Weeding

Weeds prevent plants from growing well (see Booklet No. 2, page 24).
They take out of the soil the mineral salts that the crops need.
The weeds must be removed.
Weeding can be done with the hand hoe (see page 6), or with an animal- drawn cultivator (see page 10).
Sowing in rows makes weeding easier. The cultivator has tines that cut the weeds between the seed rows.

Weed- cutting tines for fixing to a cultivator

You must weed each time new vveeds grow.
For cotton and groundnuts weed three or four times.
With an animal- drawn cultivator you can only get rid of weeds between seed rows. Remove the weeds among the plants in a row by using the hand hoe.
Weeding must be done when the weeds are still small. Then the work is easier and quicker. Weeds are destroyed more easily when they are still small.
Let the cut weeds dry between the rows.
They will rot and form humus. They will also protect the soil against erosion.