560 Deepening the Staple Soil. 



the acre: this will be ready to plough down in 7 weeks after sowing, 

 and should be ploughed in 2 inches deeper than the former trench 

 or deep ploughing, again bringing up 2 inches of clay, which 

 should be prepared and burned in the same way ; then ploughed, 

 or, better still, well grubbed, and stirred up 4 inches deep, when 

 wheat may be drilled without fear of the result. We must admit 

 that our experience has not been great in this system, but from 

 what we have done we feel justified in urging it upon the owners 

 and occupiers of well-drained clay soils. 



We have given all the information it is in our power to give, as 

 far as we can deduce it from our humble researches after sound 

 practical principles in connexion with the cultivation of the soil, 

 and we may sum up in the following order : — 



First, as to the safest, and therefore the best, way of deepen- 

 ing the staple. On soils having stony, gravelly, or calcareous 

 subsoils, it is best to stir the subsoil with the subsoil-plough 

 previously to bringing it up to mix with the staple, and this 

 should not be done for at least two years after drainage. All 

 sandy soils where there is less clay in the subsoil than in the soil 

 should not be cultivated deep, as we should only hasten the 

 escape of the clay, which is our best friend. We may remark 

 here, that we have derived immense advantage from mixing one 

 cubic yard of clay to six of the farmyard dung intended for 

 sandy soils. 



On bog or peat where the under peat is red and spongy, it is 

 positively injurious to plough deep, though it might be bene- 

 ficial to subsoil it to encourage decomposition. We know it to 

 be very beneficial to plough the under strata up in dry weather 

 and char it, and thus deepen the staple. 



We think that what we have advanced will go far to show 

 that the best way of deepening the staple is to increase the 

 depth of cultivation, whether by the fork, spade, or plough, 

 early in autumn^ adding not more than one-fourth additional 

 depth to your staple, and that only before a well-manured green- 

 crop, unless the mustard course of preparation is preferred ; as 

 we feel assured that a due admixture of vegetable matter is re- 

 Cjuired to complete the functions of the laboratory of nature, 

 and supply the various crops with their food properly pre- 

 pared. It will be found in the foregoing remarks that our 

 answers to the four heads or divisions of this subject are as 

 follows : — 



1st. Deep ploughing, comparative effect of, at spring-time and 

 autumn. 



Is decidedly the best performed in autumn, to secure the rub 

 of the winter's weather. 



