466 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



should present a considerable angle to the farrow slice, causing 

 it to rise somewhat suddenly, would be most suitable. But 

 when the land to be ploughed is in sward, or is covered with 

 weeds, an important object is to destroy this vegetation. This 

 is desired, both that it may not interfere with the crop to be 

 put on the land, and also that the crop may be benefited by 

 the decomposition of the former growth. Having in view, 

 therefore, the burying of the vegetation, it will be necessary to 

 modify the form of the plough from that adapted to the former 

 case, to accomplish this object in the best manner. If we were 

 to adopt the same abruptness of breast and mould-board as 

 was recommended where there was no vegetation on the sur- 

 face, the furrow-slice would be liable to be so much broken 

 that the sod would not be properly subverted, and the decom- 

 position of the vegetation would not be effectual ; the plants 

 which it was wished to destroy might be left in a growing 

 state, instead of being put out of the way and made to feed 

 the desired crop. But the grand aim in the performance of the 

 work would still be to effect the most thorough breaking of 

 the soil, which is compatible with the proper disposal and 

 decomposition of the sod or surface vegetation. 



Attention to the two requisites just mentioned, — the pulver- 

 ization of the soil, and the decomposition of the surface vege- 

 tation, is of very great importance on stiff soils, and there is a 

 very wide difference in the operation of different ploughs, as 

 regards those requisites. The following is a case illustrating 

 this : — 



A farmer (Mr. Kirtland) near Albany, N. Y., in 1849, plough- 

 ed a piece of rather stiff loam lying in grass. The soil was of 

 such uniform quality that no particular difference could be dis- 

 covered in the whole piece. It was ploughed seven inches 

 deep. Several kinds of ploughs, — perhaps eight or nine dif- 

 ferent patterns, — were used in the work. Stakes were put up, 

 or other means used, to mark the work of the different ploughs. 

 All the land was treated alike. A great difference in the 

 friableness of the soil was seen as soon as the ploughing was 

 done, — some of the ploughs having left the furrow-slice loose 

 and open ; others having turned the soil without scarcely 

 changing its texture, and others, again, even compressing the 

 soil still closer together in the operation. A great difference, 



