^0 TILLAGE. 



It is a bad practice to plough furrows constantly a*^ 

 gainst the lence. It has a tendency to deprive certain 

 parts of the field of the necessary quantity of earth, — 

 They sliould be turned as often from the fence as against 

 it. Indeed, it would be desinvble, in every part of the 

 field, to have the gathering-furrows always at the pla- 

 ces where the last parting-furroAvs were made. 



The ploughmen should never turn his furrow wider 

 than the plough share will cut clean ; but always as 

 much narrower, as the stiffness of the soil shall render 

 necessary, to lay his furrows smooth and light, and free 

 from clods ; in all such cases of narrow furrow, the ex- 

 tra expense of ploughing, will be saved in the expense 

 of harrowing, with this advantage to the crop, that the 

 harrow pulverizes only the surface ; but the plough, 

 when properly directed, renders the earth mellow, to 

 the whole depth of the furrow. One such ploughing 

 will prove as beneficial as two partially performed. 



HARROWING. 



No instrument of husbandry requires the judgment of 

 the farmer more than the harrow. The fertility of the 

 soil, depending upon its being well pulverized, and inti- 

 mately mixed with the manures applied, render harrow- 

 ing very important. But many farmers expect too much 

 from it, they neglect to give their land a due ploughing, 

 trusting to the harrow to make it fine. After going 

 over and treading down the ground several times, they 

 find the clods still unbroken. 



Wet ground should be harrowed in a dry time, and in 

 the middle of the day. Dry soils, when the dev/ is on, 

 and moderately dry. When land is muddy harrowing 

 will be injurious, by making it more compact, very light 

 land will be rendered more compact and improved by 

 frequent harrowing. 



Land newly ploughed is harrowed to the best advan- 

 tage, the teeth go deeper, and raise morv'^. mould. If 

 neglected at this time, it should he done after a gentle 

 rain. On rough soils the faster the harrow moves, the 

 more the clods are broken, the teeth kept cleaner, and 

 the land mellowed. Harrows with wooden teeth, are 

 of so little use, that it is the opinion of some, the feel 



