[ 5 ] 



The improvement the foil acquires by means of 

 frequent and well-timed tillage, is gradual and pro- 

 grefTive, and the longer it is kept in tillage, if duly 

 performed, the more fertile it becomes. 



One ploughing in the beginning of winter, and a 

 fccond in the winter, or early in the fpring, will be 

 more efFedtual in pulverizing and fertilizing the foil 

 than half a dozen at any other time of the year. I 

 have at this time a piece of eight acres, which bore 

 wheat laft year. It was ploughed in Odtober, and 

 lay till the end of February, when I had it dragged. 

 It is now in fine condition, and the ploughman, who 

 has ploughed it many years, fays he never faw it 

 in fuch fine tilth before. It is a ftrong piece of 

 ground, and rather damp. I have another piece of 

 fix acres adjoining to the latter, exadlly of the fame 

 texture and temper; this, by reafonof the long hard 

 froft, we could not plough till February; it is now 

 fo lumpy and obdurate, that I think all the plough- 

 ing, rolling, dragging, and harrowing, that can be 

 given to it, will not bring it into proper tilth to 

 plant this feaibn. Such is the mighty difrerence V/' 

 between ploughing for a fpring crop in Odlober and 

 February, 



This improvement in tillage is fo very clear and 



certain, that it furprizes one much that it is not 



B 3 xiniverfally 



