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turned soil for planting or sowing, nor anything that looks 

 merely to the inversion of the sod, but the chief value of 

 plowing is, the preparation it gives the soil for producing 

 vegetation, for giving to the various plants the elements of 

 growth and fruitfulness. Hence the object of the plow is to 

 thoroughly pulverize and loosen the soil, and thus admit a 

 free circulation of air and moisture, which by chemical 

 action, breaks down the strong or mineral portions of the 

 soil, so that they may be the more readily disolved, and taken 

 up by the roots. In a soil thus plowed and prepared for 

 yielding its support to vegetable life, plants can appropriate 

 both far and near the nutriment needed for their growth. It 

 is in this way dissolved and ready for their use ; not hidden 

 in unbroken clods, or slumbering in an undisturbed sub-soil, 

 but awaiting the action of the roots in a friable and pene- 

 trable state, when every hungry rootlet sent out to gather 

 nourishment for its parent plant, may find food to satisfy its 

 own hunger, and a ready surplus to gratify its worthy sire. 

 Fineness and depth of soil are requisite also in order to re- 

 ceive the full benefit of the manures applied. It is not fer- 

 tilizing food in its crude state which assists vegetation, but 

 it must become intimately mixed with, or more properly be- 

 come a part of the soil in order to produce the best results. 



Barnyard manure especially, seems of little worth, while 

 forming visible layers between the clods of a half plowed 

 field. It being often dry and coarse it will rather be shunned 

 than soiis^ht by the roots and fibers sent out in search of 

 suitable food. If a well prepared soil has any strength or 

 virtue, it will yield readily, and poor land even when pro- 

 perly prepared is often more productive than richer soil less 

 perfectly prepared ; by such a preparation the influences of 

 moisture and air have freedom to work, and they are no 

 sluggards in supplying the wants of vegetation. 



A deep sandy loam is undoubtedly the most favorable soil 

 for most kinds of vegetables, and yet by proper culture, a 

 liberal crop may be obtained upon those less congenial. 

 The adaptation of the diflerent kinds of manures to the dif- 



