DISTINCTION OF SOILS. 163 



On motion of Mr. Slade, it was voted, that at the close of the 

 afternoon session, the meeting adjourn sine die. 



The Board then resumed the discussion of the subject under 

 consideration at the adjournment last evening, that of 

 Ploughing. 



Mr. Ward, of Shrewsbury. I find that I was grossly misun- 

 derstood in some remarks that I made yesterday. I find, too, 

 that I do not use the same dictionary as some other people. 

 For instance ; in conversation with a member of the Board, in 

 relation to certain ground, he said to me, that in his vicinity, 

 they were ploughing up their meadows. That was the idea he 

 conveyed — perhaps not the precise language. Now, in my 

 neigliborhood, where I was born and brought up, we call no 

 grounds meadows, but wet land. In certain other localities in 

 the State, all grounds that are mown are called meadows. In 

 the few remarks that I made yesterday on the subject of plough- 

 ing, I spoke of ploughing light soil, and said I would plough it 

 shallow. Now, by light soil there, I intended to be understood 

 as referring to soil that is gravelly, and has but very little 

 surface soil ; and by heavy ground, I meant to be understood 

 as referring to clayey subsoil. I find that the remarks I made 

 were not in exact accordance with the views of some members 

 of the Board, who understand light soil to be sandy soil, and 

 that that soil should be ploughed deep. I desired to make this 

 explanation, in order that, if there be any record made of what 

 was said, there may be a perfect understanding. I think that 

 every man who holds the plough, or who controls the plough, 

 must be the judge of his own soil. We cannot lay down any 

 definite rule that will precisely apply to every locality, and every 

 farmer must be the judge of his own soil, and of the necessity 

 of ploughing deep or shallow. 



Mr. Clement. I think it exceedingly desirable that our 

 discussions should be distinctly understood by ourselves, at least, 

 and that they should be so conducted that the thousands who are 

 to read them hereafter may really know what we mean by 

 them. It seems to me that when we discuss any particular 

 matter, it ouglit to be presented in such a way that it shall go 

 out in a form implying a recommendation (if not directly 

 recommending,) of some particular mode or system that may be 

 adopted ; although I am perfectly aware that it is altogether 



