342 
Retention of Moisture in the Soil of 
This essay is not intended to refer exclusively to any class. A 
tenant-at-will might say it is perfect nonsense to tell him to sub- 
soil, trench, marl, lime, or carry out other expensive improvements. 
A landowner might, on the other hand, say to a tenant, let us go 
shares in such and such improvements, both in the matter of cost 
and advantages. There must be some kind of standard to aim at, 
at all events ; and our aim is simply to suggest how land may be 
improved by the various plans which have succeeded. 
Moisture plays such an important part in the growth of every 
crop, that neither corn nor roots can thrive without a moderate 
supply. Our summers are frequently so dry, that the growth of 
root-crops especially is attended with much difficulty, more from 
the want of moisture than from any other cause. 
By autumn-cultivation turnip-soils require scarcely any more 
labour in spring or summer, so that moisture is retained in the 
land, instead of being dissipated by frequent ploughings during 
hot drying weather. No operation is so much calculated to lose 
moisture as ordinary ploughing, therefore scarifying or grubbing 
is much better, whenever this can take its place. In times of 
unusual rains it is frequently a good plan to plough instead of 
scarify, with no other view than that of getting the land somewhat 
dried so as it may be worked into a suitable mould for swedes or 
mangolds. However, most land, well cleaned and cultivated in 
autumn, should seldom require but one ploughing in spring, and 
frequently this also may be dispensed with. The lighter the 
land is, the earlier it is worked in the spring the better, so that it 
mav be left unworked for some time before swedes are sown. 
For mangolds there can be little rest allowed between the 
working and sowing of the seed. Soils very retentive of moisture 
should not be worked very early in the spring, neither ploughed, 
nor by any means scarified. When not dry in the bottom of the 
furrow at the time of stirring, and especially when this operation 
is followed immediately by a drenching rain, much injury ensues, 
and sometimes the turnip-crop is almost lost from what seems 
only a slight accident. 
The application of dung during hot summer weather, for the 
turnip-crop, is a frequent cause of the loss of moisture from the 
soil. When dung has to be applied, this cannot be altogether 
avoided ; but by attention to some particulars the loss may be 
greatly reduced. When turnips are to be grown on the flat 
surface on light soils, all the working which the land requires, 
after being cleaned and reduced to a fine tilth, should, if possible, 
be completed some weeks before the seed is sown. If it is intended 
to sow swedes at the beginning of June, the dung should be 
applied and ploughed in by the middle of May. If swedes are 
to be grown on the flat surface on any soil, it is advisable that 
