10 Oji Harroxving Wheat, 



produce the vegetable fermentation ; besides this crust 

 or cake by being completely deprived of its aqueous 

 particles, become m.ore contracted than the stratum im- 

 mediately under it, hence it becomes divided by innu- 

 merable cracks or openings, into which multitudes of 

 insects enter and find safe lodgings under the hard 

 crust, where they remain secure from the scorching 

 rays of the sun &c. through the day, and come up 

 through the cracks or openings at night, to prey upon 

 the tender plants, and return to their lodgements when 

 the sun begins to be troublesome in the morning. But 

 by passing a light harrow over the grain in the spring, 

 as soon as the ground is so much hardened as to bear 

 the horses feet without sinking, the young plants are 

 relieved from that unnatural pressure, a free access is 

 given to the light, and air to the roots ; by stirring up 

 the soil a new fermentation is produced, and the little 

 insects are dislodged from their subten^anean habita- 

 tions, all their operations disconcerted, and they left 

 to perish by the influence of the sun and weather. By 

 this operation the grain in a few days acquires a fresh 

 vigour, equal if not superior to w^hat might be pro- 

 duced by a top dressing. 



This writer likewise expatiates upon the great advan- 

 tage of harrowing summer fallows after every plough- 

 ing, by which he says one half the ploughings may be 

 saved, and the intention of the operation much better 

 effected. He observes that if the soil derives any rich- 

 ness from the atmosphere it must be while it is in a 

 state of fermentation, and harrowing is the best m^ans 

 for producing that effect ; besides the seeds of annual 

 weeds cannot be destroyed till they first vegetate, but 



