30 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



great thoroughfares are rapidly becoming occupied by a new class 

 of agriculturists. Men of wealth who are retiring from business, 

 and who are indisposed to settle dowm in inactivity, are purchas- 

 ing small farms and turning their attention to the cultivation of 

 the soil. These are the men to whom the country must look for 

 example in this great field. Accustomed to the brick and mortar 

 of the city, and often unacquainted with the simplest of the prin- 

 ciples or processes of husbandry, they have all to learn. They 

 can also bring intelligence and wealth to the business. Why may 

 we not expect them to take a noble and decided stand in favor of 

 modern improvements ? At the same time, let us recommend them 

 to be cautious and prudent, and have an eye to the general ad- 

 vancement of the art. Some cases have come under our notice 

 where gentlemen of this class, no doubt with a laudable ambition 

 to show large results, have bestowed an amount of labor and ex- 

 pense upon crops which would be ruinous to the common farmer. 

 It makes no difference to them at what cost — but the only good 

 we can see flowing from it, is the showing the capabilities of the 

 soil when tasked to its utmost limit. But this is not what is 

 wanted, unless it can be done with profit. It is not the elfect pro- 

 duced by manuring wath a compost of a large number of costly 

 materials, which more than swallow up the proceeds of the crop — 

 nor that of applying an immense quantity of manure to result in 

 the same loss — these are not what the American farmer wants — 

 but to learn how he may reap the greatest product at the least 

 expense. Economical farming is the thing desired — to develoj) 

 the whole resources of the individual farm in its soil well tilled — 

 its yard manure — its marl — its muck — the waste of the house i.nd 

 the farm — all, in fine, that can add to its productiveness, and that 

 with the least outlay. 



There are also operations which are attended sometimes with 

 considerable expense, which nevertheless repay largely in their 

 effects, and add greatly to the capacities of the farm. They have 

 been little practiced in this country, but in others have been fol- 

 lowed by the very best results. And to some of these we would 

 briefly call the attention of the class of whom we are now speak- 

 ing. The first is deep ploughing. 



As ploughing is generally practiced in this country the soil is 

 very rarely loosened to a greater depth than six inches — perhaps 



