FARM IMPLEMENTS. 157 



them in the field. We fear that the practice already adopted of 

 awarding prizes for farm implements without trial, may lead to 

 unsatisfactory results, to the inventor as well as the consumer. 



The swivel plough is fast coming into use, but no faster than 

 necessity demands. We believe that all lands should be 

 ploughed without leaving those unsightly dead furrows and 

 huge ridges upon them. 



We would therefore recommend that prizes be offered for 

 ploughs that will perform the best work. 



The question may be asked, Why do we plough ? This ques- 

 tion being answered, we get a clue to the science of the work. 



The first object in ploughing is to pulverize the soil, and 

 make a deep, mellow seed-bed, capable of absorbing from the 

 atmosphere those gases necessary for the growth and life of 

 plants. The absorbing power of the soil is better understood 

 than formerly, and the power depends very much on the fine- 

 ness of the particles. It is well known that if water, adul- 

 terated with barn manure, be strained through fine clay, it be- 

 comes partially pure ; if loam be used, it is less so ; if filtered 

 through gravel or sand, the change is hardly perceptible ; prov- 

 ing that the water diminishes in purity in proportion to the po- 

 rosity of the soil — sand a poor absorbent. Hence, if we wish 

 our soils to retain the manure we put upon them, and absorb 

 from the atmosphere the rains and dews, it is all-important that 

 we well pulverize our soils and make them porous. Clay is 

 said to have more absorbing power than sand, not because of 

 the affinity that exists between clay and ammonia, but because 

 the particles of dry clay are exceedingly fine, and the ammonia 

 is retained by them. Although pulverization is not a complete 

 substitute for manure, yet it materially aids the young rootlets 

 in making their researches, and hastening the crop. 



One object, then, in ploughing, is to turn the sod or stubble 

 so that the air and rains may penetrate the soils and deposit 

 their fertilizing influences. In ploughing sod ground, two 

 opinions seem to prevail. The first, that the furrow-slice 

 should be cut and laid independent by itself, and the whole 

 field thus ploughed should present a smooth, fiat surface. 

 Doubtless this method is preferable, if we intend to stock the 

 field down to grass, either with or without small grain, as it 

 then becomes an easy matter, with a cultivating harrow, to 



