The Science of the Soil 



103 



in a day, according to the nature of the soil. The cost of digging 1 ac. 

 of ground 1 ft. deep will vary from 40s. to 55s., more or less according 

 to the state of the soil and the rate of wages in different parts of the 

 Kingdom; and it will take one man from eleven to twenty days to perform 

 the work properly, and turning over from 70 to 120 tons of soil each day. 



Digging consists in opening a trench one spit deep, the full depth of 

 the spade or the fork, and filling it with soil adjacent after lifting and 

 turning completely upside down. 



Double Digging 1 . Double digging consists in opening a trench twice 

 as wide as in ordinary digging, and after the top spit has been removed, 

 the bottom is then broken up but usually left in the same position. 

 Manure is then added before the soil from the next top spit is placed on it. 



Considering the depth of soil moved, the better breaking up of the 

 particles, and the enhanced fertility, it is a question if digging is not on the 

 whole a more economic method of cultivation than ploughing. One acre 

 of dug ground will produce better and more saleable crops than 1 ac. 

 of ploughed ground of a similar nature. The extra cost of digging is there- 

 fore more than repaid by the increased yield and value; in addition to 

 which must be reckoned the saving of half an acre's rent, the saving in 

 gathering the crop over a smaller area, and the saving in subsequent culti- 

 vation. This proposition may appear more feasible if stated in figures. If 

 an acre of ground dug by the spade or fork is only equivalent in yield to 

 1| ac. of ploughed land, one may take the ratio on a larger scale, as follows: 



120 ac. ploughed 







Rent at 2 per acre = 240 



Ploughing at 15s. per acre = 90 



330 



80 ac. dug. 







Rent at 2 per acre = 160 



Digging at <2 per acre = 160 



320 



It is evident that if a man can get as much produce off 80 ac. as he can 

 off 120 ac., by a superior method of cultivation, he will be wise in adopting 

 the superior method. He will employ far more labour, and he will be 

 keeping men and their families on the land instead of keeping ploughs 

 rusting in his barns. The question of labour and its arrangement of course 

 requires careful consideration, so that the employees shall have work all the 

 year round at a regular wage; but this is merely a matter of organization. 

 The point for the commercial grower to consider is whether it will pay him 

 better to spend say 330 per annum in half -cultivating 120 ac. of land, 

 or whether it is more to his interest to spend 320 ten pounds less 

 in properly cultivating 80 ac. and reaping better results. 



What is known as "bastard trenching" is taking out one spit of soil, 

 and then taking up the loose soil or " crumb " at the bottom and spreading 

 it over the top. Work like this will cost about 6d. per rod, i.e. 4 per acre. 



Trenching". This operation can only be carried out where there is a 

 good depth of soil. Hence in hilly or mountainous districts, where only 



