308 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



The Michigan sod and sub-soil plough, the committee would 

 suggest, in New England, would with more propriety be called 

 the sod and sub-loam plough. This plough is formed with two 

 mould boards, cutters, &c., &c., on one beam, one of which is 

 higher than the other, and when put in operation on a tena- 

 cious sod, performs its work by the first cutter and mould 

 board, cutting a thin slice of the grass sod which it places in 

 the open furrow. The second, or last cutter and mould board, 

 raises the sub-loam, and while to some extent it pulverizes it, 

 it also throws it on the top of the grass sod which has at the 

 same instant been disengaged, leaving the appearance of the 

 land more like an old field than a newly ploughed sod. There 

 are few more embarassing practices in farming than to culti- 

 vate a tough, tenacious sod, fertilized with long manure. By 

 this plough you may cut your sod in two, leaving the grass 

 part in the bottom of the furrow, with the loam on top, which 

 may at once be cross-ploughed, without disturbing the grass 

 part, and the field put into economical culture. Of this plough, 

 your committee regret that they have not seen as much as they 

 desire, but from what they have seen, can, as well as with the 

 yoke, most cheerfully recommend a trial of them. 



BENJAMIN V. FRENCH. 



Report on Essays. 



The committee have received but two essays, both of which 

 were upon the subject of agricultural education. These, al- 

 though quite different in character, have evidently been pre- 

 pared with great care, evince much research and argument, and 

 are productions of no ordinary merit. Most of the ideas are 

 pertinent to the subject, well expressed, and calculated to stim- 

 ulate investigation and elicit truth. 



The committee have read these papers with interest, and 

 have been gratified with their perusal, — but they do not con- 

 sider them of a character sufficiently practical and perspicuous, 

 to merit their publication, and thereby to send them out to the 

 world utjder the sanction of this society, although in many re- 

 spects, they might be useful to the community. 



