H 



OF TILLAGE. 



particles reuniting after they have been divid'-d by tillage : and it is 

 obferved, that clay is more benefited byfrefh dung, than by what 

 is rotted ; becaufe freil:! dung keeps its particles more effeftually 

 from uniting, and, while putrifying, raiies a warmth in the cold 

 clay, and thereby divides its particles ftill more. But dung is not 

 lefs neceffary for light lands, which, as they contain few nutritive 

 parts, ftand in need of being fupplied with them by dung. 



This is nearly the fubftance of what may be faid on the fubjedl 

 of dung, the ufefulnefs of which cannot be denied, (as Mr, Tull 

 feems to do) without contradifting the experience of every age and 

 place. 



But whatever advantage may be reaped from dung, by thofe who 

 have the convenience of being plentifully provided with it, and that 

 of corredting part of its defeats by lime ; it will not be the lefs true, 

 that it is extremely beneficial to multiply the frequent plowings of 

 the earth. 



'Tis for this reafon that lands intended to be fown with wheat, are 

 plowed three or four times. Some farmers who have doubled the 

 number of plowings, have found their lands more fertilifed thereby, 

 than if they had been greatly dunged. Three plowings extraordinary, 

 do not coll: half fo much as one dunging. Thus an ill-judged 

 ceconomy becomes ruinous. 



It follows from all this, that there is room for improvement in the 

 culture of land. Plowing, as it is performed in fome countries, for 

 wheat, does not meliorate ftiff lands. It only forms huge clods, 

 v/hich leave great cavities between them, by no means fit to fupply 

 plants with food. This muft be allowed, after what has been faid 

 above. It is therefore abfolutely neceflary to break the clods 

 thoroughly, and to reduce them to fmall particles, by plowing. 

 The ftiff land, then grown lighter, is in a ftate that fuits the plants. 

 Nothing more is wanting, but to keep it in that ftate by plowings 

 made at proper feafons, as we fliall explain hereafter, to prevent its 

 returning to its former condition. 



But what proves how beneficial it is in ftrong lands to facilitate 

 the pafi"ages of the water, of the rays of the fun, and of the roots of 

 plants, js, that their fertility is fometimes increafed by mixing them 

 with fand inftead of dung. Sand itfelf affords no nourifhment : but 

 by preventing the particles from re-uniting, it produces the defired 

 good effefts. 



