ON PLOUGHING. 29 



horses, and completely stirred and loosened 7iine inches deeper ; so 

 that it could be penetrated with a cane, as readily as could a chest 

 of meal. Every one who saw it, was astonished at the ease with 

 which the plough was held, and the perfection of the work accom- 

 plished by it. This work left the same material on the surface of the 

 ground, as was before the ploughing. For all those crops where the 

 fibres of the plants have a tendency to descend more than six inches 

 (and we scarcely know any that do not) such a preparation of the 

 soil must unquestionably be serviceable. We can scarcely conceive 

 of a case, where it will be considered prejudicial. 



The Committee take pleasure in awarding the premium of ten dol- 

 lars to Mr. Worcester, for his enterprise in exhibiting this experi- 

 ment. 



And they also express their thanks to Mr. Nourse, the intelHgent 

 maker of the plough, for his politeness in explaining its structure and 

 operations. Messrs. Ruggles, Nourse & Co., by their improved im- 

 plements, and their accommodating disposition, have made a deci- 

 dedly favorable impression on the minds of the Farmers of Essex 

 County. For the Committee, 



J. W. PROCTOR. 



Lynn, Sept. 29, 1847. 



Lowell, Sept. 24, 1849. 

 Dear Sir : — The opinions which I expressed to you some years 

 ago on the effect of subsoiling, I have had no reasons to change. 

 Every experiment I have made has invariably strengthened my con- 

 victions of the great utility of the subsoil plough. It is now more than 

 twenty years since the first introduction of this important imple- 

 ment in English husbandry, and I now recollect no instance of the 

 expression of a doubt of the advantages to be derived from its use ; 

 so far from this, it is not uncommon at this time, in that country, for 

 landlords to expend six or seven thousand dollars in suubsoiling a 

 single farm ; and tenants are not unwilling to pay an increased rent, 

 equal to the interest on the outlay. In that country not only soils too 

 dry, but those too wet are considered as benefitted by this process. 

 When there is a deficiency of moisture, it gives the roots of the 



