CULTIV ATION. 205 



soils are chemically uncongenial to vegetation, and 

 we have sufficient evidence of the importance, and 

 in many cases the absolute necessity of sub-soiling 

 and under-draining. 



It is unnecessary to urge the fact that a gardeji 

 soil of two feet is jnore productive than a field soil 

 of six inches; and it is certain that proper attention 

 to these two modes of cultivation will in a majority 

 of cases make a garden of the field — more than doub- 

 ling its value in ease of working, increased produce, 

 certain securitv against di'ouffht, and more even distri- 

 bution of the demands on the soil — while the outlay 

 will be largely repaid by an immediate increase of 

 crops. 



The sub-soil will be much improved in its charac- 

 ter the first year, and a continual advancement ren- 

 ders it in time equal to the original surface-soil, and 

 extending to a depth of two feet or more. 



The sub-soil plow has come into very general use. 

 The implement has ceased to be a curiosity; and the 

 man who now objects to its use, may be classed with 

 him who shells his corn on a shovel over a half-bush- 

 el, instead of employing an improved machine, which 

 will enable him to do more in a day than he can do 

 in the " good old way " in a week. 



In no case will the use of the sub-soil plow be found 

 anj-thing but satisfactory, except in occasional in- 

 stances where there is some chemical difiiculty in the 

 sub-soil, which will be overcome by a year or two 

 of exposure — and even such cases are extremely rare. 



As was before stated, its use on wet lands is noi 



