TILL AGI^. 



Considered by the Society, January llth, A. D. 1878. 



The subject was to have been introduced by Calvin S. Hartshorn, Esq., 

 but lie was unavoidably absent. Vice-President Hadwen was therefore 

 called upon to fill the gap, and responded with his usual good will. He 

 said the foundation of tillage is ploughing, and the question of deep or 

 shallow ploughing first presents itself, but here fixed principles cannot 

 be laid down. On strong soils and with abundant manure, deep plough- 

 ing is desirable. He had ploughed his farm all over, running a second 

 plough in the furrow of the first, and the results were various. It is well 

 to plough a sod under deep, but he would plough manure in lightly ; for 

 roots he would plough manure in deep and then plough again to mingle 

 the manure with the soil. Thorough ploughing is more important than 

 deep ploughing. A good seed-bed is the end sought, and after ploughing 

 there must be other manipulation. For corn he would plough in the fall, 

 and spread the manure on the top in the winter, harrow it thoroughly in 

 the spring, and put in the seed. His experience was less favorable with 

 ploughing manure under and then putting more in the hill. 



Mr. Sylvanus Sears differed in regard to the spreading of manure in 

 the winter. He had spread in the spring and harrowed for corn, but with 

 poor results. He favored ploughing manure under, rather lightly ; he 

 cited bad results from ploughing manure in too deeply, and said it was 

 admissible only when the soil was deep and manure plenty. He praised 

 the Centennial plough of the Ames Plow Company, and said its leaving 

 the field flat instead of in lands is a great improvement. Farmers often 

 are mistaken in regard to their depth of furrow, getting only five inches 

 when they think they see seven. Various soils require differing ploughs, 

 — a sandy soil breaking from the mould board almost without effort, while 

 stiff soil requires a special plough to properly pulverize the land. I'or old 

 land adapted to horticulture he would plough a narrow furrow and be sure 

 and not cover anything up. Cross ploughing is here very desirable. He 

 condemned the old-time harrow, which drags down the soil and makes it 

 compact ; he contrasted this with the Fish and the Share's harrow, which 

 lift up the soil and leave it light; for deep work he favored the Fish har- 

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