130 OF TILLAGE. 



V 



CHAPTER XIII. 



OF TILLAGE. 



407. In what does the preparation of soils consist ? In 

 various operations, the object of which is to divide and 

 mellow the soil, in order to render it permeable to air, to 

 water, and to the roots of cultivated plants, and so to 

 mingle all the parts of the soil that all the elements of the 

 nourishment of plants may be so diffused as to be within 

 the reach of the roots, and also to keep it clean and free 

 from weeds. 



When the land is wet, the first and most indispensable 

 of operations is draining. The essential operations after 

 wards are ploughing, digging, spading, harrowing and 

 rolling. 



Ploughing is turning over the soil, so -as to bring a 

 lower portion to the surface and to place in contact with 

 the subsoil the portion which had been previously exposed 

 to the air. 



408. The objects of ploughing are to mellow and pul 

 verize the soil, to mix it, when necessary, with a portion 

 of the subsoil, to mingle the different portions as fully as 

 possible, to cover manures, to destroy weeds, and to keep 

 the surface fresh. All these things except the two last, 

 can l)u done more effectually with the spade, the shovel 

 and (lie Cork, than with the plough. Weeds can often be 

 ltd id- destroyed and the surface be more easily kept fresh 

 by the horse-hoe or the cultivator. 



Why then is the plough preferred? Because it is so 

 great a labor-saver. The ground may be more easily and 



