1344 



Free strong bottom 



Mor.' open bottom 



Irregular beds of gravel 

 or sand, and irregu- 

 larly open rocky strati- 

 fications 



8309. Remarks. In cases where time or capital are wanting to complete the draining, each alternate 

 drain may be executed in the lirst instance ; and the remainder can be done the next time the field is to 

 be broken up. After the drainage has been completed, a crop of oats may be taken from the field ; and 

 immediately after that crop is off the ground, the field should be gone thoroughly over with the subsoil 

 plough, crossing the line of drains at right angles. 



8310. The subsoil plough has been constructed on principles appearing the best fitted to break up the 

 subsoil completely to a depth sufficient for most thorough cultivation, say fourteen to sixteen inches, al- 

 lowing the active soil still to remain on the surface ; to be of the easiest possible draught, in reference 

 to the depth of furrow and firmness of the subsoil ; and tc have strength and massive weight sufficient to 

 penetrate the hardest stratum, to resist the shocks from fast stones, and to throw out all stones under 

 200 lbs. in weight. All this has been accomplished, and practically proved, over an extent of at least JOO 

 acres of various soils. This plough requires four good horses, an active ploughman, and a lad to drive the 

 horses and manage them at the turnings. Six horses, yoked three and three abreast may be necessary 

 in Borne very stiff or stony soils. A common plough "drawn by a pair, goes before the subsoil plough, 

 throwing out a large open furrow of the active soil. The subsoil plough following, stirs up thoroughly 

 and breaks the bottom, when the next furrow of the active soil is thrown over it ; the stones brought to 

 the surface by the subsoil plough being thrown aside, on the ploughed part of the land, by a boy or lad ; 

 and so on. till the whole field is gone over. The boy should carry a bag of wooden pins, that he may mark 

 the site of the large fast stones which the plough cannot throw out, and which must afterwards he dug 

 out with the pick, and, perhaps, blasted. This large plough is a sort of horse-pick, breaking up without 

 raising to the surface the subsoil. Channels are thus regularly formed for the water to How from all parts 

 towards the drains. The atmospheric air being also by this means freely admitted to the subsoil, the most 

 sterile and obdurate clay becomes gradually ameliorated, and the common plough may ever after be brought 

 to a depth of from fourteen to sixteen inches without obstruction ; and with the power of three horses 

 yoked abreast, and managed with ease by the ploughman, without any person to drive. By being thus 

 yoked together, and near the point of resistance, the horses have great power ; and, the furrow turned 

 over being broad in proportion, nearly as much ground will be gone over in a day, as with a plough and 

 a half drawn by a pair of horses. The cost of subsoil ploughing an acre may be estimated at 30s., being 

 one sixth of what a similar depth would cost with the spade ; and, upon the whole, as effectually done. 

 A subsoil plough with apparatus cost, in 1832. from 'I. to s/. 



831 1 . The effect of this mode of draining and deep working on close-bottomed land is quite wonderful. 

 After one turn of green cropping, with the usual application of lime and dung, the formerly scanty sterile 

 surface soil becomes a deep rich lo mi, carrying, without fail, crops of wheat and barley, producing from 

 nine to twelve bolls per acre of wheat, and from eight to t\\ elve of barley ; the hay and pasture following 

 bring also very fine. When fields have been thus dried and worked, it is recommended to plough them 

 at all times without ridges, or water furrows, preserving one uniform sheet of soil over the whole field. 

 By this means every superficial inch is allowed to be productive. There is no carrying away of the surface 

 by accumulated currents of water ; and the water falling as rain, is left to percolate through the soil 

 where it falls, thereby uniformly enriching the whole extent. There is a powerful process of nature much 

 facilitated by complete draining and deep working, viz., the constant circulation of air to and from the 

 bottom of the soil, produced by the constantly varying relative temperatures of the atmosphere and the 

 earth. When heavy rain falls, the air is completely expelled from the interstices of the soil, the water 

 taking its place. Also, when the rain has ceased to fall, the water gradually subsides to the level of the 

 drains, or, at all events, to the level of the bottom of the subsoil that has been moved by the plough, and 

 fresh air takes its place throughout the soil ; thereby promoting doubly a chemical action vastly con- 

 ducive to the decomposition of the soil and the manure it contains ; and, of course, to the nourishment 

 of plants. When land is uniformly and completely dry and deep in the soil, it is more easily wrought : 

 it can be wrought at any time when it does not rain ; it comes to a state proper for sowing earlier, and 

 more uniformly ; a circumstance of great importance in our climate : it affords a wide and uninterrupted 

 range for the roots of plants ; it resists the evil effects of long droughts, as well as of long periods of wet ; 

 it never honeycombs, as it is called ; it seldom throws out plants of any kind in frosts ; it never suffei s 

 from the treading of cattle in removing the green crop ; for. although apparently puddled or poached on 

 the surface, yet, being dry below, a single ploughing restores the soil to a proper tilth ; and it gives an 

 earlier haiwest, and affords a dry bed for cattle when in pasture. In the conclusion of his article. Mr. Smith 

 observes, that the subject of thorough under-draining, and of deep ploughing, is one of so much importance, 

 and so extensive in its parts, that volumes might be written on it to the advantage of the country. {Re- 

 port Iff Druiumond's Agricultural Exhibition, S[C.) 



<i\ .' — 4267. Thorough draining has been practised in Suffolk for many years ; a narrow gutter being 

 cut in the bottom of the drain, which is not filled up with any material through which the water drains 

 in the usual manner, but with such materials as will support the earth above till an arch is formed ; by 

 which time the supporting material is for the most part perished, and a clear channel for the water left. 

 The materials used are haulm, heath, a coarse rope of straw or of hop-binds. The practice is exceedingly 

 well described in Journ. A. E., vol. iv. p. 23. 



s:u.'(. The direction of frequent drains with reference to the inclination of the ground, is a subject on 

 which at one time there was some difference of opinion. Deep drains to cut offsprings are nnquestion. 

 ibly most . tie. tive when carried across a declivity ; but drains made in the furrows to carry off surface 



