Show CULTIVATE TO KEEP MOISTURE Dry Soil Will Not Grow Crops Any Better Than That Full of Water A dry soil is n barren one for no matter how much fertility there maybe may-be in it it will refuse to grow crops until there Is some moisture present On the other hand however a wet soil that is one with the pores or spaces too full of water Is just as bad because It Is cold and the air necessary nec-essary for ventilation nnd oxidation is shut out Hence It is that much of the work of cultivation has for its object the regulation of the amount of water in the soil preventing un excess ex-cess at any time or a scan it it other times The plant obtain U of its food excepting carbon fioin the soil or through It These foods are dissolved dis-solved in the soil water and the wn ter with its dissolved particles is taken tak-en In through the roots of the plants Water is also of importanco in securing secur-ing the germination of seeds To produce one pound of dry matter of crop requires the passage into the plant of 300 to COO pounds of water As the ordinary rainfall during the growing season is not in all cases sufr ficient to supply this amount the greatest care must bo taken to prevent pre-vent losses from the surface by evaporation evap-oration Generally speaking tho more frequent the cultivations the greater tho saving of moisture This is true for clay loams and possibly for sandy soils but muct soils which do not form a dry crust on the surface will be better with few cultivations |