426 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



motion, which one man at the stilts, and often two men riding 

 upon the beam, were struggling to keep down, and, like police 

 officers, to prevent its escape. A man was always required, like 

 wise, with a hoe, to assist in turning the furrow-slice at the end 

 of the share, or in the discouraging duty of raising again, and 

 turning over by main force, those furrow-slices which, notwith 

 standing they had been raised by the plough, like a reluctant 

 boy pulled out of bed in the morning, with his eyes half open, 

 insist upon getting back again as soon as the master s back is 

 turned. 1 remember many a thump on the breast from the 

 handles of the plough, and many a sudden jerk, which has 

 thrown me upon the furrow, when I have been riding on the 

 beam, and many a splitting of a beam, and many a breaking of 

 a share j and have looked back with dismay upon a long furrow- 

 slice obstinately turning back into the furrow, after I had sup 

 posed it securely laid over. Somewhat of this experience may 

 have been necessary, to enable me to estimate properly the excel 

 lence of English ploughing, when the implement seemed to 

 move through the ground with as much quietness, directness, ease, 

 I may almost add grace, as a boat through the water, with 

 its sails spread to a favoring breeze, and an accomplished steers 

 man at the helm. Some allowance is to be made for the con 

 dition of our fields, compared with the English fields. Here 

 there are no stumps of trees, and no stones, to impede or derange 

 the plough. With us, alas ! in many cases, the stumps and stones 

 remain in resolute opposition, to dispute our entrance, and, like 

 bad tenants, can be dispossessed only by main force. 



I know that some may ask, What is the use of doing things 

 with so much care ? I answer, in particular, that, the field being 

 more thoroughly worked, the advantages to the crops, both in the 

 suppression of weeds and in furnishing a more favorable bed for 

 the extension of the roots of the plants, and its after cultivation 

 and management, are quite sufficient to recommend it. But I 

 answer, in general, that the labor in the end is less, and more easy, 

 in doing things well and regularly than in half doing them, and 

 that in a slovenly manner j and that habits of order, neatness, 

 and regularity, in one branch of labor, lead to the same habits in 

 other branches, and are of eminent advantage ; and, according 

 to an excellent proverb, a thing which is well done is twice 

 done. 



