Usefulness of Rotting of Sod, 181 



of this very destructive plant ; which has hitherto been 

 too much overlooked and disregarded. All I can do, 

 until I pursue farther means and experiments, which I 

 shall not omit, is to give solemn warning I 



In my attempts to detach the roots from my field, 

 and assist the weeders by frequent stirrings with the 

 plough and harrow, I have a confirmation of the useful- 

 ness of my practice of rotting the sod. In the spot so 

 often ploughed, the old vegetation dried, and perished 

 uselessly, and the Indian corn was strikingly inferior 

 to that on the rest of the field. The whole crop, al- 

 though at first unpromising, was abundant ; and ex- 

 ceeded the general rate of crops of my tenants and neigh- 

 bours. The season was not very favourable for corn. 

 My field remained remarkably clean, and free from 

 weeds — an advantage attending this mode of treating 

 soddy grass- grounds. The corn stalks having been car- 

 ried into the barn yard, the field is now winter- fallowed 

 and limed ; in preparation for field pease, potatoes, and 

 other ameliorating crops to precede wheat. It is in fine 

 tilth ; and all the former cover of grasses, and other 

 common vegetation (with the exception before stated) 

 entirely rotted, and mixed throughout the ground mel- 

 lowed by the culture, and very promising in its colour 

 and loose texture. The garlick I do not fear ; but too 

 many of the other bulbs remain to annoy me. An ea7'ly 

 spring ploughing will, under its present fitness for it, 

 be highly serviceable, and complete its tiltli. This will 



