PRINCIPLES OF TILLAGE. 123 



drill culture and deep ploughing both lessen the evil of 

 weeds ; the first tends to destroy them, and the latter to 

 bury their seeds so deep, as to prevent the plants getting 

 ahead of, and choking, the young crop. Clean tillage has 

 been too much neglected in our practice. Many crops 

 are diminished a fourth, a third, a half, by pestiferous 

 weeds which are permitted to seed and propagate upon 

 the land. 



In regard to some troublesome perennials, as Canada 

 thistles, wild onions, quack grass, daisies, &c., the best 

 means of destroying them is, to prevent the growth of 

 leaves, their elaborating organs, which concoct and pre- 

 pare their food. This is done by frequent summer plough- 

 ings, or by a succession of well-cultivated hoed crops. 

 Good tillage requires good implements, and these to be 

 kept in order, that the farm-work may be economically 

 done, and well done, and done at the proper time. The 

 disparity between old and new implements of culture is 

 great, not only in the time employed, but in the manner 

 in which they do their work, and in the power required 

 to perform it. The old plough required a four-cattle 

 team, and two hands, to manage it, and the work ordi- 

 narily was but half executed. The improved plough is 

 generally propelled by two cattle, requires but one man 

 to manage it, and, when properly governed, performs 

 thorough work. Harrows and other implements have un- 

 dergone a like improvement. Besides, new implements, 

 which greatly economize the labor of tillage, are coming 

 into use, as the roller, cultivator, drill-barrow, &c., so that 

 a farm may now be worked with half the expense of 

 labor that it was wont to be worked forty years ago, and 

 may be better worked withal. Mind, likewise, where it 

 is put in requisition, and enlightened by science, is doing 

 ten times more in aid of agricultural labor than it formerly 

 did. 



If we revert to old, and, in many cases, present prac- 

 tices, we shall perceive, that thorough tillage has not been 

 sufficiently attended to. Our implements have been de- 

 fective, and the manner of using them often imperfect. 

 Good ploughing is all-important to good farming, and still 



