104 [Senate 



soil by manuring and pulverizing it, the crop was very much stinted 



in its growth. The roots were short and sprangly, notwithstanding 



the favorable season. The working soil was very good and no other 

 plausible reason could be assigned for the small crop, than the want 



of the necessary depth. 



The following year I invented and used a sub-soil plough, which 

 fully answered my most sanguine expectations. It was used in the 

 same field alluded to, and was drawn by one yoke of heavy oxen in 

 the same furrow after the common plough, both combined, penetrated 

 to the depth of two feet. The consequence was, as might have been 

 anticipated, an extraordinary and luxuriant growth of vegetation. 

 The beets grew to an unusual length and size^ so much so, that I was 

 compelled to use the sub-soil plough between the rows^ to loosen 

 them sufficiently so that they could be pulled. The beet seed raised 

 at the same time, and from the same ground, was an extra yield in 

 quantity and quality, and in short all kinds of vegetation cultivated 

 on the same piece of ground, exhibited a luxuriant growth never 

 witnessed before, notwithstanding the season was not as favorable as 

 the year previous. A neighbor used the sub-soil plough the same 

 year, with the same good results, I would here remark, that the 

 field before alluded to, has not needed the sub-soil plough since, as 

 the common plough penetrates beam deep with the greatest facility. 

 Not cultivating sufficient land to raise wheat, my experience in the 

 use of the sub-soil plough for that purpose is very limited. I induc- 

 ed a neighbor to use it for one land while breaking up his fallow, but 

 as the following season was unusually favorable for the growth of 

 the crop, there was not so much difference, as under other cir- 

 cumstances, might have been expected. 



I am fully persuaded that sub-soil ploughing would be invaluable, 

 if practised generally by our farmers, and as an inducement for them 

 to try its operation, I herewith give a rough sketch of the one used 

 by me, which it will be observed is simple in its construction, not 

 liable to break or get out of repair, and which drew a premium from 

 the State Agricultural Society at its late fair in Rochester. 



