever
made impossible there would be any ces-
sation in the cultivation that is now
known to be necessary for the crop for
many other reasons than to relieve 1t
from being smothered by weeds. 1t is
when the soil is too dry to terminate weed
seed that cultivation is necessary TO in
crease moisture. on the other land, when
the soil IS too wet, especially when there
is a sod to hold up the furrow, blowing
such land dries and warns ii, thus pre-
pairing to make a good seed bed of the
upturned surface.
But for crops that require either warmth
or moisture, as both corn and potatoes do,
the frequent summer cultivation serves
both these purposes as nothing else can.
Whenever the surface is dry II Is also
warm. and. turning 1t under, leaves this
warm soil below, while turning a colder
surface to be In its turn warmed. If the
surface be wet. there is while this wet
soil remains uppermost a constant evap-
grafton. which rapidly takes from the soil
more of the warmth Il contains than can
well be spared. II this moist surface be
turned under and comparatively dry soil
brought TO the surface evaporation IS
checked, while al the same time both
warmth and moisture In the soil are in
creased.
There is sim another effect Of cultivation
In opening the soil 20 air, which Is nearly
always cooler than the soil, and thus
causes IL TO deposit some of It's moisture
In tho form OF dew There IS always car
bonic acid gas in this dew. and a very
small proportion OF ammonia which the
moist air has gathered from decaying or
ganic matter In some cases Il is proba-
BILE that atmospheric nitrogen, known as
free nitrogen is set loose when the air
is confined in darkness and dampness IN
the soil. IL h probably by aiding this
process Of decomposing the air, that gyp-
sum or land plaster produces on some soils
such extraordinary effects.
These facts have much hearing on the
Proper depth OF cultivation. In early spring
when the soil Is wet ana has not warned
yet. while FOR most crops the blowing
should be shallow so that the furrow may
warm through quickly. Il will do this stlll
better II the early cultivation II as near
az can be 60 the fun depth OF the fur
row. SO soon as corn and potatoes are big
enough 10 see the rows clearly. the oultl-
vator should be run through them with
narrow teeth, cutting down as deep as the
soil VIII allow. and loosening the particles
Of soil that have been c0mpacted by pre-
vlous dragging ana surface narrowing.
Valuable as this surface tillage n to des-
troy small weeds. Il undoubtedly has the
effect OF compaoting the soil beneath.
Hence the enormous honeht OF running
the cultivator as deeply a. possible, 20
break up this compact soil and make II
light and frlahle for roots OF corn and po-
tatocs 70 run IN. This they will do 20
quickly. especially after such deep cult
walton, that Il Is best 70 cultivate deeply