322 IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL 



cation o^ manures, are the sources upon which he must main- 

 ly rely for success in his profession. If all other subjects are 

 disregarded which are here discussed, let him not neglect 

 this ; for if this subject is properly attended to, the rest will 

 follow in its train. 



Sect. 6. Improvement of the Soil hy Tillage. 



By the term tillage, we mean those operations, which ap- 

 ply directly to the cultivation of farm crops. It includes the 

 processes of ploughing, harrowing, rolling, hoeing and weed- 

 ing. These processes belong to all kinds of tillage, whether 

 intended to improve the soil, or to exhaust it. 



We have already considered these operations in their re- 

 lation to vegetation. In this section these processes are con- 

 sidered with reference to their influence upon the soil. But 

 as the treatment is the same, whichever object is immediate- 

 ly to be pursued, only a few remarks need be added to those 

 which have been made in the first chapter. 



The great object of tillage is to render the soil light, to 

 promote the circulation of air and water, a free extension of 

 the roots of plants, to facilitate the chemical changes in 

 the soil, and an equal distribution of the manures. The ope- 

 rations of ploughing, harrowing, hoeing, etc. have already 

 been referred to, and our limits forbid any further remarks 

 in this connection. These implements need no description.* 



Fig. 18. The utility of the 



roller (Fig. 14.) 

 depends upon the 

 fact that intersti- 

 ces or pores are 

 left after plough- 



* Ploughs are now manufactured by Nourse, Ruggles & Mason, 

 Boston, which perform tliis part of tillage in a very superior manner. 



