MR. NEWELL S ADDRESS. 7 



But until the farmers themselves feel that they need instruction on 

 this subject, we must move on by a slower process to the attainment 

 of knowledge, and by accident or otherwise establish a theory that 

 will commend itself to general practice. 



For the purpose of producing thought and inquiry, I will venture 

 to give you some crude ideas on soils and manures, on crops and 

 animals. 



I believe soils, to be made the most productive, should be perfect- 

 ly pulverized by some process. Hand-spading or trenching is proba- 

 bly the most perfect process ; still it may be doubted, whether at the 

 present price of labor, it will meet the cost on any extended scale. 

 To such perfection has the plough been brought, it will, if sufficiently 

 and properly used, accomplish this desirable object to a good degree, 

 with the use of the harrow and roller ; — an article not any too common, 

 when we consider its use is to crush the lumps of earth brought up 

 by the harrow, to press down the sods and small stones on the sur- 

 face, and to leave a slight crust to prevent the escape of moisture 

 until the crops in some measure do it themselves, 



I do not believe that soils generally, are Improved by spreading 

 upon them substances of like quality of which they are composed. 

 It is not so much the quantity applied to the soil, that changes and 

 improves it, as it is the quality, being one In which it was before de- 

 ficient. If this is so, then all manures, mixed with earth, for top- 

 dressing or ploughing-in, should be composted in reference to the 

 soils to which they are to be applied. All our sandy soils and some 

 loamy ones, would, in my estimation, be greatly improved by a gene- 

 rous mixture of clay ; the stiffer the clay the less quantity will pro- 

 duce the desired effect. Our frosts will readily crumble it down, 

 and it will enable the silicious soils to retain manure and moisture for 

 the use of plants, and make it a desirable soil for the growing of all 

 green crops. 



The experiments of sub-soiling which have come to my knowledge, 

 have not enabled me to form any definite opinion of its effects. In 

 Mr. Colman's last Report of European Agriculture, he gives the 

 result of certain experiments in sub-soiling upon a stiff clay soil. 

 One distinguished farmer says, "Until there is an escape for the wa- 

 ter through the sub-soil, any opening of it but provides a greater 

 space for holding water, and will rather tend to injure than improve 

 the soil." Other good cultivators complain of its being ineffectual 



