the rotation of crops does not allow of deep ploughing 

 every year, it would be well to break up the sub- 

 soil with a sub-soil plough, so as to mellow the 

 lower courses without mixing them with those of 

 the surface, richer in manure. 



During the winter the furrows made by the 

 plough are left open. The frost tends to break up 

 the cakes ; the water from the rain, which has filled 

 all the small pores of the mass expands in freezing 

 and reduces the earth to dust. Thus is obtained a 

 pulverized mellow surface, perfectly prepared for 

 the reception of the grain whose particles will sur- 

 round the seed and favor its growth. 



From what we have said, it is certain that good 

 ploughing at proper seasons, notably tends to increase 

 the nutritive qualities held in solution in the earth. 

 Such ploughing really takes the place ofmamireand 

 is thus true economy. A well ploughed field may, 

 with less manure, yield as much as a field badly 

 ploughed but batter manured; or which is the same 

 thing, being equally manured the yield of a field 

 will be so much the better if the plounhing in the 

 fall has been carefully and properly done. 



By burying the straw in the fall, the soil is 

 rendered more porous and mellow and thus it faci- 

 litates the necessary circulation of air and moisture. 

 Organic substances remaining from the preceding 

 crop or brought with the manure, are decomposed 

 in the soil. The gas which they give off causes a 

 certain degree of fermentation which contributes to 

 the mellowing of the ground. Each straw and root 



