70 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



on this subject. An intelligent farmer of Bristol County says, 

 "Plough deep, and thoroughly pulverize the soil, and in the 

 after cultivation keep the soil well stirred with the hoe, culti- 

 vator, plough, or any other tool Lest adapted to the nature of 

 the crop." 



The returns received show most conclusively that the 

 farmers of Massachusetts, in general, fully appreciate the im- 

 portance of deep ploughing, notwithstanding the example set 

 them by the societies in offering premiums for ploughing five, 

 six and seven inches with single teams, and nine with double. 

 Many of the writers also advise the gradual deepening of the 

 soil, by ploughing a little deeper every year. The process is 

 made thus gradual to avoid bringing up to the surface too 

 much of the subsoil at one time, as, until it has been a year or 

 two exposed to tkc air, this subsoil may have a deleterious 

 effect on the crop. It may be said, in general, that deep plough- 

 ing is proper on all rich arable soils, and on all soils where the 

 subsoil is as rich as the surface, or nearly so. In these cases, 

 on most alluvial soils, the action of the Michigan or double 

 mould-board plough has been greatly and justly admired. 



But this is not the place to discuss the question as to what 

 constitutes deep ploughing. The subject has been treated else- 

 where, and by the ablest practical and scientific farmers. 

 It may be said, however, in passing what is already well 

 known, that the depth of ploughing depends much on the char- 

 acter of the soil, and that no judicious cultivator would plough 

 to an equal depth in sand and clay. " Make heavy land lighter, 

 and light land heavier," is a maxim the soundness of which has 

 never been disputed. 



There is also another practice which deserves notice in this 

 connection. It was formerly the custom to put all the manure 

 in the hill. Experience, however, which is always the best, 

 though sometimes the dearest, teacher, led some to the con- 

 clusion that it was better to spread it and plough it in. The 

 question proposed in the circular was, What /ins been the com- 

 parative effect of I In- drought on l<iu<h where the manure 

 was spread and ploughed in. anil on those where it was put 

 in the hill ? 



Nearly every answer to this question has been in favor of 



