93 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



Indeed, in all cases, where soils of the descriptions last 

 mentioned are intended for Spring- crops, they should be 

 thrown up into high narrow ridges in the Fall. By this 

 mean the Winter- frosts will more readily crumble and mel- 

 low the soil, and thus fertilize it ; and by its lying more dry, 

 when in ridges, it is the more readily brought into a proper 

 tilth, and a due state of fermentation, the next Spring: 

 And these are points of the utmost importance in such 

 soils; as the finer the tilth, and the greater the fermenta- 

 tion to which they are brought, they will be rendered so 

 much the more fertile for succeeding crops. 



See FREEZING, where a case of Trench ploughing is 

 mentioned which serves fully to illustrate the truth of this 

 remark. 



In light sandy grounds, a Winter-fallowing is not so 

 essentially requisite, for some kinds of Spring-crops ; 

 neither does this process tend to fertilize such soils : But 

 in all such as are harder, or more or less gravelly, a 

 Winter- fallowing of sward-ground should, generally, pre- 

 cede a Spring-crop, for the better preparing of the ground ; 

 and all such soils as are wet, sour, cold, or clayey, should 

 undergo this process, as well as that of ridging, for the 

 double purpose of better fiting the ground for Spring- 

 use, and of meliorating the condition of the soil. 



After having thus stated the principal uses and benefits 

 to be derived from fallowing of land, it remains to say 

 something, in regard to the difference of climate, between 

 this Country and Greatbritain, in order that the Reader 

 may, with more accuracy, determine how far Summer- 

 fallowings, here, are necessary, for the soils before men- 

 tioned, tor the reasons that they are found requisite in that 

 Country. 



Vegetation begins earlier, and ends later, in Greatbritain 

 than it does in any part of this State ; but, owing to the 

 growing season there being much cooler than with us, the 

 progress of vegetation is feeble and languid; and the cir- 

 cumstance of their crops of grain, and grass, never growing 

 to so great a height, as with us, shows that the whole mass 

 of the vegetation, of a season, is less in that Country than 

 with us. Wheat- harvest is from four to six weeks earlier 

 here, than it is there. 



It remains, then, to be inquired, whether our lands could 

 not be, in a very considerable degree, cleansed of the seeds 

 of weeds, by a mode of culture which would effect little or 

 nothing in that Country. 



Suppose that the stubble of our wheat, rye, barley, or 

 oat-crops were turned under, as soon as the ground was 

 cleared of those crops ; could there be any doubt that by 

 three ploughing?, and three harrowings, at proper intervals 



