1)4 /:',' )7' TIAN AGRICULTURE. 



region of slower weathering, is not always successful in 

 increasing the yield of the first crop grown under the new 

 conditions. Hence the full benefit of subsoiling may not 

 be felt until one or two crops have been taken. The effect 

 of subsoiling should last for a good long time, and except 

 on the best subsoils, and where manure is liberally applied, 

 little advantage is to be gained by constant subsoiling. 

 Mixing the soil and subsoil must always be cautiously 

 undertaken, and at all times when the subsoil is disturbed, 

 the full benefit of the tillage will only be got when the 

 land is heavily manured with farm yard manure containing 

 much organic matter. A convenient method of supplying 

 organic matter to a subsoiled land is to grow a crop of 

 berseem and plough the whole into the furrow. 



The next tillage operation to be considered is ridging 

 which is carried out by means of the plough or the fass. 

 In the case of raising ridges for dividing the land into 

 beds the battana is of great use on lightish soil. The crops 

 which are grown on ridges could be sown on the flat, but 

 the ridges have the following advantages: (1) The soil 

 is drier, and the loose top of the ridge ensures aeration of 

 the soil and prevents general cracking. (2) The ridges 

 are warmer than the level, at least on one side. (3) The 

 seed and seedlings can be protected by planting them on 

 the sheltered sunny side in winter, and on the cool side in 

 summer. (4) The crop is more easily watered. (5) The 

 crop can be conveniently cleaned. Lastly the ridge is com- 

 posed of open soil which is favourable to the formation of 

 tubers and well budded canes. The dryness and warmth 

 of the sunny side of the ridge is of the greatest ad vantage 



