140 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



authority is, we need scarcely say, an advocate for means 

 to be adopted for disturbing by mechanical means the con- 

 ditions necessary to mature the egg into life by breaking 

 up the surface of the lea, or by skim-ploughing, having for 

 aim the complete burying of the surface beneath a good fur- 

 row. As to breaking up of the lea surface, Mr. Johnston 

 is of opinion that before ploughing it will be advantageous 

 to harrow the surface, by which means not only will the sur- 

 face be disturbed, but much of it will fall to the bottom of 

 the furrow. Eibbing or stripping the lea, and then harrowing 

 down the cut-up slice is thought well of by some ; but our 

 authority is inclined to think it not of much value. He 

 says that his latest experience shows that the more finely 

 the soil is pulverised or triturated without the clods being 

 cut up with it, the better for the crop. In skim -ploughing, 

 where it is difficult as in some cases it will be found to 

 be to attach a skim-coulter to an ordinary plough, Mr. 

 Johnston recommends the first ploughing to be done with a 

 one-horse plough, taking a slice as thin as it can be easily 

 taken say two inches thick. This being thrown into the 

 bottom of the furrow, the next ploughing is done by two 

 horses, and the plough brings up a good rough furrow, 

 completely burying the sward at a depth of from five to 

 six inches. 



While on the subject of ploughing or preparation of the 

 soil, it is worthy of note that our authority distinctly opposes 

 the fine, high-set, angular furrow-slice which some seem 

 to think highly of, and which, indeed, by many of our most 

 eminent agricultural authorities, has always been looked 

 upon as the very highest standard of ploughing. Those 

 high-set ridges or furrow-slices give corresponding angular 

 depressions or hollows, which, our authority believes, or is 

 inclined to believe, act as shelter-places for the grub to be 

 developed in at early spring-time. Further, the seed, as it 

 is sown broad-cast, falls mainly into these furrow-depres- 

 sions ; and brairding actually provides, or at all events 

 seems to us to provide, a supply of food for the grubs there 

 located, without involving any trouble on their part to go 



