and sluggish climate of Scotland has, not that decomposing and meliorating effect on the 

 recently plowed soil as has the intensely cold and hot weather of America; and so it is 

 that we can turn over for our summer-fallow^s furrows which in Great Britain would 

 never be got to pieces in one twelve-month, whereas here they decompose and fall all to 

 pieces when cross plowed, though there is often but six weeks between the first jmd 

 second plowing. Nothing surprises old country farmers more than this. We have 

 heard good English farmers say, after they had been in the country a short time, " I 

 never would have believed that such great wide furrows would tumble to pieces so 

 readily in such a short time." This is undoubtedly the case ; and, indeed, if it were 

 not so, such is the shortness of the plowing season in the northwestern and eastern 

 States, we should find it very difiicult, much more so even than at present, to get our 

 land ready for the seed. 



Yet, while we admit this, we would not argue in favor of wide furrows, unless a cor- 

 responding depth be observed. Thus, if we plow a furrow fourteen inches wide, it will 

 be necessary to go ten inches deep, with a lap of four inches, to get the maximum of 

 surface exposed to the atmosphere, and have the sides of the upturned furrow at an 

 angle of 45 degrees from the bottom surface. In plowing clover ley for wheat immedi- 

 ately before sowing, as is generally done in Great Britain, we think the Scotch mode 

 superior to any other. We should, however, like to hear our correspondents' views on 

 this subject ; for, as plowing lies at the foundation of all good farming, it is certainly 

 important that as much light as possible should be thrown on the subject, and that it 

 be done in the most scientific, economical, and expeditious manner possible. 



In plowing a clover sod but once for wheat, after grazing it in summer or taking off a 

 crop of ha\^, the great difficulty is in destroying the grass and weeds. We have now in 

 our eye a field that was well manured and plowed in this way last fall, just previous to 

 sowing. It looked exceedingly well the fore part of winter and in early spring ; but the 

 grass grew so thick and strong that the wheat was much injured, and turned out a light 

 crop. In Norfolk, — which, though naturally one of the poorest sands, is cultivated 

 better and yields heavier crops than any other county in England, — they use an iron 

 roller about two and a half feet in diameter, and about two inches wide at the circum- 

 ference, which is drawn between every furrow after it is turned over. It is drawn by 

 one horse, which walks after the plow in- the furrow, while the roller passes on the junc- 

 ture of the two last turned furrows, pressing every bit of grass, weeds, &c., completely 

 out of sight ; so that when the land is dragged, it is some five or six inches below the 

 surface. It does only one furrow at a time ; so that it is almost as expensive as plowing, 

 taking a horse and boy to do as much as a team will plow. Yet we believe it pays 

 well, and is one of the cheapest and most effectual means of destroying grass and weeds 

 in wheat. Those who have never seen it used can hardly imagine the benefit which 

 attends its adoption. 



FLAX -CULTURE AND FLAX COTTON. 



There can be no doubt that the soil and climate of a greater part of the United States 

 are well adapted to the growth of flax of good "quality and quantity, and that we shall 

 soon be extensive exporters instead of as now importers in linen and flax to the amount 

 of nearly nine millions of dollars per annum. 



The Chevalier Claussen process of preparing flax cotton is doubtless one of great 

 value, and patent rights have been sold we believe for most of the eastern and western 

 States, so that farmers who raise flax will be able to sell it to the manufacturer in the 

 raw state, and realize much higher profits than when they had to incur the expense 

 and labor of preparing the flax themselves. 





