THE PHILOSOPHY OF FARMING. 593 
advantage of subsoiling. You gain space for the 
air to bring its store of material to where it is most 
wanted, and you let in new agents of fertility into 
the soil. Such soils, however, must be thoroughly 
dry :—another reason why drains should ever be 
deep to be out of the way of the spade and the 
plough. Subsoiling assists drainage in facilitating 
the descent and escape of the surface water. It 
is therefore every way advantageous, and should 
everywhere be encouraged and extended, where 
practicable ; and it appears to be practicable 
everywhere where the subsoil is pervious and 
admits of drainage. 
We may then fairly consider perfect drainage 
and aeration of the soil as the fundamentals of 
all cultivation: nothing can prosper without them. 
They are the engines and railways of all growth ; 
though they may not add speed, but only space 
to produce—they are atmospheric lines—calculated 
not for short, but all distances and places. The 
heavens are high above us, and the earth deep 
below us. Upwards and downwards, then, we 
may go, adding in height and in depth to the 
stores of food for our sustenance. The times in 
which we live are marvellous. They abound 
in what are natural wonders—in unfolding the 
