PLOUGHING IN GREEN CrvOPS. 93 



membered in bringing up land by green crops, that 

 they really add no inorganic matter to the soil; they 

 only bring it up from the subsoil, and render insoluble 

 combinations near the surface soluble. The inorganic 

 part of the soil, therefore, is actually diminishing by 

 the occasional crops which are taken; and while im- 

 proving by these means, care should for this reason be 

 taken to add occasionally some form of mineral manure. 



The practice of turning the turf upon one edge when 

 ploughing, seems to be gaining ground: it is said by 

 its advocates that the turf rots more surely and speedi- 

 ly. Those who contend for laying it flat, say that the 

 weeds are thereby more effectually killed, and that the 

 fields may be made smoother. Potato tops, turnip and 

 beet tops, green weeds, leaves, and every form of green 

 vegetable matter, may be advantageously ploughed in 

 at once, or carted to the compost heap. Nothing of 

 the kind should be neglected. 



Straw is not usually applied to the land until it has 

 been worked over by animals, and mixed with their 

 manure: in this form we shall refer to it again. When 

 applied alone, it is usually best and most convenient 

 to rot it down in a compost heap, as the long straw is 

 only ploughed under with difficulty. On stiff clay 

 soils it is, however, very beneficial to bury long straw, 

 as then ii serves to loosen and mellow the clay, both 

 by lying among and separating the lumps, and by its 

 gradual fermentation and decay. It has been found 

 good practice, in many parts of the country, to draw 

 out straw in the autumn, and lay a thin covering of it 

 over winter grain. This serves as a protection during 

 winter, and retains moisture when necessary during a 

 dry spring or early summer. By the time that the 

 stubble is ploughed, it has decayed so as to turn under 

 easily, and forms quite a rich coating in the way of 

 manure. 



In the neighborhood of the sea, where seaweed can 



