SUGGESTIONS ON MANAGING THE FAEM. 57 



of land on the surface of the earth, yet he owned clear through 

 to China. Even if we do not care to go in quite so deep as 

 he did, we may with advantage work deeper than many of us 

 have been in the habit of doing. 



I find that so full}' are some of our best nursery-men con- 

 vinced of benefit resulting from deep culture, that they take 

 pains to trench the soil of the beds in which they grow their 

 sample plants and shrubs to a depth of two feet, claiming thiit 

 the extra expense of cultivating the ground is more than re- 

 paid by the increased vigor of the plants, The experience of 

 our onion-growers points in the same direction, as they find 

 that the more thoroughly the soil is prepared the more profit- 

 able is the crop : and the best results are not obtained till years 

 of careful culture have been given to a field. 



It may now be considered as proved that one acre well 

 worked is more profitable, as well as more enjoyable, than two 

 half cared for ; therefore let us strive in friendly rivalry to see 

 Avho shall have, not the most acres, but the best. Here is 

 another consideration in favor of small farms, the taxes are 

 less, and while we may double the value of our land by high 

 farming, we do not have to pay for it is we should if we in- 

 creased the nimiber of acres. 



From the cultivation of the soil we pass easil}^ to the consid- 

 eration of the team with which we cultivate. Whether for 

 this, oxen or horses are best, must depend largely on the char- 

 acter of the soil, and also to what use the animals can be put 

 when not at work on the farm. For my own use I prefer 

 oxen, because, although slow compai'ed with horses, they are 

 sure and much less expensive both in first cost and also in 

 maintenance, while if disabled by accident the loss is slight, 

 as they are of value for beef, to what the loss of a horse is 

 under similar circumstances. They are also more easily ob- 

 tained when an extra team is wanted for a short time, and may 

 often be fattened and sold at a good profit when the work is 

 done, while horses are hard to dispose of as well as to obtain. 



Many persons would be surprised at an attempt to educate 

 oxen beyond the point of making them understand the mean- 

 ing of the words employed to direct their movements. I have 

 satisfied myself that they can learn much more than tliis, and 

 that time spent in training a yoke of oxen that one intends to 



