THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



285 



which infest the soil ; and it is to this end every ope- 

 ration should, in the first instance, be fully directed. 

 The annuals are but secondary : therefore for couch 

 and so forth it is highly necessary to cultivate deeply, 

 and, whether with Biddell's, Bentall's, or Coleman's 

 scarifiers, or the common plough, it is essential to 

 thoroughly break up the soil to its accustomed depth. 

 Above all things, it is requisite to be careful that 

 no couch remains in the solid soil beneath the passage 

 for the share. We repeat, the soil must be broken to 

 the depth at which it is usually ploughed, or perfect 

 cleanness will not be effected. We know that this is 

 often no light task, and a master's eye must watch the 

 progress of the work, or it will be but partially and 

 inefficiently performed. The truth is, every horseman 

 has his favourite "Sharper" or "Pepper" or " Boxer," 

 and these animals, in his estimation, are of far more 

 consequence than good tillage, therefore spare them 

 he will if possible. Besides, the weather is hot, the 

 flies sharp, the laud liarJ, and Tom or Jem will ease 

 the depth a little too much, or swear point-blank 

 it can't be done at all. Now comes the master's firm- 

 ness and sound judgment to dictate what can and what 

 shall be done, and how. We have seen many a com- 

 plaisant man Ibiled and overruled by the plausibility 

 or perversity of his men, l)ut almost any land can be 

 properly broken lip by the use of the proper means; 

 and, if the value of autumn cultivation were really 

 understood, the country at large would present a very 

 different appearance at the present time. Truly the 

 system is on the increase; but how many a set of 

 horses have we seen of late, and especially at the com- 

 mencement of harvest, idly swinging their tails in 

 some rough pasture, under the shade of some old oak 

 or ash, instead of being first fed with a good feed of 

 corn (which they seemed to require), and then attached 

 to an effective implement for the cultivation of some 

 neighbouring stubble — wldch, by-thc-bye, contained 

 "such good sheep-feed," "such laying for birds," 

 and, in short, such an amount of devilry as would 

 beggar description, and even defy spring- cleansing, 

 with all its operations of many ploughings and endless 

 harrowings. To be brief, two or three scarifyings or 

 stirrings under a scorching sun, in August, would have 

 been sufficient to destroy the thousand-and-one enemies 

 which have flourished through a course of years, and 

 still flourish on without molestation; and the horses 

 would have been far better occupied than in doing 

 nothing. Although every county is the best-farmed 

 in the kingdom, according to local tradition and agri- 

 cultural banter, yet every county needs to be much 

 better farmed than it is. We are sickened at the 

 sight of foul stubbles; and so infinite are the advan- 

 tages arising from fallowing in the autumn, that it is 

 both the system and the season we cannot afford to 

 neglect. We allow there are difficulties to overcome 

 in the cultivation of a wide breadth at so busy a time 



of the year; but to how many minds do any innova- 

 tions present insurmountable obstacles ! We do not 

 say this in the spirit of condemnation or complaint ; 

 for many even sensible men do not comprehend, or 

 appreciate, at first sight, the benefit likely to arise 

 from any new but sound practices. Further, we need 

 to be cautious ; and there is no reason why autumn 

 cultivation should be swallowed wholesale. If the 

 utility to arise is unappreciated, the trouble of its 

 accomplishment will appear incompatible with the 

 advantages accruing — consequently, by such the task 

 will not be undertaken, and thus men may or may not 

 live on with a mental hedge of thoins to all progress, 

 content to swim with the tide, because' slow to appre- 

 ciate, and far too local in education and in knowledge. 

 Realize the value, and arrange the work of farm, that 

 some cultivation at least can be done. We prepare 

 for, and plant our wheat crop ; why not eradicate and 

 destroy our weed crop ? The one is as important as 

 the other, and the latter should be considered as pri- 

 mary to the former. 



We have advocated deep autumnal cultivation for 

 tlie destruction of the perennials, and, as time is an 

 important consideration, the rubbish must be kept at 

 tlie surface for exposure to the sun's rays. It may not 

 be buried snug in the soil, to be shaded from the in- 

 fluence of the sun, but have the couch out for public 

 exposure and the bright noon of day. Presuming a 

 shower of rain to fall, how beautifully, by harrowing, 

 the clods come to powder and the couch to the sur- 

 face, to be baked by the sun, or burned in a series of 

 bonfires ! 



With fineness of tilth and moisture of soil, now 

 comes the turn for the vegetation of the annuals, and 

 an abundant crop of young weeds soon present them- 

 selves. Thus perennials and annuals are alike de- 

 stroyed, and the land freed for the growth of any 

 desirable produce. Manure, too, can now be applied 

 with unabated success ; the expense of hoeing, ia 

 future, is reduced ; and a crop can be grown which is 

 worthy of the soil and the skill of the cultivator. 



We know of men this year, who, just previous to 

 harvest, broke up and perfectly fallowed their clover- 

 stubbles. This was after once mowing the crop and 

 feeding the after-growth, and only upon such lands 

 where the succeeding wheat-plant is usually subject to 

 wireworm, and to be root-fallen. They have, further, 

 since cultivated their hundred acres of corn-stubbles 

 deeply, and with full success. And nothing but the 

 wetness of September has prevented much greater 

 progress. 



As a finale, cultivate deeply, keep the weeds at the 

 surface, avail yourselves of your existing horse-power, 

 and you will find autumnal cultivation much to your 

 individual profit, and to the good of the country at 

 large. 



