HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY. 269 



be invented ? Is it not possible, that by means of it we may 

 yet be able to deepen our soils to any desirable extent, without 

 greatly increasing the expense ? It might be a machine re- 

 sembling the tongue and fore wheels of an ox wagon, with 

 steel bars running down and sloping forward from the axle, so 

 as to penetrate the soil more or less, as they might be guaged, 

 to be drawn by a powerful team through the soil till all should 

 be finely pulverized. Some yankee, we think, will yet invent 

 an implement which, for our alluvial soils, such as are free 

 from stones, will be better than Prouty, Mears &. Co.'s best, 

 with the subsoil plough in the bargain. 



With regard to established modes of treating the soil, we 

 would not be radicals, nor yet would we be quite as conservative 

 as those who use the oldest plough, unaltered. We would not 

 repudiate old practices till quite sure that we have found better. 

 To farmers we would say, do not adopt on mere recommenda- 

 tion, any theory, however plausible, till you have tried it on a 

 small scale, so small as not to injure you if it do not succeed, or 

 seen it tried, or know that it has been tried, and proved sound. 

 Feel your way by sharp observation and prudent experiments, 

 and before many years we are fully persuaded you will agree 

 with us, that if charity, as the Bible tells us, is casting bread 

 upon the waters, to be found after many days, deep plough- 

 ing, — a thorough comminution of the soil, — is casting bread 

 upon I he waters, to be found, with increase, after few days. 



J. A. NASH, Chairman. 



Farms. 



The pecuniary estimates of the farm have often been put too 

 high, especially when made by professional men, who have no 

 practical experience in farming. There is probably, no class 

 of men who do so much work for so small a pecuniary profit, 

 as the farmer. But is pecuniary profit the main object for 

 which a man lives? Are health, virtue, intelligence and quiet, 

 of no account in the estimate of human happiness ? In each 

 and all of these, the farmer must be allowed to have a de- 



