No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 389 



linisbiug the work will have been greatly reduced; and yet, as a 

 rule, nearly as much time will be retiuired as has been devoted to 

 the plowing. We stop the harrow too soon. 



The aid of the roller nuiy often profitably be invoked, though some 

 caution must be exercised in its use. A moist clay soil will be too 

 firmly compacted; though a loose sandy soil cannot be rolled too 

 much. For the smaller grains the soil must be well compacted, after 

 having been thoroughly pulverized and areated, in order to restore 

 capillary attraction, facilitate germination, and give a close contact 

 of soil with rootlets. 



In turning under cover crops, as a rule, the ground should be well 

 rolled; but in no case should rolling be the last operation. The 

 smooth, firm surface left by the roller should always be broken with 

 a light harrow or weeder. This can be most economically done with 

 a weeder-like attachment, temporarily made to the rear of the roller. 



Thus with the aid of a proper jointer we have disposed of the 

 weeds; with deep plowing we have furnished ample root pasturage 

 and an extensive reservoir for moisture; in the thorough pulveriza- 

 tion of the soil we have giAen the hair roots access to their food, 

 which we have furnished in lifting the escaping fertility, areating 

 the soil and increasing its moisture holding capacity; and in all this 

 thorough preparation we have made easy the future task of tillage. 



So we have met the demands of the coming plant. Our seed-bed is 

 ready. We stand upon it as the basis of our hope, for we have well 

 learned the wisdom of our motto: "Less acres and better culture." 



If by defect it sinks beneath our feet the star of our hope will 

 stagger on the horizon. If we stumble over clods the star will dis- 

 appear. But with a seed-bed deep and fine and firm and level and 

 rich, our star will rise, steadily luminous, until it emblazons our way 

 to a joyous harvest home. 



EIGHTEEN YEARS EXPERIENCE IN SOILING. 



BY REV. J. D. DETRICH, Flourtown, Pa. 



It is twenty years ago, through a force of circumstances,' not by 

 choice, that the author of this paper fell into possession of a fifteen 

 acre farm. A farm of this size was not supposed to be a source of in- 

 come in the neighborhood in which it is located, and the new owner's 

 experience after one year's trial of pasture and the customary rota- 

 tion of crops, convinced him that the opinion was well founded, 

 and that there was no profit, not even a living on farms of small 



