PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE. 157 



one of those revolutions in rural art which are constantly occurring 

 among husbandmen, and, though the revolution came on with slow 

 and gradual steps, yet it is completely established. Before the 

 introduction of this root, it was impossible to cultivate light soils 

 successfully, or to derive suitable rotations for cropping them with 

 advantage. It was also a diflScult task to support live stock 

 through the winter and spring months ; and as for feeding and fat- 

 ting cattle and sheep for market, during these inclement seasons, the 

 practice was hardly thought of, and still more rarely attempted, 

 unless when a full stock of hay was provided, which only 

 happened in a very few instances. The benefits derived from the 

 root husbandry are, therefore, of great magnitude. Light soils are 

 now cultivated with profit and facility. Abundance of food is 

 provided for man and beast. The earth is turned to the uses for 

 which it is physically calculated, and by being suitably cleaned 

 with this preparatory crop, a bed is provided for grass-seeds, 

 wherein they flourish with greater vigor than after any other 

 preparation." 



In the agricultural improvements which have been effected, the 

 mechanic has done more than his full share. His activity of mind 

 has wrought greater changes in the improvement of farm imple- 

 ments, than the skill of the farmer has, in the management of soils 

 and crops. The introduction of a simple and cheap implement — 

 the wheel hoe — enables us to raise carrots at half the cost it 

 requires without it. The use of the double plow, by separating 

 and turning the sward into the bottom of the furrow, so that the 

 harrow and cultivator will not bring it up, saves considerable 

 expense in the cultivation of the crop. The reapers and mowers 

 are inventions which only would have been made where labor is 

 too scarce and dear for the harvesting of vast tracts of cheap land. 

 Though we are behind England in production ; we have surpassed 

 her, I think, in enabling a boy to do in the field the work of ten 

 men. 



Jethro Tull's theory, more than a hundred years ago, (1T31) 

 was, that the secret of producing large crops, lay in the frequent 

 stirring and minute pulverization of the soil. His practice and 

 teachings' then, fell upon cold hearts and deaf ears. But the light 

 which science has since shed upon the subject, has convinced us 

 that his theory in some important particulars, was correct ; and 

 implements for this purpose have been devised, far beyond any 

 thing he ever conceived in effective power. The horse-hoe of 



