SOIL, CULTIVATION, 
78 
from their high state of temperature, the rains or 
dews which fall upon the clod become suddenly 
expanded, the adhesive particles are separated, 
and the whole mass crumbles to pieces. The same 
effect takes place when water is contained in a 
clod, and is then exposed to cold below 40 ®, which 
is the case in our winter evenings. I am convinced 
therefore, that when the Missionaries at the Wai- 
mate can afford to expose the virgin soil, in a 
broken-up state, for some months, to the weather, 
it will work better, and will produce finer and 
larger crops. The sub-soil is of the same earthy 
nature, is more tenacious, and, not being mingled 
with vegetable matter, is exceedingly close in its 
texture. It has been found to vary in depth, from 
three to twenty feet. This sub-soil rests upon soft 
flakes of rock, easily separated with the pickaxe, 
A hard rock is seldom found at a less depth than 
forty feet. The horses, the ploughs^ the carts, 
the waggons, and all the other implements used 
in the farm, are managed by native youths : 
of course, it required much time and patience 
to bring them to work properly; but now, the 
ploughing is done in regular furrows ; the horses 
are kept clean, and in good order ; the farm, as 
far as it is in operation, is declared by those who 
have visited us, some of whom have been old 
farmers, to be very neatly kept ; and the plough 
and six horses going in this distant part of the 
world, and managed entirely by the once-savage 
aborigines, is a sight which cannot fail to gratify 
