The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-15
RUDIMENTS OF FARMING
Valuable instructions to Boys
Regarding the Growing
of Farm Crops.
nY HIRAM Il. sHEpARp.

Field and garden plants must nav
soil room in which their roots cal
spread.
The rows should be far enough apar
and the plants far enough apart In TN
rows 80 that their roots Will not inter
fcrc with each other in their searci
for plant food.
Crowded plants grow small and pro
duco small and inferior fruit, while
plants given plenty of room may grow
to large size aud produce an abundance
of large. perfect fruit
In planting and cultivatinG farm ano
garden crops we should always kccT
in mind the action of the roots.
To this end, the soil should bo
plowed or spaded deeply TO mako II
soft and loose. After plowing. tho sol
must be made fine and even
1t must not contain large. hard Jumps
or clods. for plant roots cannot easily
and quickly grow through them
Flowing the soil deeply allows the
roots of cultivated plants TO easily
grow downward and outward. Making
the soil nno with the harrow or other
cultivator not only makes it loose for
rapid root growth, but also makes it
hold moisture lor tncm.
Fine. deep. fertile and we'll mixed
soil Is said TO make comfortable
home for the roots of growing plants.
This means that such soil is In good
condition for rapid root action, hence
corrcspondingly rapid growth OF the
plants which thoy feed
Most cultivated plants arc planted
in the spring or carly summer when
the soil is moist.
When they first begin to grow their
roots are short. hence cultivation should
be done while they arc young
Tho reasons for this arc that the
cultivstor breaks 10 pieces clods left
by the plow or harrow
Stirring OF the soil mixes It and
makes II fine and allows the entrance
OF air, which Is also needed for the
life. health and growth OF tho roots.
IL the air is shut out of the soil in
which plants such as corn and potatoes
arc growing the roots cannot act, and
the whole plant sickcns and dies. For
instance. IL water stands on field OF
corn for a few days the corn viii die
Tho standing water sinks into the soil
and. being heavier than air. II forces
the air out and the corn roots smother
for want of oxygen.
Other reasons for giving plants most
cultivation when they arc young arc
for the killing OF weeds which would
rob them of plant food in the soil and
shut out needed light and air.
Also at that time the cultivator NAV
be run deep and close to the plants
without Injury to their roots.
The young plant too. must be kept
growing vigorously all the time. If it
is allowed once to become stuntcd in
growth it can never afterward be
made to grow into a large, perfect
plant.
After field and garden plants grow
large and need cultivation to Kill weeds
and admit air Into the soil the cultiva-
ton then should be shallow
When plants grow largo their roots
fill all the soil from row to row and
many thousands OF them are near the
surface. IL the cultivator shovels run
deep they Will destroy many of the
feeding roots, and hence injure the
growing plants.
1t is best farm and garden practice
to cultivate crops frequently and we'll
While the plants are young; then there
will be no need of cultivation when tho
plants arc maturing or rlpeninE.
Cultivation In general should bayc
as Its aim the keeping of the surfac
layer of the soil broken and In flno
condition.