IMPROVEMEi^T OP SOILS. 4? 



the fields, no em2:)loyment of men and horses at that time 

 will pay better. The land gets an effectnal cleaning, 

 snch as will be a check on Aveeds throughont the entire 

 rotation. Plant food is at the same time set free. The 

 soil is, moreover, brought at onco to a fine tilth ; and, if 

 soYv^n immediately, the land may be covered with a vigor- 

 ous growing and useful catch-crop in less time than would 

 have sufficed to clean it without burning. The crop is 

 usually consumed on the land ; but, if organic matter is 

 required m the soil, it may be plowed in as green ma- 

 nure. In either case the land will be covered during 

 winter, and loss by drainage jn-e vented ; it will be direct- 

 ly enriched by sheep-foldmg or green-manuring, and it 

 will be in the most favorable condition, both as regards 

 cleanness and tilth, in the sjiring. 



The work is commenced by broad-sharing the stubbles 

 twice over in opposite directions, to a depth of about three 

 inches. This is harrowed. Then, when all is dry, horse 

 and hand rakes bring the loose soil and weeds into heaps 

 for burning. Straw is only used, when necessary, to 

 start the first fires with. When the heaps are half burned 

 through, the clods are raked up towards the fire, and 

 fresh earth put on the top. This is repeated the last 

 thing at night. Next morning, if all has been properly 

 managed, the bulk of the heaps will be sufficiently burned 

 to have killed all vegetable and animal life that was con- 

 tained in them. After this, the fire requires a little 

 trimming and tucking up to complete the work. The 

 heaps may be made to contain as much as forty bushels 

 each ; and forty such heaps per acre, when spread and 

 plowed in, often have an effect on the subsequent crop 

 equal to a dressing of dung or guano. The burning, 

 especially on calcareous clays, shows its good effects for 

 several years, and the land is tilled at less cost by reason 

 of its working more easily. 



