48 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



water which naturally, and very readily finds its way to the 

 surface. The manner of ameliorating such fields is by thorough 

 drainage, which takes all the surplus moisture, condvicting it 

 into the proper channels, where, instead of retarding the 

 growth of plants, it may be appropriated to a legitimate use, 

 and thus serve two good turns. 



Premising that the primary condition of the soil is what it 

 should be, the next point to be observed is the time and man- 

 ner of plowing, and whether of greensward or not. If the 

 former, then should this be done in the fall or spring ? One 

 argument used for fall plowing, is, the destruction of grubs 

 and worms that naturally exist in the sod, and also the com- 

 minuting effect of the frosts of winter, and exposure upon 

 the broken surface. So far as this goes it is perhaps benefi- 

 cial ; but at the same time, it is generally admitted that but 

 little effect is produced upon the sod itself towards reduction, 

 and in fact it is not so susceptible to the influences of decompo- 

 sition, in consequence of which the greater liability of the grass 

 to spring forth increases to a considerable degree the future 

 care of the crop. Nor is it believed that the plea of attraction 

 of living worms to its roots, thus saving the corn, is a sufficient 

 recompense for the additional tronble. One fact is certain — 

 that spring plowing of such fields must be wholly omitted, 

 or the sod will only be again turned to the light ; then har- 

 rowing must be resorted to, which, as is often observed, 

 proves to be in a great measure inefficient, and hence in the 

 end a loss of labor is the result. On the other hand, if the 

 sward be turned in the spring, and that, not until the young 

 grass has considerably started, the effect is to induce fermen- 

 tation, and the early' decomposition of the sod is the result. 

 At this point a question very naturally arises regarding the 

 depth to which it is proper to plow, and which as applied 

 to breaking of sward land can be answered, that it should be 

 of sufficient depth to allow a good amount of loose soil to rest 

 upon the sod ; but passing to fields under culture, the answer 

 depends wholly upon the depth of soil ; and this is the rock 

 upon which the advocates of deep and shallow plowing split, 

 as they do not usually make proper distinctions in this direc- 



