The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-07-05
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whtrs illsss vrseuces alter ,h'
crepe are % saluvs,icn Lss tef ih o.
issi the dsssIepmts, Of plant feed 40 gel
!. The tiilibs n weed, the ssving o
soil noisiare ses maintaining the fistl
cell TEXTURE. re sscnre these epis, ssy'
u a. Ktns 10 Bar.l Mes rorlsr, earl,
ealtivsiion can 10 sdrsBises be dsspti
and more irtqaeni tbsn later cultivation,
Wien II eesses 10 10 ds,irsbls 10 enlti
ssto for The parpoa OF sersttns the eel,
snd The main Obi ari 10 TO Hi weeds 81 d
eonssrve spil moisture, u 10 ihen desiis
bic 10 ealtivsis 81 Often - 10 Necessary 10
N aintsin good mulch. Wtile the scii "a
vet the cultivation should be more IRE
qnsni, usually ~ often ~ once 10 sever
TO ten dsYs Altar the soil bseeues quite
dry. % happens 10 period OF drought,
then the cnliivations may net be nects
ssty oitsner Than ooes ia tso week. Int
judgment must be exercised 10 this ts In
ell other matters. II the deeper soil
usl below the mulch is still quite dsmr
the tendency is Tor the moisture TO creep
up into the mslch and rsctnveri IL into
com psrstivsly arm soil, and leave Il .
IN ulch TO shsllow; whsS the mulch
comes TO be much less than two icehes
deep, thst 10, wfsn the soil becomes
damp OF . distance OF two inches below
the surfses, there will usually be enough
loss Of moisture through The upper mulch
TO make IL worth while to cnltivsts sgsir,
bat II the dry soil has depth Of two OF
three inches there 10 little TO be gained in
stirring the sell il the mulch 10 slresdy
light and loose.
OF course whenever rain comes during
the season OF cultivation. which wets
through the whole molch, Il is very imror
tsnt TO cultivate 80 soon sitter such RAM
as possible. beesnss il this is not done the
vet mulch will hasten the capillary rice
OF water from deep 10 the ground, and
bring about 9 loss OF not only the rain
which has fallen, but . considerable poI
ton OF the deeper soil moisture. Late 10
the season, especially With corn and pots
toes, ii is questionable whether cultivs
ton will no, do more harm than good.
even though the nnlch has become fairly
6rm. 1t is the habit OF most crops Oh
which intsrtilsae is prscticed to throw
up 10 July roots very close to the surface,
evidently for the purpose Of taking adysn
tsge OF the plant food which capillary and
rapid evaporation tend to concentrate ct
the surface, and also to take advantage OF
the lighter rsipe, which after the soil be
comes dry. seldom penetrate deeper than
two or three inches, twill be readily nm
derstood that sitter the soil has become oc
cupied close TO the surfscs with these
find feeders, cultivation at such time
would not only hasten the loss OF water
that IL ouly located in the surface two or
three iucbes, but it would destroy the
roots which are there to utilizs thst water
az coon 90 it falls, and With 1t to take mp
the nitrates and other soluble plant foods
" hich have been concentrated nesr the snr
lace, and which the r iins have dissolved
II will be seen from this statement that
he correspondents judgment as to the
light gain to be secured from frequent
~ liivstion after the mulch is thoroughly
Try is essentially in accord with sound
principles.