28 APPENDIX. 



NOTE. B. 



SMITH SUBSOIL PLOUGH. 



" t HAVE prefixed to this report two engravings of 

 modern implements, which, in England are deemed 

 of immense value; and which bid fair, if adopted, to 

 be of great importance in om' husbandry; they are the 

 Smith Subsoil Plough, and the Rack Heath Plough; 

 both intended for the same object. The original 

 engravings are imperfect; but they will at least give 

 a clear idea to our ingenious mechanics of an imple- 

 ment that is much wanted among us, and I hope, 

 lead to its early invention. An implement is wanted 

 by which the cold gravelly subsoil, often found in 

 our lands, our wet lands especially, may be effectu- 

 ally stirred and loosened and rendered permeable to 

 air and water, without, at the same time bringing it 

 to the surface, where it must require a length of 

 time and a most copious supply of manure to render 

 it productive; and also without burying the loam 

 and richer parts of the soil under the subsoil as is 

 necessarily done in such cases bj deep ploughing 

 with a common plough. We want to keep the richer 

 parts of the soil, that is the mould, on the surface; 

 where the plants can derive all the advantages pos- 

 sible from it, and where too, the manure applied to 

 it will be most efficacious. At the same time it is 

 important to loosen the subsoil, so that the water 

 may pass off; and the roots of the plant, if so dis- 

 posed, may spread themselves into it; and likewise, 

 that w^e may be gradually but constantly deepening 

 the upper soil. I have myself seen so much the 

 importance of doing this that I am persuaded this 

 invention must be duly appreciated by the farmers. 

 Its great utility likewise in draining many kinds of 

 land will be at once apparent. In many instances it 



