OP PLOUGHING. 219 



3. If land is infested with grass, which generally runs much 

 on the surface, the first ploughing should not be deep. 



In the following cases, deep ploughing is advisable. 1. 

 "Where the first furrow is given to land intended to be fal- 

 lowed in the end of autumn or beginning of winter, and 

 where grass or root-weeds do not abound, the soil is thus 

 pulverized and sweetened by the frost; and } 2. In muirish 

 or cold soils, as it affords a greater scope for the roots of 

 plants to procure nourishment, admits the superabundant 

 moisture to subside from their roots, and prevents the sum- 

 mer drought from making an injurious impression on the 

 growing crops : for it may be remarked, that on such land, 

 shallow ploughing exposes vegetation to be starved or 

 drowned in wet weather, and to be scorched or withered in 

 dry. 



The advantages of deep ploughing, a practice which can- 

 not be too frequently recommended, shall next be described. 

 Some of my correspondents complain, that it is likely to get 

 into disuse with slovenly farmers, and to be too much ne- 

 glected by many who, in other respects, merit a different 

 character. To prevent the introduction of so injurious a 

 system as shallow ploughing, it would be advisable, in some 

 cases, to have one or two strong ploughs, calculated even 

 for four horses, by which the strongest and stiffest land may 

 be cultivated to the proper depth, whenever it was neces- 

 sary. 



Advantages of deep Ploughing. 



1. Bringing up of new mould is peculiarly favourable to 

 clover, turnips, beans, and potatoes ; and indeed, without 

 that advantage, these crops must diminish in quantity, qua- 

 lity, and value. 1 2. Deep ploughing is of infinite conse- 

 quence, not only by furnishing more pasture to the roots 



