PLOUGHING. 



259 



Art. LVIII.— ploughing. 



Fanner's Almanac. 



Art. LIX.— to TURN GRASS LAND INTO ARABLE. 



From Prize Ess.vy by Johx Bra vender, F.G.S. 



Practice of BreaMng vp. 



The most important preliminary step to be taken pre- 

 viously to breaking- up pasture lands is to liave tliem 

 well drained, if the soil be lieavy and requires it, and 

 then to pare and burn the surface for the purpose of re- 

 ducing' the g-rass, weeds, and toughly matted sward to loose 

 charred ashes, which possess hig-hly fertilizing- finalities. 

 The half of the ashes, which are frequently veiy abundant 

 (in some cases more than GOO bushels per acre), may 

 be carted to other lands about to be sown with turnips, 

 and the other half left for use. on the land that produced 

 them. When the land from which the ashes have been 

 derived is very rich and g-ood, the whole are sometimes 

 removed to other parts of the farm ; but in this the firmer 

 must always be g-overned by circumstances. Half the 

 ashes being- removed, the remainder is drilled with turnips 

 and g-reen crops on the land broken up, or spread over it 

 before being- ploug-hed. The crop of turnips, which must 

 always succeed, is sometimes eaten off in the autumn, some- 



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