TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 29 



spade to the depth of 10 or 12 inches. From that day until the 

 time of dibbling in the seed, on the 23d of February, it had 

 been, at equal intervals, five times stirred or turned. One-half 

 of Number 1 was then dibbled with potatoes, and the other 

 with barley; and, at the same time, the adjoining- square rod, 

 Number 2, was broken up, and dibbled, in ever}^ respect, in the 

 same manner. 



It is deserving remark, that the soil of Number 1, by frequent 

 stirring, had become, and still continues, of a much darker hue 

 than Number 2 ; and the potatoes and barley upon the former 

 are infinitely superior to those on the latter; in so much, that the 

 tufts of young barley are now, at least, five or six times more 

 bulky than those upon Number 2. 



For the information of those engaged in cultivation, I commu- 

 nicate these facts ; because they are clearly decisive of the advan- 

 tages from repeatedly stirring the soil. At a future period, 1 may 

 give the result of the above experiments ; in the mean time, I can 

 assert with confidence, from the experience I have already had, 

 that the cheapest and best mode of bringing old grass land into 

 cultivation, is to pare off the turf to the depth of about two inches, 

 and, when dry, to burn it ; and immediately after to spread the 

 ashes over the surface. The first ploughing should then be given, 

 but not too deep ; by this the labour of the cattle will be lessened, 

 and the slags, or clods, will be smaller. The two or three after 

 ploughings should go gradually deeper. Care should be taken, 

 by harrowing, to clear the land entirely of roots, and of every 

 sort of vegetable substance. If these operations are performed 

 at proper seasons, so as to be completed just before the setting in 

 of the rains either in January or July, that destructive insect the 

 grub may be starved, and the land brought into the very highest 

 state of preparation for receiving the seed. I will venture to say, 



