70 Observations on Colonel Taylor’s Letter. 
more than 40 years, I have invariably found fall and 
winter ploughing, and exposure to the winter frosts, and 
_ temperature, with all its vicissitudes, most salutary and 
profitable to all succeeding crops. To Indian corn most 
strikingly. In the season of winter the earth, which is 
more the place of deposit and store-house for the food 
of plants, than the nourishment and support of them in 
itself, receives every thing and parts with nothing. Even, 
summer fallowing for killing weeds, and opening mouths 
to receive the nutriment for future crops from the air, 
if the stirring be frequent, is highly beneficial ;—though 
I have met with some facts which have staggered me on 
that point. In England, I believe, the fallowists have 
the majority on their side. I nevertheless, believe in all 
that can be said about permanent and long cover; and 
in the efhicacy of covering crops. I have wrote too 
much now, to allow me time to give what I conceive 
reasons for such opinions ; nor do I deny that there are 
some soils, which may afford exceptions. You know I 
do not deal in paradoxes, or fine spun theories ; howe- 
ver these may appear. The practice of fall ploughing is 
here approved by all intelligent practical men. 
The best way for colonel T. would be to try a few 
acres; and not speculate about it ;* not in wet clay soil. 
* “ Not in wet clay soil.”—I did not mean to say, that, 
in such ground, fall and winter ploughing should be excluded. 
Nothing can be better if well managed ; and the field thrown 
up in narrow ridges, to dry and drain. I have known plais- 
ter succeed on clay, when thus freed from moisture. This - 
kind of soil has a tendency to consolidate, and bake, or harden 
into a crust, on the surface. And the more so, if ploughed 
