CULTIVATION. 93 



suitable than the spade for the attainment of the object in 

 view. Nevertheless, team work deserves special considera- 

 tion wherever there exists a scarcity of farm hands, and 

 affords economic advantages which fully compensate for 

 the drawback of any less efficient working of the soil. 

 By means of horse labour not only is the work finished 

 more quickly and at less cost, but — and this is one of the 

 great advantages — the farmer is rendered less dependent on 

 manual labour. 



In point of efficiency trench ploughing stands next to 

 spade work. Ploughing, followed by subsoil grubbing, is 

 suitable for ground with stony subsoil ; and double ploughing, 

 or single ploughing with a deep plough, is more adapted for 

 ground of a uniform character. 



Within the last few years steam cultivation has come 

 within the purview of the hop-grower. John Fowler & Co. 

 construct steam trenching ploughs for extra deep cultivation 

 (30 inches), specially adapted for work in nurseries, withy 

 beds, vineyards, and hop gardens, where the usual (12 to 14 

 inches) deep ploughing is not sufficient to thoroughly pre- 

 pare the soil. This steam trenching plough works with a 

 single share and has been successfully used in hop gardens. 

 Naturally, the employment of steam cultivation presupposes 

 large areas, and it is equally self-evident that not every hop- 

 grower is in a position to purchase or possess a steam plough 

 of his own. Steam tackle may, however, be hired from con- 

 tractors ; and where the opportunity affords steam cultiva- 

 tion should not be neglected. Bearing in mind the rate at 

 which the implements are forced through the soil, the 

 quality of the work is excellent and may be ranked along 

 with hand labour ; moreover there is no trampling of the 

 ground by horses, etc., and thus another advantage is gained. 



The cost of trench ploughing to a depth of about 27 

 inches by steam amounts generally to a;bout 15s. or 16s. per 



