88 Substitute for Trench Ploughmg. 



alternate freezing, and thawing in winter, on the con- 

 trary, in the common way, the plants often stand on the 

 very heights, where by a little freezing and thawing, the 

 roots are left naked. The grain should be harrowed 

 and rolled in the spring, as these operations are of great 

 benefit to the clover, if intended to be sown, for when 

 the seeds are a little buried, the young plants take deep- 

 er roots, and consequently stand the drought better ; 

 the operation of harrowing is likewise beneficial to the 

 wheat, for by harrowing lengthwise, a crust which 

 sometimes forms on the surface is broken, and thus 

 adds a light mould to the roots : the harrow too, resting 

 chiefly on the ridges, hills the wheat, without tearing 

 up more than five plants in an acre. I have seen also, 

 in a time of extreme drought, that when shooting and 

 heading, wheat sown in my way, suffered less than com- 

 mon. Lastl}', by the free transmission of air along the 

 rows, the straw will be stiff and not liable to lodge. 

 Explanation of the annexed Cut, 



A B C, 5 feet 1 inch in length. 



E to D, iron stud, 3 feet 4 inches long. 



F to G, the ripper, 1 foot long, the iron 3 inches broad, 



screwed on to the stud. 

 H, the shovel plough. 



The implem.ent as represented in the annexed cut, is 

 called a ripper^ and is highly useful in attending a crop 

 of Indian corn, if ploughed both ways therewith, about 

 one foot deep, when quite young, and very near the 

 plants. 



The ripper iron F G, may be taken off, and the sho- 

 vel H, screwed on by means of the two screws between 

 D and G. 



