MR. proctor's address. 11 



proved by different manufacturers — some specimens of 

 vvhicli have this day been exhibited and tried. I learn 

 that several farmers in the county have been trying 

 these ploughs, on their farms the present season. Mr. 

 Phinney, who has used this plough on many acres of his 

 own farm, informed me that the productive quality of his 

 soil, for many crops, had been increased fifty per cent by 

 its use.* On a question of practical cultivation there is 

 no man's opinion more worthy of regard. Are there not 

 many acres of the fiat lands in Ipswich, Newbury, Ando- 

 ver, and other towns in the County, that might be greatly 

 improved by this process? Are there not many acres 

 that for wantof it have heretofore been considered of very 

 little value ? Certain it is, that the most casual obser- 

 ver, as he passes along through the County, sees four 



* 111 a recent letter received from Mr. Phinney, he says, " I have used the 

 sub-soil plough some three or four years, and such is the estimate in which I 

 hold this important implement, that I should consider it a great piece of improv- 

 idence to put in a crop, without first subsoiling the ground. The character of 

 our soil and climate are both such, being subject to the extremes of wet and dry, 

 as to render the use of the sub soil plough of more essential benefit here than in 

 England, and if oMe half the effects from its use, said to be produced in that 

 country, are realized here, no farmer should be without a sub-soil plough. — 

 The substratum with us is either a hard gravel or clay. Both are greatly 

 benefitted by the use of this plough. In case of too much wet, the redundancy 

 of water is absorbed by loosening the sub-soil — when too dry the plants can 

 find support by being enabled to extend their roots deeper in search of moisture. 

 Our crops, particularly our potatoes and other root crops as they are called, often 

 suffer from droughts that almost invariably occur in our climate in August or 

 Septeinlier. A failure of these crops is oftener owing to this than any other 

 cause. Without resorting to the test of experiment, can any rational farmer 

 doubt that this obstacle to the productiveness of our soil may be, in a great 

 measure overcome by loosening the subsoil. In our old fields, which have 

 been cultivated for many years, with the use of no other than the common 

 plough, an under crust has been formed by the travelling of the oxen and move- 

 ment of the plough for a long time, at a few inches below the surfiice. This 

 is generally so hard as to be impenetrable by the roots of plants, and hence the 

 necessity of breaking this crust by the subsoil plough. A soil having close, 

 hard gravel, or a stiff clay bottom, may perhaps derive equal benefit from the 

 use of the subsoil plough. Most of my observations, with regard to its bene- 

 ficial effects have been upon the former, having but little land with a clay bot- 

 tom. The objections to deep ploughing, that exist in tlie minds of some farm- 

 ers, cannot apply to sub-soil ploughing, inasmuch as the poorer part of the soil 

 is loosened but not brought to the surface." 



Mr. P. states that he has used a sub-soil plough constructed by Prouty & 

 Mears, and is pleased with it. The best specimen of sub-soil plough that I 

 have seen, was made by Mr. C. Howard, of Hingham. This obtained the first 

 premium of the State Society the present year. It is of medium size, and can 

 be procured for about $ 10. Ruggles &i Co. have also made a variety of pat- 

 terns of these ploughs. 



