SIMPLE OPERATIONS OF TILLAGE. 53 



straight sole, and be made to move forward in a regular line, 

 without swerving to either side. The edge of the coulter should 

 also be set directly forward, so that the land side of it may run 

 on a parallel line with the land side of the head, and in such a 

 position that their slant, or sweep, may exactly correspond. 



The ploughman should walk with his body as nearly as pos- 

 sible upright, without leaning on the stilts or handles, and with- 

 out using force to any part, further than may be absolutely 

 necessary to keep the implement steadily in a direct line. He 

 should also be sparing of his voice and of correction to the 

 team of the former, because too much cheering and ordering 

 only confuses the cattle and of the latter, because punishment, 

 when often repeated, at length ceases to have due effect, and 

 thus leads to unnecessary beating. These are the rules or prin- 

 ciples laid down by Mr. FINLAYSON and others. 



It must be apparent that, as every kind of soil has its appro- 

 priate qualities, each requires a peculiarmode of tillage. Plough- 

 ing, which is the chief operation, ought therefore to be executed 

 according to the nature of the land, and not performed upon 

 any one invariable principle. 



On strong clays and loams, and other soils of a deep or rich 

 staple, the plough should go to a considerable depth; whereas, 

 on thin clays and sands, the benefit of deep ploughing is very 

 questionable, especially when incumbent on a sterile sub-soil. 

 On each description of land, distinct modes of operation, and 

 implements of different construction, are therefore absolutely 

 necessary. 



Very opposite opinions are entertained by many eminent 

 farmers regarding the proper depth of ploughing. But as 

 yet, the application of deep or shallow tillage, to various soils 

 respectively, has not been ascertained upon any settled prin- 

 ciple. 



The proper depth of ploughing must necessarily depend 

 upon the nature of the soil; but although every intelligent 

 husbandman must be aware of the superiority of those of a 

 deep staple over those which are shallow, still it should be borne 

 in mind that there is a wide difference between the effects of 

 ploughing deeply into land, the vegetative stratum of which is 

 of nearly equal fertility throughout, and that of augmenting a 

 shallow surface of fertile soil, by mixing it up with a sub-soil 

 of inferior quality. 



Soils of the very best quality, may be completely exhausted 

 in the course of a few years, by shallow ploughing; so on the 

 other hand, soils of an inferior quality, by a judicious system 

 of ploughing, as has been already remarked, may be greatly 



