Ajid Improvement of Soils. 197 



one conclude, that it will fit a foot of larger or less size 

 or different form, but I must confess that passing over 

 things equally obvious, I have run into numerous and 

 expensive errors. 



But when if is enquired upon what evidence it is to 

 be received — the reply is at hand,living evidences, are 

 at the command of every one who chooses to make die 

 trial, let him however, be on his guard, against suffer- 

 ing himself to take a crop in place of the spring pasture 

 oats. 



If it shall still be enquired, how does the oat pasture 

 fertilize? It may be also observed that the constant ver- 

 dure and green herbage prevent the rays of the sun 

 from parcliing the soil and depriving of its moisture and 

 air, both of which are highly necessary to vegetation. 

 The double portion of juicy vegetable matter arising 

 from the two crops of pasture in the same summer, be- 

 ing every where united with die common soil partly 

 mechanically and partly chemically, renders the soil 

 capable of retaining sufficient moisture and elastic air, 

 to make it open and warm, and by w4iich the soil does 

 not'only become thicker by going downward, but ac- 

 tually expands, or rises, so as to give a furrow, con- 

 siderably deeper, than formerly, over immoveable 

 rocks. Some years ago, a field in view of the farm- 

 house, marked the broad rocks, during the course of 

 every crop ; they are now covered with so much soil, 

 that they are seldom observed. The two ploughings 

 also contribute to the increase of the air in the soil, 

 without which no soil can be fruitful, there being no 

 vegetation in vacuo. Tull's horse hoeing husbandry, 

 was introduced under the idea, that the pabulum of 



