Of Ploughing. 



I. On the Operations of Husbandry in the Production of Crops, 



and in preparing the Produce for Market. 



Previous to the commencement of arable operations, it is 

 necessary, 1. That the soil be cleared of any substance which 

 might either obstruct its cultivation, or become detrimental 

 to the crop ; 2. That it be of a texture or degree of open- 

 ness favourable to the growth of plants ; and, 3. That it 

 possess fertility sufficient for the production of those articles 

 proposed to be raised on it. These particulars being ar- 

 ranged, the subsequent operations may be classed under the 

 following general heads : 



1. Ploughing. 14. Transplanting. 



2. Ridging. 15. Hoeing. 



3. Scarifying. 16. Treading. 



4. Harrowing. 1 7. Culture, while growing. 



5. Rolling. 18. Reaping. 



6. Choice of seed. 19. Harvesting. 



7. Change of seed. 20. Thrashing. 



8. Quantity of seed. 21. Dressing, or winnowing. 



9. Preparing the seed. 22. Improving the quality of grain. 

 10. Season for growing. 23. Preservation till sold. 



II. Sowing broad-cast. 24. Straw. 



12. Drilling. 25. Stubbles, and 



13, Dibbling. 26. Gleaning. 



Some observations, 1. On the accidents to which grain 

 is liable; and, 2. On the chief diseases of wheat, are offered 

 in separate papers in the Addenda. 



SECT. I. Of Ploughing. 



THE various benefits arising from good tillage cannot be 

 too much inculcated. By tillage, both the composition and 

 the consistence of the soil are improved, and adapted to the 

 nature of the different species of cultivated plants. By its 

 assistance, the manure and the seed are most advantageously 

 deposited. It is calculated to give considerable relief from 

 surface-water, and undue moisture, by enabling the culti- 

 vator to increase the depth, and to adjust the surface of the 

 soil (*). It can be employed to assist in destroying almost 

 all the varieties of weeds which lurk in the soil, either as 

 roots or as seeds, bringing the former to the surface, and in- 

 ducing the latter to vegetate. By the same means, various 



