Careful Cultivation at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

Cultivation. Cultivation is an ancient vineyard practice. It destroys weeds and facilitates other vineyard operations such as irrigation. Contrary to common belief, cultivation does not conserve soil moisture; however, the resulting destruction of weeds does conserve moisture. Discs or chisel-tooth cultivators are used, although some vineyards are still plowed. Heavy disc harrows are used to turn under weeds and cover crops. Weeds have been and are sometimes controlled with oil sprays or chemicals, usually diuron or monuron.

Reinforcement for the idea that the Mayan economy rested on a delicate balance of nature and human activity was supplied by R. E. Reina. His intensive study of modern corn-growing practices in the Peten indicated that the land was not capable in itself of sustaining a population such as was present there in classic Maya times. Even under more favorable climatic conditions and with other food resources in addition to maize, careful cultivation would have been necessary.

Olericulture is the branch of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of vegetables of all kinds, for salads or cooking. Ornamental horticulture is concerned with the cultivation of plants for their aesthetic or decorative value and includes annual and perennial plants, shrubs, vines and trees.