158 



P. Morris* Address. 



Vol. V] 



the laws which control vegetable life ; the 

 substances of which plants consist; the 

 sources from whence they derive their food ; 

 the constitution of the atmosphere, the laws 

 of chemical combination ; the constituent 

 properties of manures, and the correct mode 

 of their application, are the same in both 

 countries, and the same every where ; that 

 the splendid stock which this day graces our 

 exhibition, and is a credit to the country ; and 

 the improvement in the breed of our cattle, 

 sheep, &c., which pervades every part of the 

 country, and contributes so much to its na- 

 tional wealth, are all founded on English im- 

 portations; and that the breeding of stock in 

 England is reduced to a science, to the suc- 

 cessful pursuit of which, by a Bakewell, an 

 Ellman and a Colling, we are indebted for our 

 Bakewell and Southdown sheep, and our un- 

 rivalled Durhams! We are comparatively 

 a new country, with but limited experience; 

 and while we boast the same anglo-saxon 

 blood in our veins, and derive from her our 

 laws and language, must we reject the light 

 which has been poured upon the most im- 

 portant pursuit of man, by her scientific au- 

 thors, merely because it is English] A tho- 

 rough imitation of the methods there prac- 

 tised, is not recommended, but it is an inte- 

 resting question, how far they can be adapted 

 to our circumstances. It has been ascer- 

 tained, that lands in England yield larger 

 averages of produce, than they do in this 

 country; for in their best cultivated districts 

 they name 40 bushels of wheat, oats 60 to 

 80, potatoes 400, rye 30 to 40, turnips 30 

 tons; every acre maintaining an inhabitant; 

 but then they appear to excel us in a more 

 thorough preparation of the ground for crops; 

 complete extirpation of weeds; judicious al- 

 ternation of crops; greater care in the man- 

 agement and application of manures, and the 

 breeding of stock. 



" My own limited experience seems to 

 preclude the propriety of making any sug 

 gestions, as to the advantage of altering any 

 of our present courses of management; but 

 I would venture a few remarks on two or 

 three heads, which I am not able to perceive 

 but are as applicable here as any where ; and 

 first, with regard to the ploughing and pre 

 paration of the ground, for this is one of the 

 most important operations of the farmer 

 There is reason to fear that this is done in 

 some places by merely skimming the sur- 

 face ; but in England it is considered so ma- 

 terial, that it is in a measure separated from 

 the other business of the farm, and made 

 a distinct occupation, in which constant 

 practice is considered essential to success; 

 the very large premiums offered at their 

 ploughing matches, creating a great stimulus 



to skill. The great objects in ploughi 

 should be, to break up the whole surface 

 the field, to give the greatest exposure 

 fresh earth to the atmosphere, and to p: 

 duce the most complete pulverization ; whf 

 these are accomplished, there is a more ev 

 growth of crops ; the frequent repetition 

 the harrowings reducing the soil to a 1 

 able finely pulverized mass, presenting m( 

 points to the atmosphere, and increasi 

 greatly the power of absorbing moistu 

 over a hard and compact surface, especia 

 in hot and dry weather. Then again, 

 plough too shallow; deep ploughing is 

 absolute essential of good farming in evt 

 well-cultivated district ; it is founded on c 

 rect theory and sustained by successful pn 

 tice : for as plants absorb food and moisti 

 from the earth by their roots, which pei 

 trate it in all directions, of course the deep 

 the more friable and open the soil, the f 

 ther they can go, and the more vigorous m 

 be their growth. The mould in some of < 

 best lands not being more than four or f 

 inches deep, we seem to feel the great 

 dread of going below it and bringing up 1 

 clay ; consequently we suffer inconvenier 

 both from drought, and an excess of moi 

 ure ; in a dry season the roots of plants i 

 being able to force their way through 1 

 compact subsoil in search of moisture a' 

 greater depth, and in a very wet season, t 

 same subsoil preventing an excess of mo: 

 ure from passing off", and retaining it in 

 great quantity about them. "The frequi 

 renewal of the air by ploughing and the p 

 paration of the soil, especially in contact w 

 alkaline metallic oxides, the ashes of cc 

 burnt lime, or limestone, changes the put 

 faction of its organic compounds into the pi 

 process of oxidation ; and from the momi 

 at which all the organic matter existing 

 a soil enters into a state of oxidation or i 

 cay, its fertility is increased." Prouty's s 

 soil plough, recently come into notice, 

 probably destined to effect a radical char 

 in obtaining a deep tilth ; it obviates at 1 

 same time, the objections of those who i 

 opposed to turning up the subsoil, on accoi 

 of the injury sustained by the first crop; 

 is simple in its construction and easily m 

 aged ; it follows the common plough in ' 

 same furrow, stirring up the subsoil to 1 

 depth of six or eight inches, but not turni 

 it over. It has been tried in the state 

 Delaware and other places with great s 

 cess, and will soon form an appendage 

 every good farm. It is perhaps not goi 

 too fiir to assert, that the subsoil plough n 

 effect for agriculture, what steam has dc 

 for manufactories. 

 " In respect to root culture for stock, 1 



