64 GRAIN. 



field work, as there will be places in the soil that will not be moved ; 

 consequently, we find in the soil hard, sterile places that Cannot be 

 penetrated by the small rootlets of the plants. They work and struggle 

 on for a while, "but finally droop and die : so there is nothing gainedj 

 but much lost, by inefficient plowing. Therefore, it is hoped that the 

 Trustees of Worcester North Agricultural Society will again put the 

 plowing back into the fields, and not only offer prizes to men, oxen 

 and horses, for good plowing, but to boys and steers also. 



Every practical former very well knows, as a general rule, that soils 

 should not be moved by the plow wnen wet ; more especially so when 

 the subsoil is clayey. After plowing; when the surface becomes dry 

 and crumbly, the field should be harrowed, using " Shares Harrow" 

 for the purpose of breaking the lump, and leaving a smoot, even sur- 

 face. 



The question is sometimes asked if plowing serves to enrich the soil. 

 In answer, we reply that frequent plowing serves to produce a disinte- 

 gration of the particles, and make the soil more porous ; thus giving 

 free admission of air into the soil, charged with moisture, as it serves 

 as a fertilizer, and thus hastens the crop, which is frequently of much 

 importance, especially to the market gardener, when he can have his 

 crop ready for the market three days sooner, the extra price of his crop 

 perhaps would amply remunerate him for plowing his lands two or 

 three times ; and so again by having a field of corn ready to harvest 

 a week sooner, might save the whole field from being destroyed by an 

 early frost. 



A dcQp and thorough pulverization of the soil is neceesary to the 

 germination of the seed, and the ready extension of the roots in the soil. 

 If the soil is lumpy and coarse, and does not come in close contact wtth 

 the seed, to keep moist, the seed can't germinate, the roots ccm't ex- 

 tend in search of food, nor can this food be prepared and transmitted 

 to the plants, unless the soil is so pulverized as to permit the freo cir- 

 culation of air and moisture through its interstices, and through its 

 mass. As before stated, the, air and dews being charged with elements 

 of fertility, the more porous the earth is made, the more easily are these 

 elements conveyed to the seed. 



Generally, we believe that farmeib- do not use such care in selecting 

 and planting seed as is necessar3% and from this cause, and from hav- 

 ing the soil so ill prepared to receive it that a very large per cent, does 

 not germinate, and the part that does is of a half starved and sickly 

 kind. In selecting seed of any of the cereals, if the grain is threshed 

 by machines and the seed used for sowing or planting, we unquestion- 

 ably get a large per cent, of half grown, shriveled seed, unfit for 

 planting. By this mode of selecting seed, and having the soil half 

 plowed and harrowed, we may expect to reap a half-grown harvest ; 

 but when the grain is lightly threshed by the flail, or only half the 

 seed shelled out, to be used for that purpose, we may expect to have 

 large, healthy, plump seed, such as will germinate and produce a full 

 crop of grain, requiring no more labor, or manure, in the cultivation,, 

 than the poor, sickly, half-grown crop. Again, we believe that 



