158 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



make a level, smooth field, fit for the mowing-machine the next 

 season. But in case the field is to be cultivated in some hoed 

 crop, we prefer that the furrows should be somewhat shaken up, 

 and lap a little upon each other, and their relations to a certain 

 extent disturbed. 



It will be found that the sod thus broken by the plough will 

 much more readily yield to the harrow than the field that pre- 

 sents the smooth and even surface ; and if it contains a large 

 amount of clay, it soon becomes dry and hard, through the in- 

 fluence of solar heat, and is not easily pulverized. We know 

 of no plough so well adapted for pulverizing the soil as that 

 already alluded to. It requires a strong team before it and an 

 expert behind it ; but what is lost in the muscle of the animals 

 is gained in the crop that follows. 



Another object in ploughing is to mix the soils. It frequently 

 happens that the surface soil is sand, and the subsoil clay, or 

 the surface abounds in vegetable matter and the subsoil want- 

 ing. Now it is all-important that these soils are mixed and 

 reduced to a proper fineness before they are fit to give a strong 

 growth to the virgin plant ; and the plough that accomplishes 

 this work in the most effective and thorough manner, other 

 things being equal, should be preferred. And how can the 

 merits of it be determined, except by actual trial ? 



Another object in ploughing, is to increase the depth of soil, 

 that the roots of the plants may have a more extensive range. 

 Formerly it was supposed that the roots of all cereals extended 

 only a few inches ; but within a few years it has been proved 

 beyond doubt that they extend several feet. These facts go to 

 show that shallow ploughing is all wrong. 



We would not, by the way, recommend to plough up a large 

 amount of subsoil that never before had been removed, but at 

 each successive ploughing gauge the plough so that it may re- 

 move about one inch more in depth than at the previous plough- 

 ing. This will add an amount of subsoil to the surface equal 

 to about one hundred loads, of thirty bushels each, to the acre, 

 to be converted into surface soil. This method should be prac- 

 tised till the required depth is obtained. 



Mo wing-Machines. — The first farm implement that came to 

 our notice for which a premium was offered was the " horse- 

 mower." Only two entries were made. The probable reason 



