128 ESSAY ON DEEP TILLING. 



ploughing. The surface is left in fine tilth for one ploughing, and 

 the drainage effected by the greea sward beneath keeps it so, and 

 almost any crop will tell of its good effects during the summer. 

 But this is temporary. Deeper and more permanent results will 

 be effected by 



SUB-SOIL PLOUGHING. 



This is ploughing through and loosening the substrata, without 

 bringing to the surface any of the farmers' obnoxious "cold soil." It 

 is not recommended on Avet land previous to draining, by those who 

 have had experience, but afterwards its effects are said to be very 

 marked. We have sub soil ploughed to an average depth of twen- 

 ty-two inches, half an acre, with a hard gravelly subsoil, intended 

 chiefly for a lawn. This land we cultivated with vegetables one 

 year prior, and two years since Avith the addition of trees. The 

 comparative thrift of the former after the operation, and the luxu- 

 riant growth of the latter during the summer droughts, were 

 remarkable. Some of the pear shoots measured from five to six 

 feet. It is on these not very unusual occasions of drought that the 

 importance of deep tillage in any form becomes most apparent. 

 But for no product of the earth is it more so than in 



TREE CULTURE. 



In this it is of paramount importance, and the time to do it is 

 before any trees are transplanted. We are draining between the 

 rows of an old orchard, on very tenacious soil, the only sub-treat- 

 ment that can now be given without too much injury to the roots. 

 To " dig round and dung " these trees has been as fruitless as in 

 the case of the ancient fig tree, which was doubtless on untrenched 

 soil ! Haste to get trees into the ground to remain stinted for 

 years, and never after to thrive and produce as they would on 

 properly prepared land, is too often followed by regrets to the 

 present and subsequent owners, and the early decay of the trees. 



Our plan has been to be four years preparing and planting four 

 acres. We allow the land trenched in one season to settle till 

 spring ; then after leveling and manuring, if needed and not pre- 

 viously done, set out the trees. If all was imperfectly done in one 

 year, a great source of enjoyment would be lost. Next to the grat- 

 ification in observing the vigorous growth of one year's labor, is that 



