28 w ALL'S MANUAL 



below the beam, makes a very effective subsoil plow, 

 The wings of the head should be spread about four 

 inches and raised three inches* This implement will 

 do very effective work. 



The benefits of subsoiling are similar to those of 

 deep plowing, already given, It also opens up a new 

 source of fertility, for the subsoil always contains 

 many substances needed as food for growing crops, 

 It gives a deeper space for the circulation and reten- 

 tion of air and moisture, It is akin to draining, if 

 the surface is level and of such character as to retain 

 too much water which falls 'on it, the broken subsoil 

 lets it pass off more freely from the surface- soil, 

 But on level land, in cases where there is a stratum 

 of stiff clay beneath the broken soil, there will be no 

 outlet for the surplus water, which will remain, as in 

 a shallow basin, Draining must precede subsoil plow- 

 ing, else the plowing will be of no avail. If land is 

 level, then subsoiling will bo of little service, unless it 

 be naturally or artificially drained* 



One peculiar advantage subsoiling has over ordi- 

 nary deep plowing, is that it gives a deeply pul- 

 verized mass, without exposing upon the surface that 

 portion which is often unfit for such a purpose. If. 

 for example, the sub- soil is a tenacious clay, which 

 would quickly form a hard crust on the surface, it 

 had best not be turned up ; or if it is of lighter color 

 than the surface soil it would not absorb heat so 

 freely, and would in that respect be injurious. 



In very many situations sub -soiling need not bo 

 resorted to, In very deep loamy and sandy soils it 

 is sometimes better to run two ordinary plows, the 

 one after the other in the same furrow the second 



