8 MR. newell's address. 



"from tlie soil being too adhesive and heavy, and soon running to- 

 gether." Another says, *'he expected from the complete breaking 

 up of the sub-soil, that the parts would have remained distinct for- 

 years, but such vyas not the case. They all had ran together, and 

 were as compact as when first moved by the plough." It seems that 

 the English agriculturists agree, that on an adhesive soil, sub-soiling 

 is not recommended until after a thorough draining, but that all shal- 

 low soils of the lighter kinds will be improved by it. 



Although I place great reliance in the experiments in English 

 agriculture, the difference in the climate and soil, should not be 

 overlooked. One great object in all their cultivation is to drain off 

 excessive moisture. Ours on high lands, particularly, should be to 

 guard against excessive drought. One of their cultivators says, 

 "sub-soiling provides a greater space for holding water." That may 

 be just what we want. 



I have used a sub-soil plough for two years : I thought last year, 

 the land sub-soiled and in corn, stood the drought better than that 

 not sub-soiled. On the grain crop this year, I could perceive no dif- 

 ference. I have sub-soiled for a crop of corn for fodder, last year, 

 and planted it with potatoes this. I have also sub-soiled about six 

 acres of moist stiff land from which no crop has been taken. Further 

 experiments, I trust, will be made, and I should like to know the ef- 

 fect of a shallow-surface furrow upon a deep sub-soil furrow. It has 

 occurred to me, that the principal benefit to be derived from sub-soiling, 

 will be in keeping the surface mellow and porous, thereby enabling the 

 sub-soil to retain moisture to be imparted to the surface soil, as the 

 exigencies of the plants may require ; and if this should prove to 

 be so, whether a more shallow-surface ploughing would not furnish 

 the crop with vegetable mould equal to its want. If this is settled, 

 then the surface-soil may bo made richer. The same manure incor- 

 porated with four inches of mould, that now is with six or seven, 

 ■would make a material difference with the crops. Judge Buel, on 

 his lands near Albany, found four-inch-ploughing deep enough to give 

 the best crop he could obtain from those lands. I speak with no cer- 

 tainty on this point : I have succeeded best with deep-ploughing, but I 

 know of no reason why the sub-soil plough should not obviate the ne- 

 cessity of a deep-surface-ploughing, if a shoal surface of rich mould will 

 perfect the plants better than a deeper one less rich ; and provided 

 also, that the loss, if any, by evaporation, is equal in both cases. 



