PLOUGHING. 125 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 



Statement of Horace Kellogg, Jr. 



No. 1 was a piece of gravelly land sown to spring wheat, 

 about half an acre subsoiled to the depth of fifteen inches. 

 I sowed about an acre without subsoiling, which ripened prema- 

 turely, on account of the drought, so as to be hardly worth cut- 

 ting ; while that on the subsoiled part was as fine wheat as I 

 ever saw. 



No. 2. I planted ten acres of Indian corn — the soil a heavy 

 loam, ploughed to the depth of eight inches with the Michi- 

 gan plough. Subsoiled four acres of it to the depth of eighteen 

 inches. The corn on the subsoiled part evidently stood the 

 severe dry weather better than that on the land not subsoiled, 

 though I have not determined the difference by measurement. 

 I subsoiled a piece of heavy, wet loam for potatoes; but as it 

 was not sufficiently drained, it was an injury to the land. I 

 think, from my experience, it will not do to subsoil wet land 

 without first draining it sufficiently deep to carry off all the 

 water. 



Amherst, October, 1854. 



HAMPSHIRE. 

 Report of the Committee. 



The preparation of the soil with the plough, an important 

 preliminary to the reception of seed, is, every thing considered, 

 the groundwork of farming. It lies at the bottom of the whole 

 subject, and is its grand basis. As we enter upon this theme, 

 a multitude of inquiries suggest themselves. 



To a few of the most important we will give our attention. 

 Many thiugs are positively necessary in order to have the 

 work done properly and well. First, the quality and condition 

 of the soil are to be considered. If not already in a fit state, 

 the work of preparation should be thoroughly consummated. 

 Heaps of stones, rocks, and roots of trees and shrubs, and 

 every other impediment should be removed. The soil should 



