AGRICULTURE. 
No soil should be ploughed beyond this bot- 
tom, or sole, which is the preservative on 
which the top layer should rest, and by 
which the manure laid upon the ground is 
prevented from losing its effect. In fallow- 
ing land, therefore, the plough may go as 
deep as the fertile soil will allow, as also in 
breaking up land without paring and burn- 
ing. When land is pared and burnt, it ought 
to be ploughed in small furrows, and not so 
deep, as this depth of furrow would hazard 
the loss of the ashes for the immediate, and 
indeed for the subsequent crops. Where the 
sods are burnt in small heaps, and by slow 
fires, and the land ploughed shallow for the 
first time, and successively deeper and 
deeper, poor land will be more effectually 
benefited from itself than by any other 
mode; and in proportion as land can be 
made to maintain or improve itself, the be- 
nefit to the farmer is obvious. 
Instead of ploughing stubble into the 
land, it is far better to mow the stubble, and 
even to harrow the land before it is fallowed. 
In soil of a poor quality, a certain proportion 
should be observed between the depth of 
ploughing and the quantity of manure usually 
spread, which on better soils might be safely 
disregarded. There are few which it is not 
requisite to plough to the depth of six inches, 
and for many the depth of ten is by no 
means too great. Once in twelve or eighteen 
months it is highly desirable to plough to 
the full depth, while in the interval shallower 
tillage will be preferable to deep working, 
for wheat particularly, which is best pro- 
moted by a firm bottom. A ploughing be- 
fore harvest is of extreme consequence in 
fallowing, with respect to which seasonable- 
ness is of more consequence than the num- 
ber of earths given. When fallows are cal- 
led for, they should be attended with an 
observant eye, and be kept clean, whatever 
other business may press upon the husband- 
man’s attention. On a well-managed farm 
servants and cattle will be kept sufficient 
for every necessary operation. The practice 
of fallows, however, is now abandoned in a 
variety of cases in which they were formerly 
deemed absolutely indispensable, and the 
well-informed agriculturist will seldom have 
recourse to them after his first year. 
Harrowing is not only necessary for cover- 
ing the seed, but also for preparing the land 
for its reception. The same instruments, 
whatever be their form, cannot answer the 
different purposes of this operation upon all 
soils, whether firm or loose, and rough or 
smooth. For every purpose, however, and of 
whatever size, they should be so constructed 
that no tooth can follow the track of another, 
and that every one should be constantly 
kept acting. The practice is best performed 
by harrowing a square piece of land at once, 
so that the instrument may be lifted at the 
corner, and the refuse stuff left there. The 
following harrows will thus have an oppor- 
tunity of passing over every part of the land, 
audit will be completely cleaned from couch 
grass and all noxious weeds. 
Till of late years the practice of rolling 
was but little used, or even known, and it is 
in many places exercised so slightly, as to be 
of little service. Its utility, when it is ex- 
ercised as it ought to be, consists in render- 
ing a loose soil more compact and solid, 
which, by making the earth adhere to the 
roots of plants, cherishes their growth. No 
roller that can be drawn by two, or even by 
four, horses will carry this effect too far. By 
rolling, moreover, the moisture of the earth 
is kept more in, and, in a dry season, this cir- 
cumstance may reasonably be presumed 
sometimes to constitute the difference be- 
tween a good and a bad crop. The common 
practice of breaking clods by means of mallets 
may judiciously be superseded by the roller, 
preceded for a day or two by harrowing. 
When firm and tough clay clods are to be 
broken, a large and heavy roller will be re- 
quired for this purpose, with circles of iron 
of the depth of six or seven inches, which 
will completely reduce the most stubborn 
clods, and from its decided usefulness must 
by no means be regarded as a refinement in 
husbandry, productive of expense, without 
amply corresponding advantage. With re- 
spect to grass lands, the mowing for hay is 
extremely facilitated by the practice of 
rolling. 
The practice of scarifying grass lands is 
used by a variety of persons, and is directly 
opposite to that of rolling them in its prin- 
ciple and effect. For this purpose a plough, 
consisting only of coulters, or narrow teeth, 
is employed; and it is asserted, that the 
crops of hay are considerably increased by 
the loosening of the earth occasioned by this 
process, the roots acquiring the power of 
fresh vegetation, while rolling is stated to 
increase the tenacity of many pastures iH 
which it ought rather to be, diminished. Pre- 
viously to the manuring of grass land it is 
observed to be particularly beneficial, as 
whatever it be that is spread over the ground, 
finds, in consequence of this method, more 
rapid access to the roots, and a smaller 
quantity is remarked to answer the end pro- 
