328 PLYMOUTH SOCIETY. 



ed a fraction more than 20.| bushels per acre. A gratuity of 

 six dollars is recommended to Morrill Allen, who secured more 

 than eighteen bushels, and who, but for the causes named, 

 would undoubtedly have been entitled to a premium. 



George W. Wood, of Middleborough, is entitled to the first 

 premium of eight dollars, on oats ; he raised 53^ bushels on 

 154 rods. Thomas Weston, of Middleborough, is entitled to 

 the first premium of six dollars, for the best crop of white 

 beans, eight bushels and seventeen quarts, on half an acre. For 

 the greatest quantity of carrots, raised on a quarter of an acre, 

 128 bushels, the premium of five dollars is awarded to Austin 

 J. Roberts, of Middleborough. 



For the best experiment to prove the influence of subsoil 

 ploughing on the potato crop, the first premium of ten dollars 

 is awarded to Morrill Allen. The benefits derived from sub- 

 soil ploughing are but imperfectly understood and appreciated 

 in this country ; in Great Britain, it has long been practised 

 with unexampled success. In many instances, the crops have 

 been doubled, without any addition of fertilizing material. 

 From several experiments heretofore made in this county, to 

 prove the influence of subsoil ploughing on the corn crop, the 

 results were highly favorable, and the increased product on the 

 subsoiled part was nearly one-third. Its advantages are great 

 and manifold ; it enables the farmer to extend his domains 

 downward, thereby increasing his crops, without extending 

 his territorial limits ; it obviates the undue effects of both 

 drought and moisture, and aff'ords for the rootlets of plants, a 

 pasture heretofore unexplored, rich in elements of fertility ; it 

 gradually brings to the surface, a fresh supply of the silicates 

 of the soil, which, by the action of the atmosphere, and the 

 agency of growing plants, are converted into fertilizing ma- 

 nure. 



Two claims were entered for the greatest quantity of the 

 most valuable compost manure. The first premium of ten dol- 

 lars is awarded to Austin J. Roberts, of Middleborough, he hav- 

 ing made 393 loads of valuable compost manure. George W. 

 Wood is entitled to the second premium of eight dollars, for 

 242 loads. In composting manures, and their application to 



