65 



who does not intend to act treasonably towards the soil, will ever 

 confide in subsoil ploughing alone, but will rather rely on thorough 

 draining, as a much more permanent improvement." 



In the " Agricultural Journal," published in Edinburgh and in 

 London in 1857, a journal considered of high authority, — we find 

 an elaborate review of Mr. Stephens's book, " The Tester Deep 

 Land Culture, being a detailed account of the method of successful 

 cultivation practised for years by the Marquis of Tweedsdale, at 

 Yester." From this source the Committee take leave to extract 

 one or two paragraphs, as germane to the subject in hand. 



" Mr. Stephens informs us that since improvements were begun 

 at Yester, in 1832, he has had many opportunities of witnessing 

 all the different operations put in practice ; and early impressed 

 with their importance as the foundation of a mode of farming so 

 very different from what is in ordinary use, as to merit the appel- 

 lation of a New System. He viewed them from the first with a 

 hiiih dem-ee of interest. A more distinct and lucid statement — 

 one which conveys more readily to the mind of the reader a clear 

 conception of the whole case, we have seldom happened to peruse, 

 while the scientific bearings of the subject are treated in a manner 

 Avhich leaves little to be desired." The Yester mode of cultivation, 

 as far as it has the character of an original process, may be ex- 

 pressed in a few words. It is a method of breaking up and pul- 

 verizing the subsoil to a considerable depth, and then raising it 

 upwards, so as to mix it, in any required quantity, with the sur- 

 face soil ; and this it effects by means of a subsoil trench j^lougJi 

 of a peculiar construction. But its chief merit is not seen by re- 

 gai'ding it simply by itself ; it admirably adapts itself to the other 

 great amehorating processes to which the soil is subjected, and 

 renders them more complete. Assuming thorough draining as an 

 essential prerequisite, it appears to be the only method hitherto 

 devised, which on the one hand gives full effect to that operation, 

 and derives from it all the advantages of which it is susceptible ; 

 while on the other, it deepens and improves the plant-growing 

 soil, and brings it into a condition which best fits it for benefitting 

 from manures and atmospheric influences. It may be regarded, 

 therefore, not only as an important discovery in itself, but also 

 just such a one as was needed to give full effect to many of the 

 most important improvements lately introduced into agriculture. 

 This will appear more fully as we follow Mr. Stephens into some 

 of the details Avith which his work furnishes us. It would exceed 

 the limits of this report to do this, and the Committee content 

 themselves by recommending to those desirous of a more thorough 

 knowledge of this subject, to possess themselves of Mr. Stephens' 

 book. With regard to the expense of this mode of culture, the 

 same authority, after describing minutely the nature of the Yester 

 'J 



