FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 297 



must be curtailed of their requisite pasture, and be propor- 

 tionately lessened in their growth. 



One good even ploughing, therefore, where the ground 

 is all loosened to the requisite depth, may prove as bentfi- 

 cial to the growing crop, as two ploughings which are but 

 partially performed; that is, where the plough runs so 

 wide, or so far from a horizontal position, as to leave 

 considerable ridges underneath which remain unloosened 

 by the plough. 



Much also depends on the time of ploughing most kinds 

 of soils, after the turning of the sward, except the light 

 sandy, or the very coarse gravelly soil. These may be 

 ploughed soon after the rains ; but if the soil be moist, or 

 stiff, or even if it be dry, but contains a sufficient pro- 

 portion of vegetable mould, the time selected for plough- 

 ing should be when these soils will pulverize the most 

 readily. 



Under FALLOWING OF LAND, we have mentioned the 

 most favorable time for mellowing clays, when baked into 

 clods. 



Soils which do not bake, and yet are sufficiently retentive 

 of moisture, will be most easily pulverized when they are 

 considerably well dried, or at least so dry as that they will 

 not adhere to the mouldboard in ploughing. When in an 

 extreme dry state, they will not, generally, be mellowed so 

 much by a ploughing : Of course, they will ferment less 

 when moistened again by the rains. Still, however, the 

 drier the state of the soil, the better condition it will be in 

 for the purpose of destroying any roots of weeds it may 

 contain, or any grass which may remain unsubdued. 



The breaking up of sward-lands being the most laborious 

 operation of ploughing, it becomes necessary to perform it 

 when it can be done with most ease ; and this is when the 

 ground is sufficiently moist. Many soils may, however, be 

 too wet, at times, to be broken up to advantage; for, as 

 in that case, much earth will adhere to the mouldboard, 

 the plough will be cloged in its operation, and will not 

 pass so easily through the ground, as when it is somewhat 

 drier. 



Sward which is turned over, when quite dry, will rot the 

 soonest, and the soil will be most easily pulverized by 

 successive ploughings ; but the labor then becomes much 

 severer, and the plough will not so readily keep its place 

 in the soil. 



These remarks are, however, not applicable to the light 

 sandy, or the dry gravelly, soil, before mentioned. These 

 should be broken up, while they have as much moisture ia 

 '.hem as they pan contain. 



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