GRAIN CROPS. 223 



used was one entirely unfit for the work, and perhaps the 

 ploughman the same ; consequently, there will be places where 

 the sod will be cut fourteen or fifteen inches wide, and two-thirds 

 of it turned, and the other one-third unmoved. Other places, 

 "he sod, perhaps, is cut for several feet from two to three inches 

 deep, and again the point of the plough, or what should be the 

 point, runs upon the surface as many more feet, and then 

 plunges into the soil to the full extent, leaving the sod " tilted 

 up " edgewise, to be levelled with the so-called ploughing by the 

 harrow. Now, it is clear to our minds that bad ploughing can- 

 not be remedied by harrowing, hoeing, or any other field work, 

 as there will be places in the soil that will not be moved ; con- 

 sequently, we find in the soil hard, sterile places that cannot be 

 penetrated by the small rootlets of the plants. They work and 

 struggle on for a while, but finally droop and die : so there is 

 nothing gained, but much lost, by inefficient ploughing. There- 

 fore, it is hoped that the trustees of Worcester North Agricult- 

 ural Society will again put the ploughing back into the fields, 

 and not only offer prizes to men, oxen and horses, for good 

 ploughing, but to boys and steers also. 



Every practical farmer very well knows, as a general rule, that 

 soils should not be moved by the plough when wet ; more 

 especially so when the subsoil is clayey. After ploughing, when 

 the surface becomes dry and crumbly, the field should be har- 

 rowed, using " Shares harrow " for the purpose of breaking the 

 lump, and leaving a smooth, even surface. 



The question is sometimes asked if ploughing serves to enrich 

 the soil. In answer, we reply that frequent ploughing serves to 

 produce a disintegration of the particles, and make the soil more 

 porous, thus giving free admission of air into the soil, charged 

 with moisture, as it serves as a fertilizer, and thus hastens the 

 crop ; which is frequently of much importance, especially to the 

 market gardener, when he can have his crop ready for the 

 market three days sooner ; the extra price of his crop perhaps 

 would amply remunerate him for ploughing his lands two or 

 three times ; and so again by having a field of corn ready to 

 harvest a week sooner, might save the whole field from being 

 destroyed by an early frost. 



A deep and thorough pulverization of the soil is necessary to 

 the germination of the seed, and the ready extension of the roots 



