PREPARATION OF LAND FOR TILLAGE. 7^ 



II. LEVELLING GROUND AND REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS TO 

 TILLAGE. 



THE most frequent impediments to the common operations 

 of tillage are, swamps, inequalities of the surface, stones, the 

 roots of trees, and the like. The curing or removing of 

 swamps is a branch of draining.* The levelling of ground, 

 and the removal of stones, and similar obstructions, are to be 

 attended to in common operations of tillage. 



When the surface of ground is unequal, the plough will suf- 

 fice for levelling it in common cases of tillage. The plough 

 is made to act in this case by repeated cleavings of the land to 

 be levelled. Frequently, the surface is previously removed 

 by the spade, so that the soil may be replaced upon the new 

 surface after it has been rendered level. In some cases, 

 machines, constructed for the purpose, are employed in the 

 levelling of ground. 



III. PARING AND BURNING. 



THE process of paring and burning, consists in paring off, 

 by means of a spade or plough, the sward or turf of the soil, 

 and burning it either in heaps, or by setting fire to the turfs on 

 edge, and then spreading the ashes upon the surface. 



The process must be performed while the weather is suffi- 

 ciently dry to allow of the combustion of the turf. It may 

 be begun in the month of April, or if the weather be dry and 

 suitable, earlier, and may be continued throughout the sum- 

 mer, as convenience, or the state of the weather, allows. 



Burning, especially if it be judiciously conducted, com- 

 pletely changes the nature of a soil, and corrects the greater 

 part of its imperfections. Count CHAPTAL, we believe we can 

 quote no better or higher authority, slates, that by these means 

 he gave to agriculture one hundred and twenty acres of land 

 reported sterile, formed almost entirely of a ferruginous and 

 very compact clay. The burning extended to the depth of 

 four inches. Previous to the operation, its sterility was so 

 great, that it was known as the Jew's-heath; but for twelve 

 years immediately succeeding the operation, it produced good, 

 though not very productive crops'. 



Burning is hurtful to calcareous and light lands, to soils 

 of which the composition is perfect, and to fertile lands, rich 

 in decomposed animal and vegetable substances. It is useless 



* See article Draining, and also Appendix, letter D. 



