Preparation of the Soil. 



31 



the first plow will turn up a layer of only four inches, 

 and the second one of eight inches. 



When the breaking up is to be two feet, as is often 

 the case with the very dry lands of the south, the two 

 plows will be used to reach a depth of fifteen inches, 

 and the other nine inches will be obtained by men fol- 

 lowing the wake of the plow with spades, and throw- 

 ing up the subsoil over that turned up by the last 

 plow. If a sufficient number of men are employed, so 

 as not to delay the teams, this work can be performed 

 pretty rapidly. 



[Fig. 4.] 

 [The attention of the reader is directed to the beautifiil 

 cuts of these implements, but they are not within our reach. 

 As we have, deservedly, a high reputation for the excellency, 

 and indeed, almost perfection, of our various agricultural im- 

 plements — and as this has been accorded to us by intelligent 

 juries, at the great industrial expositions of Europe — we may, 

 perhaps, be justified in a few words of praise respecting some 

 American plows, with which our lands are very admirably 

 prepared for the planting of grape vines. These implements 

 can only be used, however, upon ground that is level, or 

 but moderately sloping, and which is not encumbered with 

 rocks, loose stones, stumps, or large roots, as when first re- 

 claimed from the forest ; nor is such new land to be preferred 

 if that which has been long cleared can be had. If stumps 



