152 THE WHEAT CULTUBIBT. 



fertilizing elements may be made, but those lying inert 

 concealed in the debris of rocks, or waiting admixture 

 to excite into action, are reduced or enlivened, and thus 

 add to the power of the soil. A mellow soil attracts, 

 as well as takes up, more moisture than a hard one. It 

 is thus more likely to be in a state fitted for receiving 

 benefit from the air, from its own ever-working forces, 

 and from the mechanical stirring and manipulation it 

 receives. 



" Thorough culture, lastly, is the only profitable way 

 of managing a summer fallow, or any part of the farm. 

 To plough carelessly, with half-turned furrows and fre- 

 quent balks ; to leave the field for weeks to grow up 

 to grass and weeds ; to plough but four or six inches 

 deep where one owns good soil much farther down, is 

 some distance from the right wa/y — from the true uses 

 of the summer fallow." 



Advantages of Summer Fallowing. 



On this subject, " Caiman's Rural World " says : 

 " It is well known that ploughing benefits land. 

 This is especially the case with clay land, which is 

 apt to have suffered from treatment, of which wet 

 ploughing is a noted example. The sun and frost have 

 an ameliorating influence. But the influence is confined 

 mainly to the surface. Hence, frequent ploughing, in 

 its course, exposes all the soil; and even the subsoil, 

 which has never seen the light, can then with great bene- 

 fit be brought up. That is the time to convert this raw 

 clay soil or any under-soil, into mellow, useful ground. 

 " Land can be fallowed and lie idle one year with 

 profit. The soil is so thoroughly improved, that in this 



