BENEFITS OF DEEP PLOUGHING. 131 



better turned over, in long slices, and placed upside down, 

 by the plough, than by any other instrument which has 

 been contrived. 



409. What is the object in bringing fresh portions of 

 earth to the surface ? Soils have a remarkable property 

 .of attracting moisture from the air and condensing it in 

 their pores. With the moisture, they at the same time 

 absorb the ammonia, nitric acid and carbonic acid floating 

 in the air or dissolved in the water. By long contact of 

 the soil with, the air the surface hardens and acts less 

 efficiently, and the pores become filled. Hence the advan 

 tage of bringing a new portion into action. 



410. Deep Ploughing extends all the benefits of tillage 

 to a greater depth. It opens a larger portion of the soil 

 to the beneficial action of the air and moisture, and affords 

 a larger space for the food laid up for the use of plants. It 

 distributes the manure more evenly through the soil. It 

 has the effects, already mentioned, (Art. 47,) of draining. 

 It gives you more land to the acre, a new farm under 

 the old one. Soil deeply ploughed is less speedily 

 exhausted. The roots penetrate deeper and take firmer 

 hold. Grain sown on deep soil is less liable to lodge. 



If the food for plants is mixed evenly throughout the 

 soil to the depth of ten or twelve inches, the roots of most 

 cultivated plants will penetrate to that depth in search of 

 it ; and will thus be less liable to injury from drought. 



411. Deep ploughing produces a saving of labor as well 

 as of land. If a farmer who has commonly ploughed his 

 field six inches deep, will plough, the present year, to the 

 depth of seven inches, and will put on seven loads of 

 manure where he had previously put on six, he will, 

 with the same labor, get seven bushels of roots or of 



corn, where he has commonly got only six. If then, the 

 12* 



