PL«UGH1N6* 



217 



Deep ploughing is not to be recommended, 1 , When 

 lime or marie has been recently applied, as they have such a 

 tendency to sink, from their weight, and the moisture they im- 

 bibe : % When turnips have been eaten off by sheep on the 

 land where they were grown : 3, When grass, only two or 

 three years old, more especially when it has been pastured with 

 sheep, is broken up; because owing to the extreme conden- 

 sation of the soil, by the trampling of the sheep, a furrow, even 

 of a moderate depth, to appearance, will make the plough pen- 

 etrate below the staple that has had been cleared, by the cul- 

 ture given tluring the previous fallow." 



The advantages of deep ploughing, according to the same 

 writer, are, 1, Bringing up new mould, which is peculiarly 

 favorable to clover, turnips, beans, and potatoes ; and indeed 

 without that advantage, these crops usually diminish in quan- 

 tity, quality and value. Deep ploughing is likewise of great 

 consequence to every species of plant, furnishing not only 

 more means of nourishment to their roots, but above all by 

 counteracting the injurious consequences of either to wet, or 

 too dry a season. This is a most important consideration, for if 

 the season be wet, there is a greater depth ©f soil to absorb the 

 moisture, so that the plants are not likely to have their roots 

 immersed in water ; and in a dry season, it is still more useful, 

 for in the lower part of the cultivated soil, there is thus a re- 

 servior of water moisture, which is brought up to the roots of 

 the plants, by the evaporation which the heat of the sun oc- 

 casions. 3. By deep ploughing, animal and vegetable ma- 

 nures, which have such a tendency to rise to the surface are 

 properly covered. This cannot be done by shallow ploughing, 

 in consequence of which much of the value oi feuch manures is 

 lost: 4, By deep ploughing a heavier crop is iR.^ed 

 than can be got from a shallow furrow. An intelligent fanricr, 

 after painting out that deep ploughing increases the etaple of 

 the soil, keeps the roots of the corn from being injured by wet- 

 ness, and also enables the crop longer toresiscthe drorght, 

 adds, I have ever found deep ploughing attended with giC£.t 



