COMPLETE WITli TILTH. 249 



in Figs. 16, 17, 22, 40, 86 and 87, the last but two of which is an 

 extremely convenient implement, as it combines a hoe and rake in 

 one and the same tool. 



II. In the next place, the soil may, as in many of our Himalayan 

 forests, be covered with a mass of more or less undecomposed 

 leaves so thick that only an insignificant portion, if any, of the 

 roots of yearlings can reach the true soil below, and at the same 

 time close and spongy enough to retain sufficient moisture during 

 the season of vegetation to prevent those roots from extending 

 themselves beyond it in search of water. Yearlings so conditioned 

 remain ill-nourished, and when, on wet weather ceasing, the 

 spongy mass dries up, their roots dry up with it and they die or, 

 at least, get permanently weakened. 



In such places the obnoxious dead vegetable covering should be 

 so far removed, or, if it is not too thick, so worked up into the soil 

 below, as to give the tender seedlings a chance of sending down 

 their roots at once into the true mineral soil. The drag (Fig. 41), 

 hoe axes (Figs. 16 and 17), pickfork (Fig. 40\ and the hoes repre- 

 sented in (Figs. 96 and 87) are excellent tools for the purpose. 

 The hoes must be light and rather long and narrow in the blade. 

 If the ground is level enough to preclude any fear of slipping or 

 erosion, cattle may be driven over the area just before the sowing 

 operations : their weight, combined with their sharp cloven hoof's, 

 will suffice to crush and comminute the coarse debris and force 

 them into the soil. If domestic swine are available in sufficient 

 numbers, they would be better than all the cattle and implements 

 in the world, as their feet are not only sharper, but they are more 

 active and with their snouts work up the surface soil thoroughly, 

 at the same time destroying insect grubs and rats and the roots of 

 weeds. 



III. Thirdly and lastly, the soil may be so stiff or so covered 

 with strong brushwood and weeds that neither of the two proce- 

 dures already described would answer. Here, first of all, it is 

 necessary to clear away all the obnoxious low growth. This 

 may be done with bill-hooks, light axes or hoe-axes for the larger 

 woody plants, and sickles or, still better, scythes (Fig. 88) for 

 those that are more slender or herbaceous. Next, the soil must be 

 worked up. 



If the area is clear of trees or large boulders and roots, it should 

 be ploughed up. The ploughs used must necessirily be very 

 powerful and fitted with a coulter (Fig 19, c) to cut through 

 moderately thick roots. If the ground is not suited for the plough, 



