Ridging and Sub-soiling 373 



the' spring,, but can be worked down with heavy tools, like 

 •the spading harrows; but this spring working must not be 

 delayed. Whenever land is needed very early in the 

 spring, it is advisable to plow it in fall. This remark 

 applies with little force to light and sandy lands, for they 

 can ordinarily be plowed very early. 



Lands may be made earlier to work if they are thrown 

 into beds or ridges by the fall plowing, so that the dead- 

 furrows lie every eight or ten feet. The surface water 

 is then carried ofE and the ridges stand so high that they 

 dry out quickly. This operation is sometimes spoken of 

 as trenching, but it is more properly ridging. The term 

 " trenching " should be reserved for its legitimate use to 

 designate the spading up or loosening up of the land 

 deeper than the original furrow. Eidging and trenching 

 are only special practices. 



Sub-soiling is a frequent practice in market-gardening 

 lands. It is advisable in lands that are hard or that have 

 a high sub-soil, and also for the long root-crops, which de- 

 mand a deep soil in which to perfect their growth. Sub- 

 soiling is not a permanent correctiTe, for the soil settles 

 back into its original and hard condition, and the opera- 

 tion must be repeated. The fundamental corrective for 

 such lands is underdraining and incorporation of humus. 

 The growing of clover or alfalfa, which sends its roots 

 deep into the soil, is also a great aid. But even with all 

 these aids, sub-soiling may be very .useful in certain cases. 

 The sub-soil plow does not turn a furrow; it merely 

 breaks the bottom of the original furrow. It is drawn by 

 a separate team and follows in the furrow immediately be- 

 hind the first plowman. 



