PliOUGHING. 35 



With such an outfit any man, of moderate skill and judgment, 

 may manage the plow, and have a smooth and evenly turned furrow. 

 Most land should be ploughed deep, or subsoiled, which will render 

 it more retentive of moisture, and less liable to be affected by drought. 

 Our own experience is, that the depth should be attained gradually, as 

 too much of the subsoil thrown upon the surface at once, will injure 

 the soil for a few years. Loamy land, with rich subsoil, may be 

 ploughed deep without any such results. Reason and experience 

 must be our guide, but as safe a rule, perhaps, as any, is to " Make 

 light lands heavier, and heavy lands lighter." The width of the fur- 

 row must be in proportion to the depth, in order to turn it properly. 

 We prefer a wide, fiat furrow on most soils, as it completely covers all 

 vegetation, causes the turf to rot quicker, and is much easier to culti- 

 vate. 



But we are reminded by what we witnessed at the ploughing match 

 of the Hampshire Society, that we had much better be a doer than a 

 preacher of ploughing. The difficult land, ploughed with accuracy 

 and skill, rarely excelled at any exhibition in the State, testifies to the 

 ability of the farmers within its limits. 



Agriculture should be protected and encouraged. Not only is she 

 the mother of the arts, but to her votaries must we look for the actual 

 necessaries of life, as well as for the stability and prosperity of our 

 government. We pity any, who, with silly self-conceit look with de. 

 rision upon the sturdy ploughman, with his huge, honest hand and 

 weather-beaten brow. Let such but follow the plow beneath a scorch- 

 ing sun, and breathe the pure air of heaven, and the delicate form and 

 sickly hue shall give way to the sinewy arm, and the countenance 

 glow with health. Thus shall the plow become the benefactor of man- 

 kind ; the spear shall be beat into pruning-hooks, and the sword into 

 plough-shares ; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither 

 shall they learn war any more. Be it ours to award to the husband- 

 man the dignity and honor, justly his due. 



" In ancient times, the sacred plough employed 

 The kings and awful fathers of mankind : 

 And some, with whom compared your insect tribes 

 Are but the beings of a summer day, 

 Have held the scales of empire, ruled the storm 

 Of mighty war : then, with unwearied hand, 

 Disdaining little delicacies, seized 

 The plough and greatly independent lived," 



