578 NOVEMBER. 



direct influence in assisting the putrefaction of the 

 scd, covered as it is with a crop, perhaps a smother- 

 ing one. 



Two circumstances here merit notice, which are, 

 the use of the skim-coulter plough, and sowing on 

 a stale furrow. 



Mr. Ducket's slum -coulter plough, I consider as 

 one of the best implements ever invented ; it is 

 most effectual, and applicable to a great variety of 

 purposes, but to none more than breaking up old 

 grass land. Every one knows, that when this is 

 done with acomnr?on plough, there is between every 

 furrow a seam of grass and weeds that vegetate 

 through the summer, arid injure the crop ; but this 

 is entirely prevented by the skim-coulter, and is ap- 

 plicable to every sort of soil that does not contain 

 on the surface impediments of roots or stones. 



The other point, that of sowing on a stale fur- 

 row, is a very good practice, in .cases of breaking 

 old lay, when clone on soils that are not ticklish for 

 getting on : wet clays and loams, supposing them 

 not well drained, are ofien obliged to be delayed, 

 sowing too late in the spring if ploughed in autumn ; 

 in which case it is safer to plough and dibble a$ 

 once ; but on other soils dry enough, as dry loams > 

 sands, and chalk, it is better to plough in autumn, 

 and plant early in the spring : the frosts, and suc- 

 cessive variations of weather, sweetens the freshly- 

 turned up soil, and crumble the surface enough to 

 give a little mould, and not too much to impede the 

 dibbier. 



BECEXBER. 



