HARROWING OVER GROWING CROPS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 12 August 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

HARROWING OVER GROWING CROPS.

For many yeara eminent writers upon agriculture have advocated the advisablcness of harrowing over growing creeps, and have shown the very great advantages derivable from the pursuance of such a course. It is true that the proposal has met with a comparatively large amount of opposition, and even those who admit that the system may be attended with some amount of good do not appear inclined to adopt the suggestion. They seem to think that the benefit derivable from the careful harrowing of their young crops is so small as not to be worthy of the necessary trouble and expense. Let such as these put the suggestion to the practical test; let them try it in a few spots in various parts of their fields, and we undertake to say that they will ever after admit that the plan is one prompted by wisdom and followed by proHt. We predict that the system, having once been fairly tried, will continue to be rigidly adhered to. Though beneficial to ycting crops at all time 3, harrowing over them after heavy rains and continuous wet weather is especially to be commended ; but before being performed the land must be allowed to become pretty dry, otherwise much of the benefit obtainable will be lost. Everyone knows that heavy or continuous rains bind the surface together iu a hard mass, and that this has a very injurious effect upon any growing plant, by preventing the admission of air and warmth to the young roots, and checking their growth. If the land is then thoroughly harrowed so as to loosen the crnst to a depth of an inch or two deep rooting is encouraged, and the plant is ensured a muchPmore robust and healthy growth. The fact of the roots having grown deeper into the ground in a very great measure enables the crop to withstand the effects of long periods of drought. The roots, having secured a strong, healthy growth far below the surface, are removed from the effects of hot, dry weather, and are enabled to procure for the plant a greater supply of moisture than they obtain if lying

nearer the surface. But this is not the only advantage to be gained. The plant having obtained a more robust growth is enabled to withstand to some extent the effects of high winds, while few will deny that a much heavier crop must be obtained from a healthy field of grain thari .from one rendered sickly throngh its grpwth having been checked when youDg owing to the land about it becoming hard .aiitb" impenetrable by air and warmth. -