Deep Cultivalioii. 765 



in wcll-manipuliited liintl, the more lliorouglily the various iugreclients 

 of the soil arc hrouglit into a separated and divided state. That deep 

 cultivation is consonant with the teachings of si:ience may be inferred 

 from the greater importance that is now attached to the deep moving 

 of the soil by the cultivator, in preference to deep ploughing, by those 

 who have had ample opportunity of forming a sound opinion on this 

 subject ; this may be gathered from the fact that the larger proportion of 

 the work done by steam-power is by the cultivator, from which we may 

 safely conclude that the deep moving of the laud, rendering percolation 

 and aeration more perfect and active, without bringing the — in its 

 present state — infertile and sour subsoil to the surface, is the true and 

 correct mode of deahng with this important subject. These operations 

 also assist and develope to a marked degree the capillary force natural 

 to the ground, making more accessible a resource whereby the plant 

 can draw a good supply of moisture in dry and uncongenial seasons, 

 thus exerting an important influence in mitigating and lessening the 

 too frequent occurrence of mildew, which, in seasons favourable to the 

 development of fungus, tends to the destruction of plant life. 



There are many other advantages secured by well-timed and deep 

 culture on which we have not touched, but we find them so forcibly and 

 prominently enumerated in the paper on drainage already alluded »o, 

 p. G78, that we deem it would be but an encroachment on another's 

 field of labour and thought were we to repeat them, as nothing foreign 

 to the clear, forcible, and concise deductions therein set forth can be 

 brought forward. But, in conclusion, let us reiterate the hope that 

 those contemplating deep culture, with the view of benefiting their 

 land, and increasing the producing power of their ground, will dwell 

 carefully, and with unbiassed thought, on the many advantages so 

 clearly set forth, as to the almost sure and certain reward tlint awaits 

 tlie coupling of " science and practice." 



VOL. I. 3 H 



