Chap.XIIL THE CULTURE OF WHEAT. 67 



necelTary that the earth be moiftened by fome fliowers, that the 

 plough may go as deep as the quahty of the foil will admit. 



This winter plowing fliould be given as foon as the wheat fowing 

 is over, provided the farmer be fufficiently forward in the work 

 neceffary in fpring : and the ground fhould be plowed deep, that it 

 may be mellowed during the winter. Though the earth fhould 

 plow rough and grow hard, no inconvenience will arife therefrom. 

 The winter's frofl; will moulder it. Therefore we think it is of great 

 advantage to finifh this firft plowing before the froft comes on. 

 But our farmers in general do not begin it titl after their fpring feed 

 time is over. 



As foon as the firft plowing is finiihed, the land that was firft broke 

 up is plowed a fecond time, or, as it is commonly exprefied, Twy- 

 fallowed. This is done about Midfummer. For this fecond plowing, 

 the ground fhould be neither too dry nor too moift : for if it is hard 

 and plows rough, there are now no frofts to moulder it down. 

 There is no harm in plowing as deep as the foil will admrt of. If 

 the ground is level, or has been plowed into broad lands, the fecond 

 plowing is acrofs the former. If it has been plowed in ridges, the 

 diredlions given in Chapter IX. are to be followed. 



The laft plowing is given immediately after harveft. The dif- 

 ferent qualities of foils, and the circumftances of the weather, will 

 oblige the farmer fometimes to vary the method we have hitherto 

 laid down. 



1 . Light lands are neither plowed very deep, nor fo often as ftrong 

 foils. 



2. Strong lands cannot be plowed too often. If it be poffible to 

 break, them up before the winter frofts, the earth will be mellowed 

 and better prepared. 



3. Some lands will be rendered lefs fertile by being plowed too 

 deep. Others are benefited by deep plowing. We remember having 

 fomewhere read of a man extremely curious in the culture of his 

 lands, who had two ploughs following one another in the. fame fur- 

 row, in order to ftir the ground to a greater depth. This pr;i6tice 

 might in fome meafure anfwer the defign of Mr. Tull's four-coulcer'd 

 plough ; and in fome countries they plow fo deep, that they are 

 obliged to have fix oxen to a plough. 



4. Farmers, who have plenty of horfes, fometimes beftovv a 

 plowing extraordinary upon their lands, efpecially when weeds grow 

 much. 



K 2 c. 'rkeff 



