76 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



of earth, if that earth is frequently stirred, than if it 

 were allowed to remain undisturbed. Ploughing, by 

 exposing new surfaces to the action of the atmo- 

 sphere, must be productive of essential benefit ; and 

 as fall ploughing generally takes place after crops 

 which have partially exhausted the surface of some 

 of its nutritive and absorbent qualities, its service in 

 aid of spring crops must be very important. 



2d. There are always on land more or less grass, 

 weeds, stubble, or other vegetable matters convert- 

 ible into mould by fermentation and decomposition: 

 a process which is greatly aided by their being turn- 

 ed under the surface of the earth. Fall ploughing 

 renders such substances much sooner available in 

 advancing the growth of crops than they would be 

 if left uncovered during the winter, independent of 

 the great loss necessarily sustained by the washing 

 away of the lighter portions, and their dispersion by 

 the winds. 



3d. Nothing acts more efficiently on moist soils 

 in promoting vegetation than minute pulverization ; 

 and fall ploughing contributes to this most essential- 

 ly. Lands that, if ploughed only in the spring, will 

 remain in large cakes or lumps, defying the efforts 

 of the farmer to reduce them suitably, will, if plough- 

 ed in the fall, be found loosened in texture and fitted 

 for early operations. Frost is the most efficient 

 disintegrator of the soil with which the agriculturist 

 is acquainted, and he should avail himself of its val- 

 uable labours in all practicable cases. 



4th. The earlier the ground can be prepared for 

 the suitable reception of spring crops, such as com, 

 spring wheat, and barley, the better it will be found 

 for the cultivator ; and, in nine cases out of ten, 

 early-sown crops are the heaviest and most pro- 

 ductive. 



5t.h. Ploughing land acts more effectually in de- 

 stroying insects than any otlier mode of treatment, 

 and fall ploughing for tliis purpose is preferable to 



