60 THE SOIL OF THE FARM. 



regulatecl more by the kind of crop to be grown than by 

 the character of the soil. AVe know the importance of a 

 solid bottom and a fine surface for barley. Nor will 

 wheat and oats grow in a yery loose subsoil, though a 

 fine top is of less consequence, to wheat at least. Root 

 crops, on the other hand, require a seed-bed which is 

 neither firm nor loose, but fine and deep. Grasses and 

 clovers flourish best on a firm hard soil with a fine 

 surface. 



Stubble cleanini? and autumn cultivation,— The two 



great objects of tillage, pulverization of the soil and 

 destruction of weeds, are greatly facilitated by stubble 

 cleaning and autumn cultivation. 



As the weeds are in their weakest condition just after 

 the grain is harvested, that is the time to attack them. 

 The most effectual plan of doing so is to cultivate the 

 stubbles. Previous to this, however, deep-rooted weeds, 

 like the dock, should be pulled ; and couch-grass, where 

 it occurs in patches, should be forked out by hand. 

 Then the broad-share cultivator may be run over the 

 field, taking care not to cut the roots of the remaining 

 weeds, but to cut under them, and so to loosen the soil, 

 and the hold of the weeds upon it, that they can be 

 shaken out by the harrows and gathered into heaps. It 

 is not necessary to burn the weeds if there is any objec- 

 tion to that plan. They miglit be left on the ground, if 

 dead, to decompose; but as that will interfere with the 

 work which has to go on, a compost may be formed of 

 the weeds with quick-lime, road-scrapings, etc. The 

 quick-lime, if used in the proportion of one-eighth, will 

 speedily decompose the weeds, and the compost will be 

 ready to apply to the land in the spring. 



Pulverization of tlie surface soil will bo broue^ht about 

 by these operations, but clay soils, generally, will be 

 further benefited by deep plowing and exposure to win- 



