45 TitLAGB, 



tile in this way, injury may result from ploughing deep- 

 er than usual. 



Where, however, it becomes part of the farmer's ob- 

 ject to increase the depth of the surface soil, deep plough- 

 ing is inJispensible ; and in this, as in many other cases, 

 we must submit to present inconvenience for the ad- 

 vantage of future benefit. Farmers are sometimes led 

 to plough too shallo^v, to save a little labour; and some 

 are afraid to turn up what they call dead earth ; but all 

 the soil above the hard pan may be well employed in 

 tillage ; n4id if a red soil is turned up, it will in a year 

 or two become dark, if properly tilled. 



The depth may also in some measure depend on the 

 means crimproving the sci) : for where the laud is poor 

 and the means of enriching it scanty, the depth must be 

 in proportion to the quantity of manure to be obtained, 

 and the number ofpioughings to be given to it. 



Soils are rarely found, that ought not to be ploughed 

 in common 6 inches deep; many 8 and some 10, v/hich 

 wiiibe about as low as the rcots of any common crop 

 •wi/l descend. One ploughing to the full depth every 

 i2, 18, or 24 months, will answer — shallower tillage at 

 other times will do. 



A vegitable soil will seldom be deeper, than where 

 the plough has penetrated. Where, however, shallow 

 ploughing has always been practised, it may not be ad- 

 visable to shift at once to the greatest depth that is to 

 be ultimately hxed upon as proper, lest too great a pro- 

 portion of barren earth should be turned up, and injure 

 the crops immediately succeedmg. 



The advantages of frequent deep ploughings are ma- 

 ny. Roots extend far where they meet no resistance ; 

 and the growth above the surface corresponds to that 

 below. If more rain falls than the soil can retain, it des- 

 cends to the l)ottom of the furrow, and seldom does 

 damage. It keeps the ground moist, and should never 

 be omitted in drought, or in lands liable to be inju.red by 

 drought. Bringing up the new mould is peculiarl}^ favor- 

 able to clover, turnips, and potatoes. By deep plough- 

 ing, animal and vegitabie manures, which have a ten- 

 dency to rise to the surface, are properly covered, &:c. 



Ridge Ploifghing. — If the soil is naturally dry, plough 

 flat, and as level as possible, this will give an equal dif- 



