34 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



PLOUGHING. 

 WORCESTER SOUTH. 



[From the Report of the Committee.] 



The importance of the proper preparation of the soil for 

 the reception of the seed cannot be too highly estimated. 

 The correctness of this proposition will be readily admitted 

 by those who remember the fact that such a preparation is 

 absolutely necessary to insure paying success in the raising 

 of any given crop. Not only is the germination of the seed 

 affected by neglect in this matter; but the future growth 

 of the embryo plant will also be seriously, if not disastrously, 

 retarded by it. The laws of nature will not be annulled nor 

 suspended to accommodate those who from ignorance neg- 

 lect, or from shiftlessness fail, to obey those laws. 



The complete and thorough pulverization of the soil is 

 essential in order that the tiny and tender rootlets of the 

 growing plant may not be hindered nor baffled in their tire- 

 less search for subsistence. In this preparatory work the 

 plough performs the initial, and, in some respects, the most 

 important part; for no succeeding operations with harrow, 

 cultivator, horse or hand hoe, can compensate for the failure 

 of the j^lough to do its work well. The apj^lication of scien- 

 tific rules and principles in the construction of this impor- 

 tant implement, so as to secure ease in draft as well as in the 

 holding, has made this part of the work comparatively easy 

 and pleasant to both team and ploughman. 



To secure first-class work (and no other will answer the 

 purpose), three things are absolutely necessary, — a good 

 plough, that is, one well adapted to the nature of the work to 

 be done, a well-trained and able team, and last, though by no 

 means least in importance, a skilful ploughman. The im- 

 provements in the construction of the plough that the last 



