Of Ploughing. 301 



crop cultivated, besides replenishing the soil with a fresh 

 supply of their own seeds. In all these cases, a depth of from 

 four to five inches will be found sufficient. And, 4. If land 

 is infested with natural grasses, which generally run much on 

 the surface, the first ploughing should not be deeper than 

 is necessary for turning up the roots of the grasses, that 

 they may be destroyed. It is also necessary to observe, 

 that where the substratum is of an unfertile quality, plough- 

 ing deep cannot be safely adopted, unless the land is under 

 the fallow process, so that the new soil may be exposed to 

 atmospheric influence, and improved by calcareous and pu- 

 trescent manures, which may then be applied with peculiar 

 advantage. 



It is now proper to give a general view of the advantages 

 of deep ploughing, a practice which slovenly farmers, and 

 even those who in other respects merit a different character, 

 too often neglect; whereas those who have acquired su- 

 perior skill in' their profession, in order that they may be 

 enabled to give a thorough deep ploughing, at the com- 

 mencement of every rotation, keep such a number of strong 

 ploughs, calculated even for four horses, as may be adequate 

 to the size of their farms, by means of which, the stiffest soil 

 may be cultivated, to the proper depth, whenever it is de- 

 sirable. 



4. Advantages of deep Ploughing ( 8 ). 



1. Bringing up new mould, is peculiarly favourable to clo- 

 ver, turnips, beans, and potatoes ; and, indeed, without that 

 advantage, these crops usually diminish in quantity, quality, 

 and value. 2. Deep ploughing is likewise of great conse- 

 quence to every species of plant, because it furnishes more 

 means of nourishment to their roots, and, above all, as it 

 counteracts the injurious consequences of either too wet or 

 too dry a season. This is a most important consideration ; 

 for, if the season be wet, there is a greater depth of soil to 

 absorb the moisture, so that the plants are not likely to have 

 their roots immersed in water; and in a dry season, it is still 

 more useful, for in the lower part of the cultivated soil, there 

 is thus a reservoir of moisture, which is brought up to the 

 roots of the plants, by the evaporation which the heat of the 

 sun occasions ( 9 ). 3. By deep ploughing, also, the ground 

 may be more effectually cleared of root-weeds of every de- 

 scription ; in particular, it is the best mode of eradicating 

 thistles. 4. By deep ploughing, animal and vegetable ma- 



