RESULTS OF GOOD PLOWING. 183 



The use of the subsoil plow is a very important accessory 

 to the best culture of farm crops. It is used to follow the 

 common plow in the same furrow, and breaks up the hard 

 bottom for several inches in depth. The advantages of this 

 cannot be overrated. It gradually deepens the' 'fertile soil 

 by bringing the subsoil under the influence of the air, and 

 of heat ; and also of the decaying vegetable and animal mat- 

 ter which goes into the soil in the form of manures; as well 

 as of the chemical influences of lime, potash, and other spe- 

 cial fertilizers. 



The importance of this operation of tillage has always 

 been recognized by the most intelligent and thoughtful far- 

 mers, anel should not be overlcokeel or slighted. "Tillage 

 is manure," has been an accepted principle of agriculture 

 since it was first tersely propounded by Mr. Jethro Tull, 

 an English farmer, about a century ago; and it is now, 

 more than at any previous time, that the truth of it is re- 

 cognized anel realized. 



The results of good plowing are varied. They secure a 

 fitting bed for the seeel, and afford favorable opportunities 

 for the growth of the roots, and their most perfect penetra- 

 tion in and through the soil. The sail is opened to the ad- 

 mission of the atmosphere and of the rain anel dews; the 

 heat of the sun penetrates it and sets in action the various 

 currents, which, flowing in anel out of it, bring in oxygen, 

 carbonic acid, anel nitrogen; all of which have a most inti- 

 mate anel effective relation to the growth and perfection of 

 the crops. Good plowing facilitates, and makes more effec- 

 tive, every subsequent operation of culture, and thus helps, 

 to a very great extent, towards the ultimate end of the far- 

 mers labors; which is large crops, and a satisfactory return 

 for the labor anel capital employed. It is in fact the foun- 

 dation for the profitable culture of farm crops, and as such, 

 deserves the closest study and most intelligent application 

 of every good farmer. 



