In early August, before the ground had hardened too much, the farmers began plowing under the stubble from the wheat harvest to prepare the soil for resowing in early October.

The short grass was entirely dry, and the ground had completely hardened since the rain two nights ago.

Now the ground was hardening once more, though there remained a bit of sliding under his moving feet, a subtle hint of mud below the dry surface, the last remnant of the short summer.

Those who live in the coldest sections may want to protect these new mums with conifer boughs and a light mulch after the ground hardens.

The people of the village moved together to the open, sunbaked heart of the village where the ground had hardened to the smoothness of stone under the years of dancing feet.

He had turned her away for the winter, thinking to work on her when the ground hardened in spring.

So cold that the grey heavy sky is full of snow, which when it falls will settle for all winter as the ground is hardening to receive it.

It is then run off; the ground hardens, the ripe crop is harvested by the sickle, and the grain is trodden out by buffaloes.

The ground was hardening to rock.

Then when the shaking stops, the ground hardens.