Preparation of the Soil. 33 



Say one man and two horses, - $3 25 



two men and four horses, - 6 50 



two men and six oxen, 6 50 



Total expense per diem, - - $16 25 . 



At the clcse of the day, if all things have worked smooth- 

 ly, and there have been no serious interruptions, the proprie- 

 tor will find, perhaps, one half acre thoroughly plowed. 



But we have an implement by which, with one team, we 

 may perform the work of two plows. This is known as 

 the " Double Michigan," and is really a trench-plow, though 

 sometimes erroneously called a subsoil. This may be drawn, 

 in light soils, by a team of three horses, or still better by 

 four, or by three yoke of oxen. The object of increasing the 

 power, in oxen, is to make up, by greater breadth of furrow, 

 for the usual slowness of the cattle. 



The " Double Michigan," or trench-plough, has one share 

 and mold-board attached to the beam, in front of the other or 

 larger one. The first reverses the sod, cutting to the depth 

 of four or six inches, at the will of the workman ; the sec- 

 ond, with its larger and longer mold-board, follows immedi- 

 ately behind the first, and takes the next layer, to the depth 

 of eight or ten inches, and throws it over the first completely, 

 and admirably disintegrates the soil. By this plough, a trench 

 is opened to the depth of fifteen inches or more, according to 

 the strength of the team and nature of the soil. 



A favorite plan for the preparation of land for a vineyard, 

 is to use the "Double Michigan" and the subsoil-lifter alter- 

 nately, with the same team. Using oxen, there is no difficulty 

 in making the change, going once around a land with the 

 plow, and then, casting the chain hook into the ring of the 

 lifter, all is ready to go around again and loosen the subsoil. 

 A tilth is thus made to the depth of eighteen to twenty 

 inches, or more, where the soil is not too heavy ; but in 

 stiiF clay and compact or tenacious subsoils, it is often dif- 



