316 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



procedure in the tilling of the soil ■will produce certain effects, and now what v/e 

 want is to have these learned professors exjilain to us what these chemical 

 changes are, and how we can manage to derive a greater benefit from them, so 

 that we may go on to a higher degree in the path of usefulness and improve 

 upon that calling which we have the honor to represent. 



DISCUSSIOX. 



Wm, Leonard, — Have you always practiced the rotation laid down in your 

 paper ? 



Mr. Owens. — I have not in every case. I have been trying for several years 

 to get my farm divided into suitable fields for that purpose. 



■Sec'y Baird. — I like the idea of one-seventh part of the time for rest, for I 

 enjoy rest on Sunday. But what evidence have you that a thorough summer- 

 fallowing once in seven years will produce a chemical change in the soil? 



Mr. Owens. — I came in possession of it many years ago by reading agricul- 

 tural papers, and ni}'^ own experience and observation has converted me to that 

 belief. It also destroys all kinds of worms and insects that may be in the 

 ground, and purifies it from the seeds of the foul weeds that have been accumu- 

 lating for several years previous, and I wish to leave a further explanation to 

 these learned professors. 



Mr. . — Why do you recommend a wide and shallow furrow for corn? 



Mr. Owens. — I plow a wide furrow in order to turn the sod flat or bottom uj). 

 A narrow furrow generally leaves it standing on the edge or laps it, which caiises 

 more labor to keep the grass and weeds down. 



Mr. . — What kind of plow do you use for })lowing corn ground? 



Mr. Owens. — A long, three-horse plow; one that will turn a wide and at the 

 same time a shallow furrow. All plows will not do it. 



Mr. Leonard. — Are you ever troubled with cut-worms? 



Mr. Owens. — Sometimes, but not so much as formerly. 



Mr. Leonard. — How do you prevent it? 



Mr. Owens. — By getting all my other work done or out of the way before 

 commencing my cor)i ground ; then plow, harrow, mark, and plant as quick as 

 possible after I commence. 



Dr. Miles. — I do not understand how you can give your land one-seventh 

 part of the time for rest by the rule laid down in your paper? 



Mr. Owens. — I do not ; but I summer-fallow every eighth summer, which will 

 answer every purpose. 



Mr. Leonard. — Do you approve of fall plowing? 



Mr. Owens. — No, not on our land. My experience is that it injures or wears 

 out our land as much as it would to take off a crop of grain ; but I am informed 

 that they fall plow in the eastern States and Canadas with good results. 



Mr. . — Do you subsoil your land? 



Mr. Owens. — I subsoiled one field of eight acres about ten years ago, and I 

 saw a marked improvement in the crops for several years after. 



Mr. . — Do you approve of subsoiling? 



Mr. Owens. — If I had a farm with a strong clay subsoil, and tolerably free 

 from stone, I would subsoil it once during the rotation. 



Mr. . — Why do you not subsoil your land? 



Mr. Owens. — Unfortunately for me the subsoil of my farm is very stony, and 

 as I have cleared off the surface stone, I do not like the idea of bringing to the 

 surface a second crop. 



